Art in Japan>Contemporary Art 1930-2004>Tokyo Gallery Guide

Original articles on art, artists, architecture, exhibitions, galleries, museums and cultural institutions around Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo Gallery Guide

by John McGee

A brief orientation to Tokyo's contemporary art scene 

Tokyo purportedly has more than 1,000 art galleries. Volume alone, however, doesn’t create focus or momentum, and many local art observers count fewer than 20 galleries of note in the city. To understand the limitations of the local scene, tour the tiny storefront galleries in the historical art center of Ginza. Most are halfway homes for resold ceramics or Cezannes, basements for rent to the unrepresented, temples to the traditional, on-again off-agains, or corporate trophies. 

In recent years, this situation has begun to improve dramatically with the consolidation of several premier galleries into must-see complexes. The atmospheric Shokuryo Building in Sagacho accomplished this for a number of years, but fell to bulldozers at the end of 2002. Most of the Shokuryo galleries moved to a former paper warehouse in nearby Shinkawa (Kayabacho station) at the beginning of 2003. Following renovations, the home of Taka Ishii, Shugo Arts, Tomio Koyama and Viewing Room Koyanagi gave Tokyo a novel, Chelsea-type destination. But real estate pressures again forced them to find a new home at the end of 2005, this time back across the Sumida River in a warehouse in the shitamachi (old town) neighborhood of Kiyosumi, not far from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (MoT) and Kiyosumi Garden, a historic Japanese garden. Koyanagi chose to close their viewing room (they keep their main space in Ginza), and a number of other galleries joined the mainstay spaces in colonizing the new building, including Hiromi Yoshii (who moved from Roppongi), Miyake Fine Arts and Zenshi, making this perhaps Tokyo's most exciting art nexus.

Ota Fine Arts, Roentgenwerke and Taro Nasu Gallery joined forces in a complex (opened April, 2003) near the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi, commonly known as the foreigner nightlife district. (Hiromi Yoshii Gallery started there and has since moved to Kiyosumi.) Traumaris, a great art bar run by writer Chie Sumiyoshi, is on the first floor of the building. In nearby Akasaka are Gallery Side 2 and the Japan Foundation Forum, which hosts exhibitions sponsored by the cultural arm of the national government.

Another hot destination is the building in the former entertainment and publishing district of Kagurazaka that houses three galleries--Kodama Gallery (a branch of the Osaka space), Yamamoto Gendai and Takahashi Collection.

These three spots--Kiyosumi, Roppongi and Kagurazaka--are some of the best places to see contemporary art in Japan. However, there are two additional high-density, centrally located art spots worth stopping by. The Okuno Building in Ginza has five floors of closet-sized rental galleries inside one of the area’s oldest tenements. Just a few blocks away, a large number of galleries cluster in the Kyobashi district. Across town in Omotesando, the super white Galeria Building houses Skydoor Gallery, Promo-Arte, and Gallery Gan. Farther down the same street you’ll find Yasu and other small galleries, the Las Chicas restaurant complex and Idee’s Sputnik shop. And don't miss Nadiff bookstore, music store and gallery on the other side of Omotesando.

The old town districts of Ueno (known for museums) and Asakusa (famous for Senso-ji Temple) have a few outposts of contemporary art, notably SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, near the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, which occupies a former sento (bath house) in a residential neighborhood.

Despite these agglomerations, Tokyo galleries and museums still tend to be fairly spread out so planning is essential. Check the latest listings in the free weekly magazine, Metropolis (available at various shops on Fridays and online at www.metropolis.co.jp), the weekly art sections of newspapers—the “Japan Times” on Wednesday, the “Daily Yomiuri” on Thursday and the “International Herald Tribune” on Friday—and the quarterly magazine Tokyo Journal. Other useful media sources are Japan Art Scene Monitor, a website supported by the Australian Embassy which summarizes recent cultural developments (www.jasm.australia.or.jp), and Real Tokyo, a website and e-newsletter that keeps readers updated on upcoming cultural activities around the capital (www.realtokyo.co.jp/english).

In addition to young galleries, energetic organizations have brought fresh viewpoints to Tokyo’s ossified art structures. The most exciting is Arts Initiative Tokyo, a group of young independent curators who run classes on how to think about, talk about and curate contemporary art (skills rarely taught at Japanese art schools). Though most of their classes are in Japanese, they also organize bi-lingual guest lectures and hold temporary exhibitions and parties (www.a-I-t.net). Elsewhere, alternative spaces like Video Art Collective and command N (www.commandn.net) carry on.

