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A Complete Guide to Visit the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
by Jill Loeffler •
The San Francisco Asian Art Museum is a personal favorite of mine.
Inside this interesting SF museum, you will get an up-close look at more than 2,000 artifacts (from their collection of more than 18,000 pieces) created over 6,000 years.
In addition to its extensive permanent collection, this must-see museum in San Francisco also brings in excellent traveling collections from around the world.
My guide offers tips for your visit, including where to park, upcoming free days, and their hours. I've also included information about their private collection including some of my favorite pieces.
Additional details in my guide include recent photos from my visits, some fun things to do in the area, and top hotels nearby.
This is one of the largest pieces in the permanent collection at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum.Highlights for the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
- They are open 5 days a week: Friday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm; Thursdays from 1 pm to 8 pm. They are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Admission ranges from $14 to $20 per person. The first Sunday of every month is free.
- You will find it in the Civic Center District at 200 Larkin Street.
- Most people spend about 2 to 3 hours exploring this San Francisco museum.
Everything You Need to Know About the SF Asian Art Museum
This is a look at the main entrance to the SF Asian Art Museum. It's in a beautiful, historic building, so look outside and inside at its architecture.- Hours, Tickets & Tours
- Free Days at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
- SF Asian Art Museum's Permanent Collection
- Best Time to Visit
- Food & Drink Inside the Museum
- Parking Near the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
- How to Get Here: Muni, BART and Other Transit Options
- Hotels Nearby
- ADA Accessibility
- Brief History of the Museum
- Things to Do Near the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
SF Asian Art Museum Visiting Tips: Hours, Tickets, & Tours
This is a good look at how the galleries are set up throughout the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. There is usually plenty of space and quite a few items on display.Admission Prices
- Adults: $20
- Seniors (65 & older): $17
- College Students (with ID), & Youths (13-17): $14
- Free: First Sunday of the month, and ages 12 and under
- Most special exhibits cost about $10 to $15 extra per person, find their calendar of upcoming exhibits
You can either buy your tickets in advance or at the door.
If you plan to visit several San Francisco attractions, you will can get admission discounts through the Go City Pass. They offer 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-day passes where you visit as many attractions as you want within those days. Learn more and pick up your pass today.
Regular & Holiday Hours
Here are their current hours of operation.
- Friday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm
- Thursdays from 1 pm to 8 pm
- Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
The SF Asian Art Museum is usually open on holidays except January 1, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, December 25.
Daily Guided & Multimedia Tours
The SF Asian Art Museum also offers several free guided tours every day. These change frequently, so request a copy of their schedule for that day when you arrive.
You can also do a self-guided multimedia tour. Download their mobile guide and bring your headphones so you can listen to their tours when you arrive.
Some of the available tours include:
- Collection Highlights
- Masterpieces
- Meditative Art
- Contemporary Art
These tours are offered in English, French, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Free Admission Days to the SF Asian Art Museum
The SF Asian Art Museum is one of several San Francisco museums that offers free admission days on the first Sunday of every month. Northern California Kaiser Permanente supports their free days.
Free admission on these days includes access to their permanent collection. There is still a charge to see some of their temporary exhibits.
>> Find a full calendar of free days at SF museums
Photo Policy
Many of the traveling exhibits do not allow photography.
However, you are allowed to take photos in most of the rest of the museum (except where noted).
Make sure you turn off your flash and leave your tripod at home.
SF Asian Art Museum's Permanent Collection
Most of the permanent collection in the San Francisco Asian Art Museum is on their second and third floors.
It is always confusing on where to start when I first walk in the door. I recommend walking to the escalators (or elevators) on the right side of the first floor.
Take these to the third floor. This will allow you to slowly make your way through their collection on the two main floors.
The floor space is well laid out, and I have no doubt you will fall in love with their collection (like me!).
Third Floor of this SF Museum
All regions have a sign like this that talks about art in the upcoming galleries. It's a great way to learn a little about the art before you enter.The collections on Floor 3 in the order you will walk through them:
- South Asia, Galleries 1 - 6
- The Persian World and West Asia, Gallery 7
- Southeast Asia, Galleries 8 - 11
- The Himalayan Region and the Tibetan Buddhist World, Gallery 12
- China, through 906 CD, Galleries 13 - 16
Once you exit the escalator, head to the door on the right.
