The museum opened in 2015 with the slogan "a Museum Where the Five Senses Meet". The lattice woodwork and glass construction give the bright and spacious building a basket-like appearance. The building was designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Shigeru Ban. Oita is known for its bamboo craftwork and the interior features fantastic displays in this motif.

The bright spacious entrance features giant balloon-form sculptures. The colorful pop art style lends scope and perspective to this architectural masterpiece. The museum's collection contains 5,000 pieces of contemporary Japanese art. The works of Heihachiro Fukuda, Tatsuo Takayama and Fumio Asakura are particularly well represented. There are frequent exhibitions to stimulate the intellect with unique interpretations on relevant themes in Oita and the world beyond.

The core concept is "a museum in my own living room". This is the perfect artistic space to take a moment to reflect, even without viewing the artwork.