Big organizations are stirring things up at the grassroots level too. Major corporations like Kirin and Philip Morris sponsor regular competitions for young artists. In 2002, the Mori Art Museum (MAM) in Roppongi produced a CD of young art musicians and also held a video art competition and subsequent seven-month long screening series at their proto-space, Think Zone. In April 2004, they sponsored their first biennial show of 50 contemporary artists living in Japan. The 2001 Yokohama Triennale, initiated by the Japan Foundation, introduced 110 artists from Japan and overseas and gave the Tokyo area a much needed high-profile international art event. The second, somewhat bland installment, happened in 2005 (oops, that's four years, not three) (www.jpf.go.jp). 

To see art from young people who don’t win competitions, who have no access to commercial galleries, who are unwilling or unable to rent a gallery but still want to show and sell their work, visit one of the semi-annual art festivals put on by Design Festa or Geisai (started by Takashi Murakami). At these events, hundreds of fashionistas, performers, designers, illustrators and artists pay a small amount to “do their thing” in booths measuring little more than three feet square.

Galleries

Akasaka & Roppongi 

Canadian Embassy Gallery

B2, 7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku (5412 6200). Aoyama-Itchome station (Ginza line), exit 4. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri.
Canada’s best appears in the spacious, high-ceilinged granite basement of Moriyama & Teshima Architects award-winning building.

Gallery MA

TOTO Nogizaka Bldg #3, 3F, 1-24-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku (3402 1010). Nogizaka station (Chiyoda line), exit 3. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat. www.toto.co.jp/GALLERMA
Sponsored by toilet giant Toto, this gallery holds some of the city’s best modern and contemporary architecture shows. They usually publish catalogs to accompany the exhibitions, which they sell in the small bookstore downstairs. Recent shows have featured the work of Konstantin Melnikov and Yamamoto Riken.

Gallery Side 2

Mitsuba Bldg 1F, 2-18-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku (6229 3669). Tameike-Sanno station (Ginza, Namboku lines), exit 12. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat.
This daring space shows emerging Japanese (Taro Shinoda, Jun Fujita) and hot international artists (Andrea Zittel).

Japan Foundation Forum

Akasaka Twin Tower 1F, Akasaka 2-17-22, Minato-ku (5562 3892). Tameike-Sanno station (Ginza, Namboku lines), exit 12.  Hours vary with exhibition. www.jpf.go.jp/j
The Japan Foundation, the national cultural body, operates this large multi-purpose space. It generally functions as a kunsthalle and may charge a small admission fee for exhibitions.

Ota Fine Arts

Complex, Roppongi 6-8-14, Minato-ku (5786 2344). Open 11am-9pm Tue-Sun. www.otafinearts.com
Shows some of Japan’s best-known contemporary artists like Yayoi Kusama and  Tsuyoshi Ozawa.

röntgenwerke

Complex, Roppongi 6-8-14, Minato-ku (3475 0166). Roppongi station, exit 3. Open 11am-7pm Tue- Fri, 1-7pm Sat.
Contemporary Japanese and international artists, often with a technological or conceptual edge.

Taro Nasu Gallery

Complex, Roppongi 6-8-14, Minato-ku (5411 7510). Roppongi station, exit 3. Tue-Sat 11am-7pm.
Young Japanese and international painters and photographers like Taiji Matsue.

Aoyama, Harajuku & Omotesando

GA Gallery

3-12-14, Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku (3403 1581). Yoyogi station. Tue-Sun noon-6:30pm. Admission: 500 yen. www.ga-ada.co.jp/english/ga_gallery/index.html
The best architecture gallery and bookstore in Tokyo is housed in a Brutalist concrete structure designed by Makoto Suzuki-AMS Architects in 1983. The gallery features cutting-edge architecture shows, and the bookstore sell glossy Global Architecture magazines and books. It's in an upscale residential area that's between Yoyogi and Harajuku stations, but a bit of a hike from both.

Gallery 360°

2F, 5-1-27 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku (3406 5823). Omotesando station (Chiyoda, Ginza, Hanzomon lines), exit A5. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. www.360.co.jp 
This well-located space emphasizes works on paper and multiples by Lawrence Wiener, Homma Takashi and other contemporary Japanese and international artists.

