Appreciating contemporary art has a different appeal from gazing intently at traditional paintings.
There are not only figurative and abstract paintings, but also media arts such as video, photography, and installations created using a variety of techniques.
In this issue, we would like to introduce five carefully selected art museums in and around Tokyo where you can see high quality contemporary art works.
Please enjoy them in various ways, such as on a holiday date, on a family outing, or on a solitary art stroll.
1) When it comes to contemporary art in Tokyo, this is the place to go! The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo reopened after a major renovation in March 2019.
The museum always holds special exhibitions and permanent exhibitions at the same time, and the special exhibitions are a must-see, especially the large-scale solo exhibitions of famous overseas artists that have rarely been exhibited in Japan!
The museum also has a well-stocked art library and museum store, and the store merchandise, which changes each time according to the exhibition, is full of wonderful items that you will want to pick up.
The permanent collection is called the "MOT Collection," consisting of approximately 5,000 items, and each exhibition is curated and displayed under a specific theme.
Selected by Japan's top curators, the collection's exhibitions always show the cutting edge of the art world, with works by leading Japanese and international artists.
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Information
Official Site
Museum Hours
10:00-18:00 (Admission until 30 minutes before closing)
Admission Fee
Varies with each exhibition/screening
Closed
Mondays, Year-end and New Year holidays
Access
9 min. walk from Exit B2 of "Kiyosumi-Shirakawa" station on Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
13 min. walk from Exit A3 of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line
Cafes and coffee shops near the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
100 Spoons, a relaxing restaurant attached to the museum
This is a fun place with a variety of art-related features that only an art museum restaurant can offer. To make it easy for parents and children to visit, half-size portions are available for all menu items, so that children's requests to eat the same food as their mothers can be met.
There are also "picture-perfect seats," making it an at-home space that anyone can enjoy, whether on a date, with the family, or by yourself.
The cute light blue logo is the landmark! Blue Bottle Coffee Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Flagship Cafe
Blue Bottle Coffee is an affiliate headquartered in Oakland, California, U.S.A., where you can enjoy the authentic flavor of the real thing.
The stylish and open design of the interior is also very modern and perfect for "getting in shape" before or after viewing art. It is very popular, and on holidays you often have to wait in line to get in. Try to time your visit accordingly.
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa's commitment! The exquisite hamburger Field, which took 3,000 days to perfect.
Field" was created with the goal of recreating the authentic gourmet burger taste of the legendary Corner Bistro in New York, and the burgers are made with the utmost care and attention to detail.
The restaurant's distinctive name, also known as the "3,000 Days Burger," expresses the taste of the burger that took approximately eight years to create. Located close to the museum, this restaurant is highly recommended.
(2) Tokyo Playground. Mori Art Museum, which holds fun special exhibitions
The second recommended museum is the Mori Art Museum, located on the 53rd floor of Mori Tower in Roppongi.
The museum is famous for holding large-scale special exhibitions every time you visit. The exhibitions are not limited to fine art (pure art), but also include animation, design, architecture, and other genre-crossing themes, and are always of high quality, so you can be sure to have fun any time you visit. I can confidently recommend this museum even to those who do not usually see art exhibits.
The view from the observation deck is also excellent! The panoramic view of Tokyo from the Mori Building, one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo, is nothing short of breathtaking. At night, you can see the twinkling Tokyo Tower and, if the weather is fine, the Sky Tree, so it is highly recommended.
Information on the Mori Art Museum
Official Site
Hours of Operation
Monday, Wednesday through Sunday 10:00-22:00 (last admission 21:30), Tuesday 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Closed
Outside of exhibition periods
Admission Fee
Varies on the day or online
Access
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station: 3 min. walk from Exit 1C (directly connected to the concourse)
6 min. walk from Exit 3 of Roppongi Station on the Toei Oedo Line
9 minutes on foot from Azabu-juban Station (Toei Subway Oedo Line) Exit 7
12 minutes on foot from Azabu-juban Station (Exit 4) on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line
10 minutes walk from Exit 5 of Nogizaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Cafes and coffee shops near Mori Art Museum
Take a breather after a day of viewing. Museum Cafe "THE SUN & THE MOON
With a restaurant attached, you can fully enjoy the stylish and bright atmosphere of this café.
