The Best Things To Do in Tokyo This Month: May 2025
Here is what's happening across Tokyo for the month of May. Check out exhibitions, festivals, events and more!
List of Contents:
Exhibitions and Art Shows
Festivals and Outdoor Events
Live Music and Night Life Events
Anime and Manga Events
Food and Drink Events
Game Events
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Tokyo Exhibitions and Art Shows in May
Daido Moriyama and Sayre Gomez: "Hellooooo" Exhibition
Daido Moriyama's Tokyo street photography meets the sharp grit of Sayre Gomez's photorealistic Los Angeles paintings in this exhibition.
Date & Time
Apr 12-May 31・11:00-19:00
Price
Free
Location
Taka Ishii Gallery Kyobashi
More Info
Closed Sunday, Monday, Holidays
More Details
Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo Immersive Exhibit
Hokusai's masterpiece ukiyo-e come to life in a way never experienced before. This immersive experience presents the beauty of Hokusai's art with modern technology for an interactive exhibit.
Date & Time
Feb 01-Jun 01・11:00-20:00・Last admission at 19:10
Price
¥4200
Location
Tokyu Plaza Shibuya
More Details
Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art
"Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art" at the Mori Art Museum spotlights contemporary artists that utilize game engines, generative AI and virtual reality technologies as tools for their visualization.
Date & Time
Feb 13-Jun 08・10:00-22:00・10:00-17:00 on Tuesdays, Admission until 30 minutes before closing
Price
¥2000 for adults, ¥1700 for seniors, ¥1400 for university/high school students, free for children
Location
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Hilma af Klint: The Beyond
Go and see the new exhibition of pineoreeing abstract artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1994) coming to the National Museum of Modern Art in March.
Date & Time
Mar 04-Jun 15・10:00-17:00・Closed on Mondays/Fridays and Saturdays open until 8 pm
Price
¥2300
Location
National Museum of Modern Art
More Info
¥1,200 for University Students/¥700 for Highschool Students
More Details
Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition
Godzilla is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Godzilla the Art Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery showcases 29 artists and their interpretation of the giant monster.
Date & Time
Apr 26-Jun 29・10:00-19:00・Until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing
Price
General and university students: ¥2500, high school students: ¥1600, elementary school and under: ¥600
Location
Mori Arts Center Gallery
More Info
Weekday tickets are discounted
More Details
Joan Miró Exhibition
From March 1 to July 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will host a retrospective dedicated to Joan Miró, one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists.
Date & Time
Mar 01-Jul 06・09:30-17:30・Fridays open until 8:00 p.m. / Last entry 30 minutes before closing / Closed: Mondays (except April 28 and May 5) and May 7
Price
¥2,300 / ¥1,300 for University Students / ¥1,600 for people over 65 years old
Location
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
More Details
Kenjiro Okazaki Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Kenjiro Okazaki's first major Tokyo retrospective highlights groundbreaking works, exploring the transformative power of form across media.
Date & Time
Apr 29-Jul 21・10:00-18:00
Price
Location
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 1F/3F
More Details
Exhibition: World Fair in Japan 1970-2005
Architecture fans will delight in this deep dive into Japan's Expo designs, from Osaka in the '70's to Aichi 2005's eco-conscious pavilions.
Date & Time
Mar 08-Aug 31・10:00-16:30
Price
Free
Location
National Archives of Modern Architecture
More Info
Closed on Mondays, except public holidays (closed the following day instead)
More Details
Tokyo Festivals and Outdoor Events in May
Spiral Independent Creators Festival 2025
The Spiral Independent Creators Festival is back for its 26th edition, offering an exciting showcase of Japan's art and design scenes.
Date & Time
May 02-07・11:00-19:00
Price
Exhibition tickets are ¥1000. The market is free.
Location
Spiral
More Details
Keisei Rose Garden 'The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle'
Experience the Keisei Rose Garden's spring festival, "The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle," where the garden turns into a rose-filled theme park. Throughout the festival period, guests can enjoy tea in the small castle inside the garden, and ride a merry-go-round or the self-driving car to explore the garden premises.
Date & Time
Apr 19-Jun 15・09:00-18:00
Price
¥1,800
Location
Keisei Rose Garden
More Details
My Melody & Kuromi Anniversary Party at Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland
To celebrate My Melody's 50th anniversary and Kuromi's 20th anniversary, Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland theme parks will have new attractions, entertainment, photo spots, merchandise and food.