Design Festa Gallery

3-20-18 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (3479 1442). Harajuku station. Open 11am-8pm daily. www.designfesta.com 
There’s a rabbit warren of rental galleries inside this super-funky apartment house and a colorful cafe in the backyard. They sponsor the semi-annual Design Festa, a huge fair for young artists. 

Gallery Gan

Galeria 1F, 5-51-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (5468 6311). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. 
Contemporary Japanese and international artists (e.g. Vik Muniz).

Nadiff

Casa Real B1F, 4-9-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (3403 8814). Omotesando station, exit A2. Open 11am-8pm daily. www.nadiff.com
The city’s best art and art-music bookstore has a small gallery showing hot young Japanese artists. They also sell editions, making this a good spot for collectors on a budget. There are several branches of Nadiff around town, but this one is the best.

Las Chicas Café/D-Zone

5-47-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (3407 6865). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 11am-11pm daily.
Fashion-conscious restaurant, bar, and shop complex has frequent photo and painting shows (especially by ex-pats) in a splendid al fresco environment off the main drag. English friendly. 

Promo-Arte

Galeria Bldg 2F, 5-51-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (3400 1995). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sun. www.promo-arte.com 
Tokyo’s main Latin American art space. 

Saison Art Program Gallery

Cosmos Aoyama 1F, 5-53-67 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (5464 0197). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sat. www.smma-sap.or.jp
Sponsored by the Saison group of companies, SAP Gallery holds exhibitions by the winners of its grant program for young artists. 

Sign

Yamazaki Bldg B1, 2-7-18 Kita-Aoyama (5474 5040). Gaienmae station, exit 2. Open 8:30am-midnight daily.
This hip little cafe fills its awkwardly shaped basement gallery with photography and illustration. 

Skydoor Art Place

Galeria Bldg B1F, 5-51-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (5485 9559). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. www.skydoor.co.jp 
Young Japanese artists fill this basement rental space. 

Spiral

Spiral Bldg 1F, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku (3498 1171). Omotesando station, exit B1. Open 11am-8pm daily. www.spiral.co.jp 
A ramp spirals around the circular open space at one end of the Maki Fumihiko-designed building, hence the name. A wide range of hip fashion, art and design shows appear here. There’s also a café, bar and CD shop. 

TN Probe

Hanae Mori Bldg 5F, 3-6-1 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku (3498 2171). Omotesando station, exit A1. Open 11am-7:30pm Mon-Sat. www.tnprobe.com
General construction firm Obayashi Corporation opened TN Probe in 1995. They hold two major architecturally themed exhibitions per year, with smaller shows, lectures and other programs in between. 

Viewing Room, Yoyogi/Garage

21-5 Moto-Yoyogicho, Shibuya-ku (5465 6064). Yoyogi-Hachiman station (Odakyu line), Yoyogi Koen station (Chiyoda line). Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sat. www.ycassociates.co.jp/vewingroom/ [sic]
Yes, it’s in a cute but not easy to find room at the back of a suburban garage. Contemporary Japanese artists. 

Yasu Gallery

5-51-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (5485 5336). Omotesando station, exit B2. Open 12-8pm Tue-Fri, 1-6pm Sat. www.yasugallery.com 
This gallery has a young curator and a youthful spirit.

Asakusa

Contemporary Art Factory

1-15-3 Sumida, Sumida-ku (5630 3216). Higashi Mukojima station (Tobu Isezaki line from Asakusa). Open 12-7pm Wed-Fri, 12-6pm Sat-Sun. www.ask.ne.jp/˜factory/ 
Forward-looking if irregular exhibitions, performances, and other events are held in a 40 year-old shitamachi warehouse.

Gallery ef

2-19-18 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku (3841 0442). Asakusa station. Open 11am-7pm Wed-Mon. www.tctv.ne.jp/get2-ef/ 
The beamed ceilings and lacquer floors of this extremely rare earthen-walled warehouse (c. 1868) are tough competition for the contemporary international art shown here.

Daikanyama & Nakameguro

Gallery Speak For

Speak For Bldg B2, 28-2 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku (5459 6385). Daikanyama station (Tokyu Toyoko line). Open 11am-8pm Tue-Sun.
Uber-hip young designers and fashion photographers from Japan and abroad show in this beautiful, below-grade space.

