In Tokyo, a city hungry for art, the queue to see the exhibition is as long as the line to see the latest pop idol concert.
The ever-changing exhibitions at Tokyo's dozens of museums and galleries – from ukiyo-e woodblock prints to NFT gifs flashing on LED canvases – ensure that even locals never get bored. Whether local or international, there's always something new going on in the impeccable art halls of the Japanese capital.
If possible, it's best to avoid weekends and holidays. In a city where schedules are meticulous and always full, tickets should be bought in advance. With the exception of Culture Day (November 3), there are very few cases of free tickets. Most art institutions are closed on Mondays; For the rest of the week, public museums close as early as 5 p.m., while private museums and galleries are open longer.
1. teamLab Planets
Best Immersive Museum in Tokyo
Back in August 2016, even a typhoon couldn't stop people from lining up for the first teamLab exhibition. Since then, this international art collective of artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects has emerged. It's already unstoppable.
teamLab Planets is a whimsical wonderland where you can enter barefoot, climb waterfalls, step on flowers of light in silky warm water, and hit giant colored balls. Unlike most museums, here you should touch the artwork, take pictures, express your excitement, and soak up the fun – in other words, really immerse yourself.
There are four huge exhibition spaces and two gardens with live orchid exhibits and occasional seasonal additions such as cherry blossoms in March and April. In the front yard of teamLab Planets stands a public art sculpture titled "Universe of Fire Particles Falling from the Sky", which is a lava lamp-like lighthouse of digital flow art. In the same area, the Reversible Rotation – Non-Objective Space is a special mirrored art room where people can taste the creative ramen of vegan ramen UZU, surrounded by teamLab's unique spatial calligraphy projections. Tickets are purchased in advance and there are predetermined time slots.
2. Yayoi Kusama Museum
The most dynamic museum dedicated to a single artist
Operated by the Yayoi Kusama Foundation of the same name, the museum opened in 2017 and consistently exhibits the art of the prolific avant-garde artist of the same name. Known for her polka-dotted pumpkins and the Infinity Mirror Room, Yayoi Kusama, 93, continues to create to this day, with some of the works on display dealing with isolated themes.
Unlike museums that remain rather static that focus on a single artist, the Kusama Museum often changes exhibits, which makes tickets very coveted, considering that even Tokyoites aspire to visit at least twice a year. In addition, the museum regularly exhibits works that are the first of its kind in Japan and the world.
The current exhibition "Visionary Colors" will run until March 2024. Tickets must be purchased in advance and have a predetermined time slot.
3. Mori Art Museum
There is the art of scenery
Located on the 52nd and 53rd floors of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, the Mori Art Museum is the tallest museum in Tokyo. Visit the art and linger.
Mori Museum ticket holders can also enter the open-air Sky Deck for as little as 500 yen (about $5). This is one of the few open-air observation decks in Tokyo, with 360-degree views of the iconic Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. Even Tokyo Bay is visible during the day.
The museum is a private institution that walks a tightrope between cutting-edge art and courageous curation of pop culture. In the past few years alone, the museum has hosted exhibitions of ukiyo-e painters Katsushika Hokusai, Hello Kitty, and Attack on Titan, and has collaborated with Hollywood darling Takashi Murakami as well as Japanese futurist designers and architectural stars.
4. Ghibli Museum
Best for children and people with a childlike heart
The museum is whimsical and fantastical, and it looks like a scene from a Ghibli movie. Ivy hugs the colorful walls, Totoro stuffed animals grin from fake entrances, and an iron giant in Laputa stands on the roof of the museum.
The doors of the Ghibli Museum open to an even more magical space. Upon entering, you will receive a ticket made from 35mm film that has actually been used in the theater. You can put it under the lights and see which scene from a Ghibli movie you're seeing.
Once inside, you can see original works of art by Ghibli, a glimpse into the history of animation, and even a replica of Hayao Miyazaki's desk. The museum screens short films, some of which are exclusive to the museum, and are only shown for a limited time. The museum's lovely café and museum shop are one of the best places to buy Ghibli goods.
The Boy and the Heron special exhibition opened in November 2023 and is tentatively scheduled to run until 2025.
Adult tickets cost only 1,000 yen ($8) (lower for children) and are affordable, but they are hard to come by due to high demand. Advance reservations only. Also, be prepared that photography is not allowed inside the museum.
5. 21_21 Design Perspectives
The best museum for designing hipsters
The involvement of stars such as star architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake has architecture, fashion and design otaku (geeks) captivated the museum.
Architects and Japan have always had a special connection – every architect wants to visit the country with the most Pritzker Architecture Prize winners. Tadao Ando was one of the winners, so the building at 21_21 Design Sight is a work of art in itself, with its sloping concrete roof and underground lobby. It blends in with the greenery of the Midtown Gardens and stands out for its concrete geometry.
Art exhibitions often meet the daunting task of presenting something you never thought of before – for example, "Translation" in 2021, with robot monks chanting, a computer screen room translating everything you say into multiple languages, and so on. In 2024, Shunji Yamanaka's prototype of the future, as well as an exhibition of ethereal works by American artist Daniel Brush, are on the calendar.
6. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
The most well-kept "secret" spot for local art lovers
While public institutions can be secret, or as secrets exist today, the Tei Art Museum is close to secrecy – at least, it is relatively uncrowded.
The museum has been open since 1983 and is located in the former residence of Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, which has been designated as one of Japan's Important Cultural Properties. The prince and princess lived in Paris during the golden age of Art Deco, so the entire building was built in this style by the best craftsmen of the time.
Nowadays, exhibitions at the Terrade Art Center often focus on the decorative arts or related to France, such as the recent Lalique glass art. The museum's Spring 2024 exhibition celebrates the museum's 40th anniversary, with an exhibition that reanalyzes and interprets the building, its construction, and its artifacts.
7. Tokyo National Museum
This is a museum that is perfect for first-time visitors to Japan
The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park is Japan's first, oldest and largest museum and has been exhibiting a large collection of mostly Japanese art for 150 years. There's more superlative: the Tokyo National Museum has one of the largest and best art and history collections in Japan, with over 100,000 items, hundreds of which are national treasures, including paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, architectural models, metalware, swords, pottery, archaeological objects, and more.
Rich in traditional Japanese items such as kimonos, samurai armor, calligraphy scrolls, and ukiyo-e (mainly in the main building), it is a must-visit for all Japan lovers. Since most Japanese people visit this landmark museum very early, it's usually uncrowded and relaxed, with spacious exhibition halls spread across six buildings. In the tea house in the garden, you may even have the opportunity to attend a haiku party.