Date & Time
Jan 17-Dec 31・・Specific event and attraction dates may vary
Price
Location
Sanrio Puroland
More Details
Tokyo Live Music and Night Life Events in May
Angura Presents: 'Pop Peach Planet'
Angura's next event features four exciting and creative pop acts in Japanese indie like Puff and Wang Dang Doodle, and some top-class DJs.
Date & Time
May 14, 2025・19:00~・Doors open 18:30
Price
¥3,200 (inc 1D
Location
Shinjuku Marz
More Details
Boyz II Men Japan
Boyz II Men touch down in Japan for a three-date arena tour, taking in Osaka and Nagoya before moving onto Tokyo for a final date.
Date & Time
May 16, 2025・19:00~・Doors open 18:00
Price
from ¥15,000
Location
Tokyo Garden Theater
More Details
Kamasi Washington Live in Tokyo 2025
Kamasi Washington, aka one of the coolest saxophonists in the business, comes back to Japan for four solo dates across the country.
Date & Time
May 23-28・17:30~・Playing four times across two days. 1st OPEN 16:30 / START 17:30 | 2nd OPEN 19:30 / START 20:30
Price
from ¥16,500
Location
Billboard Live Tokyo
More Details
The Beach 2025: A New Beach Festival Dedicated to Dance Music
The Beach 2025 — a brand-new beach festival in Japan that's dedicated to dance music — makes its debut on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Date & Time
May 31, 2025・12:00-21:00・Doors open at 11:00
Price
General admission: ¥15,000 | At the gate: ¥18,000
Location
Makuhari Seaside Park (Chiba)
More Details
Hibiya Music Festival 2025
A 'free and borderless' music event, the Hibiya Music Festival returns this May, bringing live performances by top artists to Hibiya Park.
Date & Time
May 31-Jun 01・10:30-20:30
Price
Free
Location
Hibiya Park
More Info
Some venues may require entry fee. See website for details
More Details
Tokyo Anime and Manga Events in May
Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition
In 2003, Tokyo was blessed with the Ghilbli 3D sculpture exhibition. Now, 22 years later, it is back and bigger than ever. Dive into the worlds of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Pom Poko with full-scale sculptures from the films. You can even see the Savoia S-21 flying boat from Porco Rosso.
Date & Time
May 27-Sep 23・09:30-20:00・Last Entry at 19:00
Price
¥1,900
Location
Warehouse TERRADA B&C HALL
More Details
Tokyo Food and Drink Events in May
The Tavern Secret Kitchen Is Back
The Tavern Secret Kitchen is secretly back with two unforgettable evenings on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, 2025.
Date & Time
May 16-17・19:00~・Welcome drink from 18:30
Price
¥24,200
Location
The Tavern - Grill & Lounge
More Info
¥9,900 for wine pairing
More Details
Italia, Amore Mio! 2025: Life is Beautiful
Italia, Amore Mio! 2025 is back at Roppongi Hills Arena on May 24–25, featuring live entertainment, Italian brands and authentic Italian food and wine.
Date & Time
May 24-25・
Price
Free
Location
Roppongi Hills Arena
More Details
Chinaroom Hosts Renowned Cantonese Chef Jacob Huang
For one week only this February, Chinaroom is welcoming acclaimed Michelin-Starred Chef Jacob Huang to Tokyo.
Date & Time
Feb 25-May 31・11:30-14:30・Dinner: 17:30-20:30
Price
Dinner: ¥17,600, Lunch: ¥8,800
Location
Chinaroom
More Details
Jade Garden Special Chef Collaboration Event
For around two months, Chef Kent Jin Qiang is presenting a special menu at Jade Garden, Hyatt Regency Tokyo.
Date & Time
Mar 20-May 31・11:30-22:00・Lunch: 11:30-15:00, Dinner: 17:30-22:00
Price
¥10,120-¥22,770
Location
Jade Garden
More Info
All prices include 15% service charge and tax
More Details
The Oak Door Bar's Sakurao Cocktails
With hanami season approaching, Grand Hyatt Tokyo is exploring the complex flavors of Sakurao Gin through a range of cocktails.
Date & Time
Mar 20-May 31・11:30-23:30・Until 0:30 on Fridays and Saturdays
Price
¥2,300-¥2,500
Location
The OakDoor
More Details
Tokyo DisneySea Food & Wine Festival
The Food & Wine Festival returns for a second year at Tokyo DisneySea. Guests can sample a variety of dishes and exclusive seasonal beverages.