Mizuma Art Gallery

Fujiya Bldg 2F, 1-3-9 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku (3793 7931). Nakameguro station (Hibiya, Tokyu Toyoko lines). Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat. www.mizuma-art.co.jp 
Mizuma features some of Japan’s hottest contemporary artists, like Aida Makoto and Ujino Muneteru, in a white cube inside a somewhat deteriorating apartment building.

Ginza

Base Gallery

Kindai Bldg, 3-7-4 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku (3567 8543). Kyobashi station (Ginza line), exit 2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. http://kas.gaden.com/base.html 
This well-established space on the edge of Ginza shows blue chip contemporary Japanese artists like painter Ohtake Shinro and younger ones like photographer Yokozawa Tsukasa.

Creation Gallery-G8

Recruit Ginza 8 Bldg 1F, 8-4-17 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3575 6918). Shinbashi station, Ginza exit. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Fri. www.recruit.co.jp/GG/ 
Massive Japanese publishing house, Recruit, shows contemporary Japanese graphic design in one of their office buildings. 

Dai-Ichi Seimei Minami Gallery

DN Tower 21, Dai-ichi Honkan Bldg 1F, 1-31-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku (5221 3242). Yurakucho station (JR Yamanote line). Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri. 
A major life insurance company sponsors this showcase for young, emerging Japanese artists.

Forum Art Shop

B Block, Tokyo International Forum, 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku (3286 6716). Yurakucho station, Tokyo International Forum exit. Open 10am-8pm daily. http://paper.cup.com/forum 
Inside Rafael Vinoly’s stunning landmark and upstairs from the Tourist Information Centre, this space shows contemporary Japanese arts and crafts. 

Galleria Grafica 

Ginza S2 Bldg, 6-13-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku (5550 1335). Ginza station, exit A3. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. www2.big.or.jp/~adel/grafica.html 
There’s a busy rental space on the ground floor and a commercial gallery upstairs. 

Gallery Koyanagi

Koyanagi Bldg 1F, 1-7-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3561 1896). Ginza station, exit A13 or Ginza-Itchome station (Yurakucho line), exit 7. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. 
This major Tokyo white cube features international and Japanese artists with an emphasis on photography (Thomas Ruff, Sugimoto Hiroshi, etc.). 

Ginza Graphic Gallery

DNP Ginza Bldg, 7-7-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3571 5206). Ginza station, exit A2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat. www.dnp.co.jp/gallery 
One of Japan’s largest printing companies presents contemporary design and graphics.

Guardian Garden

Recruit G7 Bldg B1F, 7-3-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku (5568 8818). Shinbashi station, Ginza exit. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Fri. www.recruit.co.jp/GG/
This gallery sponsored by media giant Recruit often features group shows of young photographers.

INAX Gallery

Inax Bldg 2F, 3-6-18 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku (5250 6530). Kyobashi station (Ginza line), exit 2. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat. www.inax.co.jp/culture. 
Major ceramics maker INAX runs an architecture bookstore on the ground floor and two galleries upstairs, one for emerging artists with a craft edge, the other for exhibitions of traditional craft techniques from around the world. 

Leica Gallery

Tokyo Matsushima Gankyo Bldg 3F, 3-5-6 Ginza (33567 6706). Ginza station, exit A13. Open 10:30am-5:30pm Tue-Sat.
Contemporary photography.

Kobayashi Gallery

Yamato Bldg B1, 3-8-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3561 0515). Ginza station, A12. Open 11:30am-7pm Mon-Sat.
Young Japanese artists rent this well-established space to show their stuff. 

Kodak Photo Salon

Tokaido Ginza Bldg 3F, 6-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3572 4411). Ginza station, exit C3. Open 10am-6pm daily. www.kodak.co.jp 
Contemporary photography.

Maison Hermes

Maison Hermes 8F Forum, 5-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3569 3640). Ginza Station, exit B7. Open 11am-7pm Thu-Tue.
The curved glass block walls of this beautiful, Renzo Piano-designed space filter daylight and magnify neon at night. They hold shows of Japanese and international contemporary art and crafts according to annual themes like “The Hand.” 