This is an amazing sculpture of the Hindu God, Ganesha. It dates back to 1200 - 1300 and is made of stone.The first exhibit you will view is the South Asia Exhibit. This is where you will see several works of art from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
After you finish in these rooms, you'll see a small room off to the left featuring artifacts from Iran and the surrounding countries. This exhibit is called The Persian World and West Asia.
The next set of rooms is dedicated to Southeast Asia.
The four rooms of this gallery include items from Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
You will then enter a small exhibit on The Himalayas and the Tibetan Buddhist World. From there, you'll enter the largest exhibit, which includes hundreds of pieces from China.
The first room you enter is one of my favorites. It includes several small yet intricate statues carved out of jade. It's officially known as the Chinese Jade Gallery.
There are three more rooms on the third floor showcasing larger statues from China.
Once you finish this final room, continue down the hall, and you will find a set of stairs.
Take these stairs down to the second level.
Enhance Your Visit with the Exhibit Videos: You will also notice several video players throughout the museum. Pick up the headsets and hit play to learn more about the region, specific country, or artifacts in a specific room.
Second Floor of the SF Asian Art Museum
The Floor 2 Collection Galleries include:
- China, 960 CE - Present, Galleries 17 - 20
- Korea, Galleries 21 - 23
- Japan, Galleries 25 - 31
On this floor, you will start with the final galleries of Chinese art.
After you finish the exhibit on China, you will see three rooms with art from Korea.
Some of the first pieces in these galleries date back to 1392.
The next and final area is dedicated to art from Japan. Here you will see pieces depicting early Japanese life and porcelain, prints, and tea related art.
There are dozens of pieces of pottery throughout the museum. I LOVE the rich blue on this one with black art all around it.Once you complete this exhibit, head out the doors and take the escalator back to the first floor.
Fun Fact: Which exhibit houses the oldest works of art? The China exhibit showcases pieces from around 221 BC.
First Floor
These two flights of escalators take you up to the third floor where you will start your visit exploring their permanent collection.Once you arrive back on the first floor, you will find several things to explore. This is where you will find any special exhibits on display.
Most of these require a separate ticket to enter. This is an up-to-date calendar of exhibits at or coming soon to the San Francisco Asian Art Museum.
This is also where you will find their cafe, the gift shop, and other special activities.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
The best time to visit the SF Asian Art Museum is during the week.
I like to arrive when they open, which is usually when they aren't very busy.
It's nice to walk through the museum with only a few others around.
However, this museum is quite large and there is usually plenty of space for everyone to spread out and still admire all of their interesting pieces.
How Long Should I Plan for My Visit?
I absolutely love taking my time visiting the SF Asian Art Museum.
On average, I would allow at least 2 to 2.5 hours to see all of the exhibits.
Add another 30 minutes to an hour if you plan to visit some of their temporary exhibits on the first floor.
Dining Inside the SF Asian Art Museum
The SF Asian Art Museum offers two options for grabbing a drink or a snack during your visit.
On the first floor, you'll find Asian Box, serving Vietnamese-inspired casual "boxes," which you can customize with your choice of flavors on top of a bed of salad, rice, or noodles.
They also offer banh mi sandwiches.
The restaurant is open during regular museum hours. You don't need to pay for admission to the museum to dine here.
On the second floor, the East West Bank Art Terrace offers a paired down menu from Asian Box, quick bites, snacks, and sweets plus beer, wine, and canned cocktails.
You do need admission to the museum to eat on the terrace.
The cafe hours are Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm (happy hour), Fridays from 1 pm to 5 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 5 pm. It is not open on Mondays.
Parking Near the SF Asian Art Museum
If you plan to drive, you will find plenty of parking near the SF Asian Art Museum. Here are a few options within a couple of blocks. The prices can change at any time, so check with them when you pull in for that day's rates.
Civic Center Garage: This parking lot is under the Civic Center Plaza and across the street from the SF Asian Art Museum. It's at 355 McAllister Street.
UC Hastings College of Law Garage: Just a block up the street is another public parking lot. It's at 376 Larkin Street.
Fox Plaza: If both are full, my third choice is the lot in Fox Plaza at 1390 Market Street. It's my third choice because it's about 3 blocks away.
