Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum

Kamigata Uki-yoe Museum stands on the southern side of Dotonbori in central Osaka.
It is the world’s only museum dedicated to Kamigata uki-yoe art.
Uki-yoe is a Japanese art form of the Edo period that depicts every day life. Some of the most famous uki-yoe pieces are landscapes drawn by masters such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.
The main theme of Kamigata Uki-yoe paintings is Kabuki actors. Unlike the exaggerated bijin-ga (beauty portraits) popular in Edo (today’s Tokyo), Kamigata Uki-yoe had a more down to earth feel. People back then are said to have collected Kamigata Ukiyoe prints of their favorite actors, and imitated their fashions. Apart from Uki-yoe prints, the museum boasts a collection of painting tools, and pigments.
The Kamigata Uki-yoe Museum is situated in the Dotonbori area, which developed into a bustling neighborhood after many small playhouses opened here in the Edo period (17th to late 19th century.) The busy streetscape is depicted in several uki-yoe works.
The museum also runs uki-yoe print workshops, where participants can try their hands at the carving and printing process. Three courses are offered to explore the appeal of uki-yoe prints.