Moris Gallery

Dai 5 Taiyo Bldg, 7-10-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3573 5328). Ginza station, exit A3. Open 11:30am-7pm Mon-Sat.
This tiny space provides a starting point for young artists. 

Nishimura Gallery

Nishi Ginza Bldg B1F, 4-3-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3567 3906). Ginza station, exit B4. Open 10:30am-6:30pm Tue-Sat. 
Yokoo Tadanori, Oshie Chieko, David Hockney and other Japanese and international artists appear here. 

Okuno Building

1-9-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Ginza station, exit A13 or Ginza-Itchome station (Yurakucho line), exit 10. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat (hours vary). 
One of Ginza’s oldest buildings (c. 1932), this tenement has plants hanging off verandas and five floors of tiny rental galleries including Gallery Kobo and Ono Gallery II. 

Shiseido Gallery

Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Bldg B1, 8-8-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3289 8204). Shinbashi station, Ginza exit. Open 11am-7pm Wed-Mon, 11am-6pm Sun. 
Like Maison Hermes, this is more of a kunsthalle than a commercial gallery with important group and solo shows by contemporary Japanese and international artists like Roman Signer, Nakamura Masato, etc. The cosmetics giant runs it in the basement of their new-ish Ricardo Bofill-designed headqaurters. www.shiseido.co.jp/gallery/html 

Tokyo Gallery

Dai 5 Shuwa Bldg 2F, 8-6-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3571 1808). Shinbashi station, Ginza exit. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Fri. www.tokyo-gallery.co.jp Tokyo Gallery shows modern and contemporary Japanese, Chinese and Korean artists. They opened a Beijing branch in 2003. 

Gallery Yamaguchi

Kyoei Bldg, 3-5-3 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku (3564 6167). Kyobashi station, exit 2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. This pair of galleries (rental and commercial) mostly shows young Japanese artists.

Wacoal Ginza Art Space

Miyuki No. 1 Bldg B1, 5-1-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku (3573 3798). Ginza station, exit C2. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Sat. 
Undergarments manufacturer Wacoal sponsors this space for contemporary art in fabric and other media. 

Zeit-Photo Salon

Matsumoto Bldg 4F, 1-10-5 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku (3535 7188). Tokyo station, Yaesu exit. Open 10:30am-6:30pm Tue-Fri, 10:30am-5:30pm Sat.
Reliable, wide-ranging photo exhibitions by Japanese and international photographers appear in this back alley space.

Kagurazaka

Kodama Gallery

3F, 3-7 Nishigokencho, Shinjuku-ku (5261 9022). Kagurazaka station (Tozai line), exit 1. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat. www.kodamagallery.com
A branch of the Osaka powerhouse contemporary art gallery. Cutting-edge Japanese art.

Takahashi Collection

3F, 3-7 Nishigokencho, Shinjuku-ku (5228 1651). Kagurazaka station (Tozai line), exit 1. Open Fri-Sat 11am-7pm. www.takahashi-collection.com
A viewing room for a private collection of modern and contemporary Japanese art.

Yamamoto Gendai

4F, 3-7 Nisigokencho, Shinjuku-ku (5225 3669). Kagurazaka station (Tozai line), exit 1. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat. www.yamamotogendai.org
Hot contemporary Japanese artists such as Odani Motohiro, Deki Yayoi and Yanobe Kenji.

Kiyosumi

Hiromi Yoshii

6F, 1-3-2 Kiyosumi, Koto-ku (5620 0555). Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station (Hanzomon, Oedo lines), exit A3. Open 12-7pm Tue-Sat. www.hiromiyoshii.com Hiromi Yoshii is a young-ish but energetic gallery showing the hippest young Japanese and international artists such as assume vivid astro focus, Miyuki Akiyama and others.

ShugoArts

5F, 1-3-2 Kiyosumi, Koto-ku (5621 6434). Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station (Hanzomon, Oedo lines), exit A3. Open 12-7pm Tue-Sat. www.shugoarts.com  ShugoArts shows an eclectic range of contemporary Japanese and international artists like Yasumasa Morimura, Shimabuku, Naofumi Maruyama, Ilya Kabakov and Candice Breitz.

Taka Ishii Gallery 

5F, 1-3-2 Kiyosumi, Koto-ku (5646 6050). Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station (Hanzomon, Oedo lines), exit A3. Open 12-7pm Tue-Sat. www.takaishiigallery.com
Taka Ishii is a major, internationally recognized gallery emphasizing photography, painting and installation by major Japanese and international artists (Nobuyoshi Araki, Naoya Hatakeyama, Daido Moriyama, Thomas Demand, Jorge Pardo).