The menu uses SDGs-conscious organic vegetables and fair trade products, which is a very reassuring point. You can enjoy art and French cuisine at the same time at this cafe.
Inside Roppongi Hills. Cafe Frangipani, a long-established cafe marked by a bus.
Cafe Frangipani, a long-established cafe that has been open for 20 years, is a popular cafe located in Roppongi Hills.
It has a homey, relaxed, and safe atmosphere like a secret base, and the chicken omelet set is highly recommended as it is extremely tasty!
Antico Cafe Al Abis Roppongi Hills, an authentic cafe in Roppongi with expert baristas
Antico Cafe Al Abyss has a calm yet spacious interior that makes it easy to relax and enjoy yourself. The handmade dolce made by skilled artisans is a must. You can enjoy very authentic taste at a reasonable price. It is recommended to visit here after viewing artworks in the afternoon or in the evening.
Art Facilities near Mori Art Museum
In the same Mori Building as the Mori Art Museum, in front of the museum, you will find the Mori Arts Center Gallery and the gallery complex complex "complex 665," which are located in the area surrounding the museum.
Mori Arts Center Gallery
complex 665
PIRAMIDE Building
(3) "Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery" introducing high-quality working artists in Tokyo
The Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in Hatsudai holds special exhibitions on a wide range of art-related themes, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, design, fashion, and architecture, so you will always be able to enjoy an exhibition no matter when you visit.
The "project N" program, which introduces young artists, is a great showcase of young Japanese contemporary artists. This is a highly recommended museum because you can see both domestic and international artists who are truly at the top of the contemporary art scene.
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery Information
Official Site
Opening Hours
11:00 - 19:00 (Admission until 18:30)
Closed
Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday), during exhibition change periods, year-end and New Year's holidays, and all days closed (the second Sunday in February and the first Sunday in August).
Admission
Individuals: 1,400 yen Groups: 1,200 yen
University and high school students: 800 yen Groups: 600 yen
Free admission for junior high school students and younger, members, and persons with disabilities and one accompanying person.
Access
5-minute walk from East Exit of Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line (directly connected to the station)
Cafes and coffee shops near the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
A healing place in the big city. Le Pain Cotidien Tokyo Opera City
A bakery restaurant that originated in Belgium. You can enjoy good old-fashioned French cuisine with a focus on organic wheat and simple breads.
Opera City itself is a cultural complex, so you can enjoy not only the museum but also various stores and facilities.
Huzukue, a hideaway cafe in Hatsudai where you can suddenly get yourself back on track
Fuzukue, as the name "Bunzukue" suggests, is a café specializing in reading. In order to provide a comfortable time for reading books, the store has rules such as "no private conversation" and "no computer work.
At first, it is easy to shy away when you hear "no talking" or "no computer work," but these are natural rules that you would not even think of doing if you were reading a book comfortably. The menu is a true home-style Japanese cuisine with plenty of vegetables. The food alone is enough to prepare your body and mind, but when combined with a good book, you can experience a true "urban oasis.
Related Art Facilities near Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
New National Theatre, Tokyo
Katsuhiro Yamaguchi Sound Installation "A Sign of the Forest
4) You can learn about postwar and contemporary art in Tokyo! Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art
The Watari-um Art Museum constantly holds international contemporary art exhibitions and is conveniently located within walking distance from cultural centers such as Omotesando and Harajuku. The museum building was designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, and its distinctive corner location is one of its highlights.
Since its opening in 1990, the museum has been one of the first to shine a light on contemporary artists unknown in Japan at the time, such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Nam June Paik, and Joseph Beuys, and to introduce them to the world. Today, these artists have become household names that anyone familiar with art and culture today has heard of.
Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art
Official Site
Opening Hours
11:00 - 19:00
Closed
Every Monday
Admission Fee
Adults 1,500 yen / Adult pair 2,600 yen
Students (25 and under), high school students, persons over 70 years old, holders of a physical disability certificate, rehabilitation certificate, or health welfare certificate for the mentally disabled, and up to one caregiver 1,300 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 500 yen
(Passport-type ticket allows unlimited admission during the exhibition period)
Access
7 min. walk from Exit 3 of Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Chiyoda Line "Omotesando Station" 9 min. walk from Exit A2
14 minutes on foot from Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station (Yamanote Line)
3 minutes on foot from Kita-Aoyama 3-chome stop on the Toei Bus
Cafes and coffee shops near Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art
Cafe "Intestinal Art" is located on the first basement floor inside Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art.
