{"id":31683,"date":"2021-06-09T14:37:48","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T13:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=31683"},"modified":"2026-04-10T16:24:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T15:24:32","slug":"contemporary-art-in-japan-a-roundup-of-weird-wonderful-exhibits-and-installations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/09\/contemporary-art-in-japan-a-roundup-of-weird-wonderful-exhibits-and-installations\/","title":{"rendered":"Contemporary art in Japan: a roundup of weird, wonderful exhibits and installations"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>This year, teamLab \u2013 the world-famous Japanese art collective \u2013 is celebrating 20 years of bringing together art, science, technology and nature with its mesmerising, immersive installations. So, in the name of all things contemporary, arty, and sometimes ultra-futuristic, we&#8217;ve decided to mark the occasion by taking a look back at our favourite Japanese art encounters from over the years. There&#8217;s a time and a place for ink paintings and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/22\/art-of-modernisation-meji-era-woodblock-prints\/\"><em>ukiyo-e<\/em> woodblock prints<\/a>&#8230; but suffice to say, this isn&#8217;t it!<\/p>\n<p>From teamLab&#8217;s technological wonders to Yayoi Kusama&#8217;s distinctive colourful creations, these are the exhibits that have really stuck in our memory.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31686\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2.jpg\" alt=\"teamLab Chrysanthemum Tiger\" width=\"2400\" height=\"2400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-564x564.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-720x720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-1440x1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-780x780.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Anna-2-510x510.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>teamLab&#8217;s Chrysanthemum Tiger<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;This was taken during my first visit to teamLab in Tokyo in 2019. I\u2019d seen so much hype online \u2013 videos, photos, write-ups \u2013 that I figured I knew what to expect, I was still completely surprised delighted once I got there. One of my favorite works was the life-size <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamlab.art\/w\/tiger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chrysanthemum Tiger<\/a>, which morphed and moved continuously as the flowers bloomed to reveal the image \u2013 each fleeting moment an entrancing composition, begging for some quick snaps to remember it by.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Anna Sears, InsideJapan Boulder\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31710\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1.jpg\" alt=\"Yayoi Kusama exhibit at the Mori Art Museum\" width=\"2400\" height=\"3200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-1-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Yayoi Kusama exhibit, Mori Art Museum<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;There is little that can be said about Yayoi Kusama that hasn\u2019t already been said before. At one time she was an outcast, but now she is something of a Japanese national hero. Her artwork has donned the halls of the greatest museums of the world and decorated Louis Vuitton bags.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This particular exhibit is from my favourite museum in Tokyo, the wonderfully curated Mori Art Museum. If you go on a fair weather day, it is worth paying a little extra to go on to the roof. You should be able to see all of Tokyo and the nearby Tokyo Bay, not to mention Mount Fuji.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Tyler Palma, InsideJapan Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31716\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2.jpeg\" alt=\"\u201cRed Pumpkin\u201d by Yayoi Kusama\" width=\"960\" height=\"746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-300x233.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-768x597.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-564x438.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-900x699.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-720x560.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-390x303.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-780x606.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-pumpkin-2-510x396.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Yayoi Kusama&#8217;s Red Pumpkin<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;This photo of Red Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama was taken at the Miyanoura Port on Naoshima. We arrived on the ferry to be greeted by this cheery sight, and I immediately ran up to get a closer look. It was so much bigger than I imagined, and I felt childlike wonder as everyone (adults and kids alike) climbed in\/on\/out of the gorgeous gourd like they were in an artsy jungle gym. Not only are the views from the round windows fantastic, but there\u2019s a stained-glass surprise that creates an unforgettable whimsical world inside.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Halley Trujillo, InsideJapan Boulder<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31725\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2.jpeg\" alt=\"\u201cLadder to Heaven\u201d at the Kusama Yayoi Museum in Tokyo\" width=\"2400\" height=\"3200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2.jpeg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-423x564.jpeg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-900x1200.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-720x960.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-1440x1920.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-390x520.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-780x1040.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Yayoi-museum-2-510x680.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Ladder to Heaven, Yayoi Kusama Museum<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;This piece drew in my whole self as I peered into the contrasting abyss of neon rainbow and pitch-black nothingness. I knew we were looking down into a mirror, but like magic, it felt like I was looking up at the polka-dotted wonder. It compelled me to think about the afterlife and how I would feel seeing this structure at the end of my days. We stood silently for minutes, and you could tell we were all consumed by similar thoughts as we stared into the glowing beyond.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Halley Trujillo, InsideJapan Boulder<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31692\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo \" width=\"1781\" height=\"1336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail.jpg 1781w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1781px) 100vw, 1781px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;In Tokyo, most famous fashion houses have set aside spaces on their top floors for art exhibitions. A particularly stunning venue is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espacelouisvuittontokyo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo<\/a>, which looks out over the well-to-do neighbourhoods of Harajuku and Aoyama. One time, I met with a stunning installation by Jesus Rafael Soto. The sea of blue was so enticing but we were unsure of whether we could step in or wave a hand through it. Once I got the okay from the security guards, I spent the next 15 minutes drifting through the surreal threads, totally engrossed. Minutes later, I was back on one of Tokyo\u2019s busiest walking streets, people-watching.