Group Admission Rates | Private Group Tours | Group Tour Rates | Payment and Refund Policies | School Tours | Community Speakers Program | Dining Options

Group Admission Rates

Reservations at discounted rates may be made for groups of 10 or more. To ensure availability, reservations for group admission should be made and paid for two weeks before your visit. Please note: Group admission rates for special exhibitions may differ. 

School groups may qualify for free admission.  Go to the School Tours page for more information.

For reservations or more information, click here for a pdf form or fill-out the online form. For questions call (415) 581-3624 or email groupvisits@asianart.org.

Private Group Tours

To enhance your visit, private guided tours are available with our knowledgeable docents. Private tour options include permanent galleries, special exhibitions, the building’s architecture, and customized tours. Designed to provide a high-quality museum experience, private tours are approximately one hour in length with an average guide-to-participant ration of 1:15. Subject to availability, guided tours are available Tuesdays through Sundays (except the first Sunday of every month). Tours must be reserved and paid for at least two weeks in advance.

Choose from one of the following tour options, or design a customized tour to fit your group's needs:

Summer 2009 Special Exhibition Tours

lords of the samurai
June 12–September 20, 2009
*Except on the first Sunday of each month

Private guided tours are available June 12 through September 18, 2009, with the exception of the first Sunday of each month. Reservations must be made and paid for at least two weeks in advance. Click here for more information, call (415) 581-3624, or email groupvisits@asianart.org.

Introducing the Asian Art Museum
A general introduction to the museum's collection galleries.

Collection Highlights
Concentrate on works from a specific geographical region. Choose from one of the following areas:

• China: Explore some of the exquisite bronzes, ceramics, textiles, and paintings from the Museum's vast collection of art from China.
• Korea and Japan: Examine textiles, celadons, screens, scrolls, sculptures and bamboo baskets, as well as other decorative arts - highlights of the Museum's outstanding collection of art from Korea and Japan.
• South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas: Take this fascinating journey to learn about the art and culture of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas, as you view exceptional stone and wood sculptures, textiles, paintings, lacquer wares, and bronzes.

About the Building
Learn about Gae Aulenti's breathtaking architectural redesign and transformation of San Francisco's former library into the new Asian Art Museum.

Buddhist Art: Sublime Message and Sacred Symbols
Buddhist artifacts and art served to teach believers the fundamentals of this complex religion. Explore the principal sacred symbols, objects, and figures of Buddhist worship, whose iconography and symbolism never cease to intrigue and inspire. Click here for details.

Jade: Beauty, Wealth, and Power
Trace jade’s complex development from powerful burial talismans to treasures prized by emperors, and learn about the dedication, patience, and years of training artisans must possess in order to produce objects of such beauty. Click here for details.

Along the Silk Road: Trade, Travel, and Transformation
The Silk Road—an ancient network of overland and maritime trade routes between northern China and the Mediterranean Sea—linked powerful civilizations as diverse as China, India, Persia, Egypt, and Rome. Delve into the cross-cultural artistic legacy of the Silk Road’s 3,000-year history.

Click here for details.

Group Tour Rates

Tour rates do not include group admission fees. To ensure availability, reservations for group tours should be made at least one month before your visit. For reservations or more information, call (415) 581-3624 or email groupvisits@asianart.org.

Payment and Refund Policies

Advance payment is required for all group admission and tour fees. There are no refunds or exchanges for these fees once payment is received. The Asian Art Museum accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards, as well as checks. Please make your check payable to: The Asian Art Museum. Please do not send cash.

School Tours

For information about bringing elementary through high school students to the museum, please visit our School Tours page.

Community Speakers Program

The Asian Art Museum can also arrange for a museum docent to come to your group’s location and give a slide presentation on a variety of topics. Click here to find out more about the Community Speakers Program.

Dining Options

Cafe Asia serves creative pan-Asian dishes with rotating daily specials. Please note seating is limited. For more information, call 415.581.3624. For other dining options near the museum,
click here.