Tips to Get to the SF Asian Art Museum
From Union Square: The easiest way to get from Union Square to the SF Asian Art Museum is by taking a light rail Muni train or one of the streetcars.
- Light Rail: Pick up the light rail train at the Powell Street station at Powell and Market Streets. Take any of the outbound trains to the Civic Center stop. Once you reach street level, look for Hyde Street. Take this one block north to Fulton Street where you will take a left. Walk one block to Larkin Street and the museum will be on your right.
- F Streetcar: The F Streetcar rides above ground along Market Street. Hop off at the Larkin Street stop. Head north two blocks to the museum.
From Fisherman's Wharf: There are two ways to get from Fisherman's Wharf to the SF Asian Art Museum.
- 49 Bus: This is the fastest of the two options. Pick it up at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and North Point Street. Take it to the stop at Van Ness and McAllister near City Hall. Head east on McAllister two blocks to get to the museum.
- F Streetcar: You can pick up the F Streetcar at the corner of Jones and Beach Streets in Fisherman's Wharf. You will then follow the same instructions as those above for visitors coming from Union Square.
BART to the SF Asian Art Museum: If you plan to take BART to the SF Asian Art Museum, take it to the Civic Center stop. This will get you within a few blocks of the museum, and you can easily walk from any exit.
Hotels Near the SF Asian Art Museum
You will find dozens of hotels near the SF Asian Art Museum. Here are just a few of my top picks.
BEI Hotel San Francisco: Only 4 blocks from the SF Asian Art Museum, a 3.5-star hotel on 8th between Mission and Market, offers on-site parking. Find recent reviews and book here.
Inn at the Opera: To the west of the Civic Center district is the Inn at the Opera. 3.5-star hotel with easy access to all the top restaurants in the Hayes Valley district. Read reviews from guests and book.
Check out these pages for additional suggestions nearby.
Civic Center | Union Square | South of Market
Coat Check
The SF Asian Art Museum does have a coat check for oversized backpacks, bags, umbrellas, and strollers. They will allow you to carry a standard-size backpack in the museum, but it must be worn in front and is subject to search.
ADA Accessibility
The SF Asian Art Museum is accessible and strives to welcome everyone to see its exhibits. Here are a few more details.
Wheelchair Access
There are both pickup and drop-off locations for those in wheelchairs, as well as accessible parking spots right outside the museum.
All entrances are accessible to those in wheelchairs.
The floors inside are flat and easy to navigate.
There are also elevators to help you get from floor to floor.
If you don't want to bring your wheelchair, they have a few manual wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can ask for them when you check-in.
More Information on ADA Accessibility
Guide & Service Dogs: Trained guide and service dogs are welcome.
Assistance Tickets: Admission is free to anyone assisting a patron with special needs.
Large Print Labels: Many of the special exhibits feature large print labels. You can also download the information cards online to review before you arrive.
ASL Interpreters: They are available upon request. Please contact the museum at least two weeks before your visit, so they can set this up for you before you arrive.
Mobile Guides: For blind and low-vision visitors, you can borrow the museum's iPods, which contain self-guided audio tours for free. They are sanitized between uses and are in multiple languages.
Brief History
What is the history of the SF Asian Art Museum? After a generous donation of artifacts from Chicago businessman Avery Brundage in 1959, a new wing was added to the de Young Museum to showcase his donated pieces.
Brundage continued to collect and offered the city of San Francisco an additional donation of pieces in 1969. However, he wanted SF to build a separate museum to display these pieces. It was built in Golden Gate Park.
Upon Brundage's death in 1975, he donated the rest of his collection to the SF Asian Art Museum. His total donation was around 7,700 pieces over the years.
As the museum grew, they needed a larger space to show their collection. They moved to their current location in March 2003.
In 2020, they completed a renovation and expansion project with 15,000 additional square feet of space. This included a new rooftop terrace, the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion, and more.
Things to Do Nearby the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
- City Hall: Just across the street from the San Francisco Asian Art Museum is City Hall. Visitors are welcome to stop by during their regular weekday business hours from 8 am to 8 pm.
- Hayes Valley District: On the western side of Van Ness is the Hayes Valley District. This neighborhood is a great place to grab some lunch or do a little shopping.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!