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Tyler Palma, InsideJapan Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_31698\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31698\" style=\"width: 2400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-31698 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1.jpg\" alt=\"The shrine at the Kadokawa Culture Museum\" width=\"2400\" height=\"3200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-8-1-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-31698\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The neon torii near the Kadokawa Culture Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Kadokawa Culture Museum<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Kengo Kuma has overtaken Tadao Ando as Japan\u2019s most famous \u2013 and perhaps most prolific \u2013 architect. Seeing some of Kengo\u2019s most famous structures might make you think he has a limited palette and particular style, but if you delve in to his work, the variety is simply astounding!<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One of my favorite Kengo Kuma sites is the <a href=\"https:\/\/kadcul.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kadokawa Culture Museum<\/a> in Tokorozawa, on the outskirts of Tokyo. The main building has the presence and strength to seem more like a castle from Game of Thrones than the library, art museum, and history museums that are housed within \u2013 but the space is much more than this single building. Across the street, set in a park, is a permanent teamLab exhibit, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamlab.art\/jp\/e\/acornforest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Acorn Forest<\/a>, which comes to life as night draws in; metallic cocoons begin glowing in a rainbow of colours.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My favourite part about the Kadokawa Culture Museum space, though, is a contemporary shrine that sits off to the side. Glass, running water, and a living <em>torii<\/em> gate growing with plants turns neon in the nighttime. If you&#8217;re wanting to get away from the city centre, this is a fantastic day trip!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Tyler Palma, InsideJapan Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_31701\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31701\" style=\"width: 2400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-31701 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5.jpg\" alt=\"The Acorn Forest teamLab exhibit\" width=\"2400\" height=\"3200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-5-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-31701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">teamLab&#8217;s Acorn Forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31713\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1.jpg\" alt=\"Borderless Digital Museum\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tessa-1-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>teamLab Borderless<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/borderless.teamlab.art\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Borderless Digital Museum<\/a> is designed to impress, and I\u2019d seen lots of images on social media of the light projection rooms with waterfalls cascading down the walls \u2013 but this room blew me away. Mirrored floors and ceilings created an infinity of lights that you weave between (under-skirt paper bags being handed out for those worried about modesty), with the theme changing from gently falling rain to bright sun. It felt otherworldly. Infinitely modern and yet somehow resonant of nature, too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Tessa Glover, InsideJapan Bristol<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31707\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Javier Calleja exhibit at Parco Shibuya\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tyler-2-1-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Parco Shibuya department store<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Like many of the world\u2019s great cities, Tokyo is a tapestry of neighbourhoods. Those for the young, the old, the trendy, the classic, the traditional, the financial, and many more besides. One of the most famous areas is undoubtedly Shibuya. Its pedestrian intersection is unmistakable, in the same way one might think of Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But in the windy and hilly backstreets of Shibuya is the centre of &#8216;cool&#8217; in Japan. Aimed at the young, but not too young (ahem, Harajuku), Shibuya houses up-and-coming artists, hidden clubs, late-night cafes, and more fashion than one knows what to do with. Capitalising on the trendy and quick-to-spend consumers roaming these streets is Parco Shibuya: a department store cut from a different, more edgy type of cloth. The shot above is of a fabulous Javier Calleja exhibit at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/2gtokyo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2G<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Tyler Palma, InsideJapan Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31722\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash.jpeg\" alt=\"The Giant Trash Can on Naoshima\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash-423x564.jpeg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash-390x520.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Halley-Naoshima-Trash-510x680.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Giant Trash Can<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;A seven-minute walk from the Chichu Museum, this Giant Trash Can is a hidden treasure on Naoshima. The buses don\u2019t run on this road, so it\u2019s a special treat for bike riders zooming around the island. I love modern art as it challenges your perspective \u2013 and this surreal blend of everyday life and fantasy did just that. I was strangely overwhelmed by its towering size, and as I sat down to orientate myself, I felt a wave of appreciation that I was born human and not an ant. Only Naoshima garbage could evoke humility like that!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Halley Trujillo, InsideJapan Boulder<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in finding out more about Japanese art? Explore Japan\u2019s art scene on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/self-guided-japan-holidays\/i-jarte\/japan-arts-trail-essential-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japan Arts Trail<\/a> Self-Guided Adventure, or get in touch to find out more about visiting the Setouchi Arts Triennale.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31683\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! This year, teamLab \u2013 the world-famous Japanese art collective \u2013 is celebrating 20 years of bringing together art, science, technology and nature with its mesmerising, immersive installations. So, in the name of all things contemporary, arty, and sometimes ultra-futuristic, we&#8217;ve decided to mark the occasion by taking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3642,2367,2368,2360],"tags":[2794,3094,3926,3929,4135],"class_list":["post-31683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-photography","category-japanese-culture-and-history","category-only-in-japan","category-travellers-tales-from-japan","tag-yayoi-kusama","tag-japanese-art","tag-modern-japanese-art","tag-contemporary-japanese-art","tag-teamlab-borderless-digital-art-museum"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31683"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31761,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31683\/revisions\/31761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}