The palace built as a porcelain palace for Augustus the Strong was first a Dutch palace; because of the later roof construction, which was based on Japanese architecture, it was soon called the "Japanese Palace". In future, it is also to become a "porcelain palace" again: According to plans of the Saxon ministries, a new conception is planned.

Today, the Japanese Palais houses the Museum of Ethnology and regularly hosts large special exhibitions of the Dresden State Art Collections.