Tokyo is one of the most culturally-diversified cities in the world – from Japanese traditional culture to cutting-edge design, underground music, and otaku & anime culture. This mega city also has many art museums and some of them give us opportunities to enjoy the great experience of contemporary art.
Here are the best contemporary art museums in Tokyo, where you will get some new kinds of inspiration.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)
https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en/
If you want to explore contemporary art in Tokyo, MOT should be the first choice to visit. You can see the most of Japanese contemporary artists through its collection, while it always holds a special exhibition under a well-curated theme.
Open 10:00am-6:00pm
Closed on Monday
Close to Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station (Hanzomon Line & Oedo Line)
Mori Art Museum
https://www.mori.art.museum/en/
Mori Art Museum, one of the biggest privately-owned museums in Japan, features some of the best contemporary artists in the world the most popular culture, in the very convenient location of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills, where you can also enjoy shopping and nightlife.
Open 10:00am-10:00pm (10:00am-5:00pm on Tuesday)
Open everyday
Close to Roppoingi Station (Hibiya Line & Oedo Line)
The National Art Center, Tokyo
You can see multiple art exhibitions at The National Art Center, Tokyo, such as world-famous contemporary or modern artists and Japanese local art universities’ exhibitions. Its stunning architecture and facade was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, the Japanese architect.
Open 10:00am-6:00pm (10:00am-8:00pm on Friday & Saturday)
Closed on Tuesday
Close to Roppoingi Station (Hibiya Line & Oedo Line)
Warari-um (The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art)
http://www.watarium.co.jp/about.html
Watari-um shows very unique artists from all over the world in its compact space owned by curator/art director Mr. & Mrs. Watari. The shop on the 1st and underground floor has so many kinds of art books and artists’ goods with another exhibition.
Open 10:00am-6:00pm (10:00am-8:00pm on Friday & Saturday)
Closed on Tuesday
Close to Gaien-mae Station (Ginza Line)
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp/en/hara/
If you love to visit an art museum in a beautiful architecture, you can’t miss the Hara Museum. Located in a quiet residential area, you can enjoy Japanese or international contemporary artists’ exhibition with its one-and-only atmosphere.
Open 11:00am-5:00pm (11:00am-8:00pm on Wednesday)
Closed on Monday
Close to Shinagawa Station (JR Yamanote Line/Shinkansen)
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
https://www.operacity.jp/en/ag/
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery holds exhibitions on modern and contemporary artists, sometimes featured with other fields like pop culture.a
Open 11:00am-7:00pm (11:00am-8:00pm on Friday & Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Close to Hatsudai Station (Keio New Line)