Tokyo’s art scene is extensive and vibrant, and there’s always so much to see. Whether you want to see some traditional Japanese art or a modern exhibit, here’s a list of exhibitions happening in Tokyo that are worth checking out.
October Tokyo Art Events
Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Exhibition at Tokyo National Museum
Celebrate 50 years of Hello Kitty with this new exhibition at the Tokyo National museum featuring the largest collection of Hello Kitty merchandise, collaboration pieces and original video content all exploring Hello Kitty's design evolution throughout the decades and her global cultural impact.
| Date & Time | Nov 1, 2024-Feb 24, 2025・09:30-17:00・Open until 19:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, Last admission 30 minutes before closing |
| Price | General: ¥2000 (¥1800 advance), University students ¥1800 (¥1600 advance), Junior/Senior High students: ¥1600 (¥1400 advance), Elementary students: ¥1000 (¥800 advance) |
| Location | Tokyo National Museum |
Pokemon x Kogei Art Exhibition
Experience the world of Pokémon in a new light through the "Pokémon x Kogei: Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft" exhibit at Azabudai Hills Gallery. Twenty artists create unique art pieces that mix traditional craftsmanship with modern pop culture. From vases to sculptures and even kimono, the exhibit features over 70 pieces. Special events and a pop-up cafe will also be available during the exhibition period.
| Date & Time | Nov 1, 2024-Feb 2, 2025・10:00-19:00・Exhibit closes at 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before a holiday |
| Price | ¥1800 for general tickets |
| Location | Azabudai Hills Gallery |
| More Info | Pre-sale tickets and online tickets can be purchased in advance for a discount |
Hugo Yoshikawa's 'Country'
This November, explore the latest works by artist Hugo Yoshikawa at the newly reopened UltraSuperNew Gallery, Kura.
| Date & Time | Nov 01-16・11:00-19:00・Gallery closed on Mondays and Sundays |
| Price | Free |
| Location | UltraSuperNew Gallery |
Muuuse: Music Museum
MUUUSE: MUSIC MUSEUM is a new type of music experience museum where you can immerse yourself in music, ft Yaoasobi, TM Network and more.
| Date & Time | Nov 01-Dec 27・10:00-18:00・Last entry 19:30 |
| Price | ¥2,500 |
| Location | Tokyo Node |
Yusuke Kuriki's "Masked Emotions"
“Masked Emotions” explores the intricate layers of human identity and the mask we wear to navigate through this complex world. This exhibition delves into the dualities of desire, self-perception, and the tension between what we reveal and what we conceal. Through the fusion of historical and contemporary influences, it questions the fragility of identity and the role we play, inviting viewers to reflect on the boundaries between authenticity and superficiality.
| Date & Time | Nov 08-10・11:00-19:00 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | UltraSuperNew Gallery |
Flatline City Interdisciplinary Arts Festival
A three-day interdisciplinary art festival at Ohjo Building, a cavernous castle-like structure in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district.
| Date & Time | Nov 08-10・14:00-23:00・Opens 18:00 on Nov 8 |
| Price | ¥3,500 |
| Location | Ohjo Building |
Special Experience in “The Heart” of Tokyo
Visit Chiyoda is offering the rare opportunity to experience Japanese hospitality culture first-hand at the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens.
| Date & Time | Nov 20-21・09:30-19:00 |
| Price | ¥100,000 for full package, ¥20,000 for light package |
| Location | Kitanomaru Garden, Imperial Palace Outer Gardens & Former Imperial Guard Division Headquarters Building |
| More Info | Plans available on a reservation basis |
Tokyo Art Book Fair 2024
Held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, this event is a do-not-miss, if you like books with pictures and/or books with words.
| Date & Time | Nov 28-Dec 01・11:00-18:00・Entry stops 30 mins before closing | Nov 28: 12:00-19:00 |
| Price | ¥1,165 ADV inc. fees |
| Location | Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo |
| More Info | Limited amount of same-day tickets for ¥1,200 | Online sales start Nov 14 |
A Personal View of Japanese Contemporary Art: Takahashi Ryutaro Collection
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo presents the exhibition “A Personal View of Japanese Contemporary Art: Takahashi Ryutaro Collection."
| Date & Time | Aug 03-Nov 10・10:00-18:00・Closed on Mondays |
| Price | ¥2,100 |
| Location | Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo |
Danielle Orchard, Mother of Gloom, 2024. Oil on linen, 167.6 x 218.4 cm | 66 x 86 inch. Photo by Guillaume Ziccarelli. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
Danielle Orchard's "Mother of Gloom"
For her first solo exhibition at Perrotin Tokyo, Danielle Orchard places the importance of the mother front and center, tackling the complexities of maternal experience. Neither overtly celebratory nor sweetly nostalgic, the women of Orchard’s paintings claim their space in the world while also hinting at the conflicting emotions and potentially fraught journeys of motherhood.
| Date & Time | Sep 12-Nov 10・11:00-19:00 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Perrotin Tokyo |
| More Info | Open Thursday — Saturday |
Keiichi Tanaami "Drama of Death and Rebirth" ©Keiichi Tanaami / Courtesy of NANZUKA
Keiichi Tanaami: Adventures in Memory
Keiichi Tanaami takes center stage for his first major retrospective this autumn, celebrating his life and 60-year career of his signature “psychedelic death pop” style.
| Date & Time | Aug 07-Nov 11・10:00-18:00・Closed on Tuesdays. Late openings on Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00 |
| Price | ¥2,000 |
| Location | The National Art Center |
Haniwa: Tomb Sculptures of Japan
"Haniwa" clay figures have been gathered from all over Japan on an unprecedented scale to be put on display at the Tokyo National Museum.
| Date & Time | Oct 16-Dec 08・09:30-17:00 |
| Price | ¥1,000 |
| Location | Tokyo National Museum |
Yosigo Photography Exhibition: 'Holiday Memories'
Yosigo, a world-renowned Spanish photographer, is coming to Tokyo for a special exbition at the Tokyu Plaza Shibuya.
| Date & Time | Oct 01-Dec 26・11:00-20:00 |
| Price | ¥2,000 | ADV ¥1,800 |
| Location | Tokyu Plaza Shibuya |
Louise Bourgeois Solo Exhibition
The Mori Art Museum presents Louise Bourgeois’s first exhibit in Japan in 27 years. It will showcase approximately 100 works across three chapters that offer a comprehensive overview of her practice.
| Date & Time | Sep 25, 2024-Jan 19, 2025・10:00-22:00・Until 17:00 on Tuesdays | Last admission 30 mins before closing |
| Price | ¥2,000 |
'Synesthesia - The Five Senses Interacting Through Art' by Akihito Okunaka
The WHAT MUSEUM will host an interactive exhibition featuring Akito Okunaka's balloon sculptures, inviting visitors to experience art through their five senses.
| Date & Time | Oct 4, 2024-Mar 16, 2025・11:00-18:00・Closed on Monday (last entry 17:00) |
| Price | ¥1,500 for adults / ¥800 for university students and vocational students / Free for high school students and younger / ¥1,000 for water pillow workshop event / ¥2,500 for exhibition passport |
| Location | WHAT MUSEUM 1st floor SPACE 2 |
T2 Collection 'Collecting? Connecting?' Exhibition
The T2 Collection Exhibition will showcase around 35 artworks, including pieces from artists Tatsuo Miyajima, Kohei Nawa and Reijiro Wada.
| Date & Time | Oct 4, 2024-Mar 16, 2025・11:00-18:00・Enter by 17:00 |
| Price | ¥1,500 |
| Location | What Museum |
