Himeji Municipal Museum of Art

Himeji Municipal Museum of Art is a municipal museum located in Himeji Sanno-maru Plaza, adjacent to Himeji Castle (Hakuro Castle; UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. It is known for its substantial architecture, housed in a red-brick Western-style building (completed 1905) originally constructed as an arsenal for the Imperial Japanese Army's 10th Division during the Meiji period. Situated in the inner moat area of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage and National Treasure Himeji Castle, it stands as a cultural facility integrated with castle tourism, commanding nationwide recognition.

From the perspective of katana and armor (yoroi), the historical context of the former Himeji Castle area where the museum is located—and the accumulation of samurai culture under the successive daimyo of Himeji Domain (Ikeda, Honda, and Sakai families)—is significant. The museum features permanent exhibitions centered on modern and contemporary art (Western painting and sculpture), but special exhibitions on the history of the castle town and samurai culture may include displays of armor, weapons, and sword-related materials. The museum's location adjacent to Himeji Castle positions it as a multipurpose tourism hub for visitors interested in samurai culture.

Of particular note is that the museum building itself was a former Meiji military installation (former 10th Division headquarters), holding value as a historic structure that symbolizes the transition from the late Edo period through the Meiji Restoration to the modern military system. From the perspectives of military history, samurai history, and castle architecture, it represents valued architectural heritage and forms part of the "Himeji Historical and Cultural Zone" in conjunction with Himeji Castle tenshu, Koko-en Garden, and the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History.

Located approximately 15–20 minutes on foot from JR Himeji Station (or via Shinki Bus) and approximately 40 minutes from Kobe, it has become one of the representative destinations for historical tourism in the Kansai region.