Located inside the museum, you can spend a relaxing time surrounded by books and art works.
Furthermore, the mezzanine floor also has seating, making the cafe a place where you can fully enjoy the unique architecture by Mario Botta from the inside as well.
As the unique name "intestinal art" suggests, the menu includes a humorous lineup of hot dogs, dock bread cheese toast, and other items made with intestinal meat to make you think of your intestines.
Gaienmae, "BOTTA COFFEE" with a stylish botanical design
With a simple white-based space and botanical interior design combined with plantings, the restaurant has a stylish atmosphere and can be easily used for both eat-in and take-out.
The coffee beans "BOTTA BLEND" used as the main ingredient, homemade fruit soda, and a wide variety of drinks other than coffee are available, so you can easily choose a delicious drink according to your mood of the day.
For pancakes in Gaienmae, this is the place to go! Cafe Casa
Cafe Casa has been in business since the early 1980s. With its stained glass windows and colorful fabrics on the terrace, it is a pioneer of the "cute cafe" concept.
The signature dishes, "Kosaki Blend" and "hotcakes," have retained their long-established taste, and combined with the cute atmosphere of the store, give it a very retro and nostalgic feel.
Art Facilities around Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art
Watari-um Museum Shop "On Sundays
MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY
SH ART PROJECT
Nezu Museum
The Nezu Museum is located in Ueno, Tokyo, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property! The National Museum of Western Art
Ueno is home to a number of cultural facilities in Tokyo, and there is so much to see and do that it is impossible to visit all of them in a single day.
The National Museum of Western Art, which was designed by Le Corbusier, one of the leading architects of 20th century modernism, is designated as an Important Cultural Property, and its architecture is a must-see in addition to its exhibitions.
Its very massive stone and concrete form has a fashionable and contemporary look that has not faded away even in the 21st century.
In the plaza in front of the museum entrance, there is a permanent installation of representative modern sculptures such as Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" and "The Gates of Hell" and Antoine Bourdelle's "Hercules Drawing His Bow," which visitors to Ueno can wander around and take a look at.
The collection also features works by painters and sculptors of extremely high quality, mainly from the field of Western modern art.
The works of famous painters such as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Pollock, who are very popular in Japan, are also on display.
Special exhibitions are always being held to help visitors learn more about Western art, and are not to be missed.
The permanent collection is also extensive, and even if you are not impressed by the special exhibitions, you will not be able to stop admiring the high quality of the permanent collection.
Information on the National Museum of Western Art
Official Site
Hours of Operation
9:30 - 17:30 (admission until 30 minutes before closing) Friday and Saturday 9:30 - 20:00
Closed
Every Monday
Admission Fee
Individuals: 500 yen Groups of 20 or more: 400 yen
College students: 250 yen for an individual, 200 yen for a group of college students
Free admission for persons under 18, over 65, and the mentally or physically handicapped and one accompanying person.
Access
Approx. 1 min. walk from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station.
Cafes and coffee shops near the National Museum of Western Art
CAFÉ SUIREN" in the National Museum of Western Art
This restaurant has a bright atmosphere facing the museum courtyard.
Cake sets, Western dishes, and course meals are available. It is also available without an exhibition ticket, so feel free to use it when you want to take a breather after playing in Ueno Park.
BLUE LEAF CAFÉ Ueno, walking distance from Ueno Park
At BLUE LEAF CAFÉ Ueno, you can't miss their delicious coffee, French toast, and peperoncino, but most of all, their parfaits are adorable!
The panda parfait, which is "what Ueno is all about," looks and tastes amazing, and is sure to get you excited.
Be careful not to eat too much!
For Japanese green tea sweets in Ueno, go to "Kisakko
Kisakko" is the basic word in the world of tea ceremonies, meaning "please have a cup of tea.
It is a coffee shop that is open only during the daytime in the tea room of "Inshotei," a grand old tea shop established in 1875.
Art Facilities around "The National Museum of Western Art
Ueno is home to a great variety of art museums, museums, zoos, and other facilities, all of which can be enjoyed wherever you are. Be sure to visit these facilities as well as the Museum of Western Art.
The Ueno Royal Museum
National Museum of Nature and Science
Tokyo National Museum
The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts
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