Tomio Koyama Gallery

7F, 1-3-2 Kiyosumi, Koto-ku (3642-4090). Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station (Hanzomon, Oedo lines), exit A3. Open 12-7pm Tue-Sat. www.tomiokyoamagallery.com
One of Japan’s most powerful contemporary galleries represents Nara Yoshitomo, Shintaro Miyake, Tam Ochiai and others as well as international artists like Dennis Hollingsworth and Tom Friedman.

Shibuya 

Gallerie Le Deco

Le Deco Bldg, 3-16-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku (5485 5188). Shibuya station, east exit. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sun. http://home.att.ne.jp/gamma/ledeco/ 
Regular exhibitions spread up the six floors of this rental space. There’s a cafe and lounge on the ground floor. 

Shinjuku

Shinjuku epSITE

Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg 1F, 2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (3345 9881). Shinjuku station, west exit. Open 10:30am-6pm daily. http://epsite.epson.co.jp 
Epson uses its latest digital technology to create enormous, impressively detailed photo prints in their showcase gallery. Pentax Forum is next door. 

Kenji Taki Gallery

3-18-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (3378 6051). Hatsudai station (Keio New Line), east exit. Open 1-7pm Tue-Sat. www2.odn.ne.jp/kenjitaki. 
Kenji Taki and Wako Works are neighbors here in the shadow of Tokyo Opera City. Taki shows contemporary Japanese and international artists like Watanabe Eiji and Wolfgang Laib.

Konica Plaza

Shinjuku Takano Bldg 4F, 3-26-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (3225 5001). Shinjuku station, east exit. Open 10:30am-7pm daily. 
Contemporary photography.

Nikon Plaza

Shinjuku Shinjuku L Tower 28F, 1-6-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (3344 0565). Shinjuku station, west exit. Open 10-19 daily, closed Feb 11-12, 3rd Sun and following Mon in Aug. www.nikon-image.com/jpn/service/salon/index.htm 
In addition to the photos, Nikon’s gallery has a good view. 

Shinjuku I-Land

6-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. Shinjuku station, west exit. Open daily (outdoors). 
Public art by Daniel Buren, Luciano Fabro, Roy Lichtenstein and others is installed around the bases of Nishi-Shinjuku skyscrapers. 

Shinjuku Park Tower, Gallery One

3-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (5322-6633). Tochomae station (Toei Oedo line), exit A4 or by free “Ozone” bus from Shinjuku station, south exit. Open 10:30am-6:30pm daily.
Contemporary and modern art and crafts. 

Wako Works of Art

3-18-2-101 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (3373 2860). Hatsudai station (Keio New Line), east exit. Open 11am-7pm Tue-Sat.
Wako shows blue chip and/or conceptual contemporary Japanese and international artists like Gerhard Richter.

Ueno

SCAI—the Bathhouse

Kashiwayu-Ato, 6-1-23 Yanaka, Taito-ku (3821 1144). Nippori station (JR Yamanote), south exit. Open 12-7pm Tue-Sat. 
Formerly a sento (bathhouse), this unique, high-ceilinged space in a charming  neighborhood of old homes near Ueno Park features contemporary Japanese artists like Miyajima Tatsuo and international artists like Li Bul and Julian Opie.

Other Areas

Kojimachi Gallery

3-4-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku (3511 2348). Kojimachi station (Yurakucho line), exit 3. Open 5-8pm Mon, Tue, Fri; 2-7pm Sat. 
Strong emerging artists pop into this tiny space. 

MDS/G

36-18 Ohyamacho, Shibuya-ku (3481 6711). Yoyogi-Uehara station (Chiyoda, Odakyu lines). Open 1-7pm Tue-Sat.
Miyake Design Studio holds irregular contemporary art shows in this Shigeru Ban-designed paper tube building. 

Soh Gallery

2-14-35 Midori-cho, Koganei City (042-382-5338). Higashi Koganei station (JR Chuo line). Open 1-7pm Fri-Sun, Wed-Thu by appointment. www.soh-gallery.com
Contemporary Japanese and international art in the suburbs.

©2006 John McGee

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