The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is a world class destination. I've visited the Palace Museum in Taiwan and museums devoted to Asian art in Japan and other nations. No matter where I go, I always end up comparing other collections to San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. And somehow, the Asian Art Museum always comes out on top.
There are several reasons why this museum is a must see:
(1) The collection is diverse. Under one roof you can see exceptional art from India, China, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, and nearly every other Asian land.
(2) The collection has depth. Rather than one or two representative pieces, the collection has the depth to allow the visitor to trace the development of artistic trends and epochs in Asia.
(3) The collection is rare. Visitors to the museum are treated to some of the oldest and rarest items in any collection of Asian art. For example, the Chinese jade collection includes pieces that can be traced back 6,000 years.
(4) Modern art is also represented. The museum includes exhibits that show the works of contemporary Asian artists, making this a living museum.
(5) There are regular exhibitions of rare and fascinating collections that are well worth the price of admission.
(6) The museum's architecture is clean and open, allowing visitors a comfortable and pleasant space for viewing the collections.
This is a pretty gushing review, but I believe the museum deserves it. There are few places in the world that provide such an interesting collection and present it so well. General admission is $12 with an additional fee if you wish to visit special exhibitions. It's all worth the price.
I would recommend visitors to the museum allocate four hours to properly see everything on display. If you feel like taking a break or having a light lunch, the museum has a nice cafe on site. It too is worth a visit. Enjoy.