Date & Time
Apr 08-Jun 30・・Specific menu and merchandise sale dates may vary
Price
Location
Tokyo DisneySea
More Details
Le Petit Chef
ANA InterContinental Tokyo recently announced the opening of Le Petit Chef, a cinema dining restaurant with projection mapping.
Date & Time
Feb 07-Jul 31・12:00-22:00・Three Seatings
Price
¥14,000-¥21,000
Location
ANA InerContinental Tokyo
More Details
Sapporo Beer The Perfect Black Label Wagon Event
Sapporo's Perfect Black Label Wagon is touring at 13 stops celebrating their flagship draft beer around the country. Guests can enjoy Sapporo beer and other exclusive goods at the event.
Date & Time
Apr 09-Aug 24・・Please check event details for each venue
Price
Experience passes: ¥1200 (Tokyo), ¥1000 (other locations)
Location
Roppongi Hills Arena
More Details
Mori no Beer Garden's 40th Edition
Mori no Beer Garden is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue and an all-you-can-eat drinks menu.
Date & Time
Apr 15-Sep 23・16:30-22:00・Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:00. From July 19 to August 31: 14:00-22:30, Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:30
Price
¥6,000-¥7,000 for adults
Location
Niko Niko Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien
More Details
(c)Kristin Perers
Bills Spring-Summer 2025 Menu
The all-day dining restaurant Bills (stylized as bills) starts its spring-summer 2025 menu at all eight locations in Japan from April 22.
Date & Time
Apr 22-Oct 15・
Price
Breakfast-Brunch ¥3,000-¥3,999
Location
bills Ginza
More Info
Dinner ¥5,000-¥5,999
More Details
Tokyo Game Events in May
More events coming soon.
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Japan Times
3 days ago
- Japan Times
New Naoshima museum bets on Asia, not the West
A flight and a bus or several trains, a line, a boat, another line, a bus, a walk and 96 stairs is all it takes to get to Naoshima's newest art sanctum. Benesse Art Site Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea, popularly shortened to just Naoshima or 'the art islands,' is a veritable art theme park of six museums and 22 spaces across four islands. Last week it welcomed a new member. The building, imaginatively named Naoshima New Museum of Art, opened May 31. Tadao Ando, Naoshima's inextricable architect, designed the space, making the museum his 10th contribution to the art site. Three floors of about 3,200 square meters of gallery begin at ground level and descend into the hill on which it rests. Architecturally the museum feels very much same-same as the rest of Naoshima, with a humble facade that looks out over the lesser-used Honmura port on the east side of the island. The staircase in the new Tadao Ando building creates a single line through the museum. | Thu-Huong Ha Unlike other Naoshima museums, whose collections are permanent, the new museum will change periodically, with the first update scheduled for February 2026. The new museum opens under the directorship of Akiko Miki with the exhibition 'From the Origin to the Future,' which contains installations and site-specific works by 12 living Asian artists. This is an important departure from the rest of Naoshima; the roster that's made it famous — Yayoi Kusama, Claude Monet, Walter De Maria, James Turrell, Hiroshi Sugimoto — skews heavily white and Japanese — although the new museum is consistent in that it's still predominantly male. The art site is jointly run by the Fukutake Foundation and Benesse Holdings, which were both founded by the Fukutake family. The vision for the art islands originally came from Tetsuhiko Fukutake, but when he unexpectedly died in 1986, his son, Soichiro, took over and presided over the island's cultural transformation over the next several decades. The billionaire publisher turns 80 this year, and the new museum, which draws from his collection, may well be his swan song. 'I started the Asian collection based on the hypothesis that the era of the West, of Europe and America, was coming to an end, and that an era of Asia would begin,' Fukutake told the press. 'And now, it feels like the times are actually heading in that direction, so I feel like it was the right decision.' Benesse signaled its commitment to the region in 2016, when it moved its ¥3 million Benesse Prize from its home at the Venice Biennale to the Singapore Biennale, with a new focus on Asian art. Works shown at the Naoshima New Museum of Art include past winners of the prize. Pannaphan Yodmanee, 'Aftermath' (2016/2025) and Henri Dono & indieguerillas, 'Consciousness of Humanity: a Journey to the Center' (2024-25) | Thu-Huong Ha Detail of Pannaphan Yodmanee, 'Aftermath' (2016/2025) | Thu-Huong Ha On the first floor, Southeast Asian artists make statements about religion, harmony, colonialism and memory. 'Aftermath' is an intricate and expansive mixed-media mural installation by Thai artist Pannaphan Yodmanee. The 11th Benesse Prize-winning work explores Buddhist cosmology using rocks and found objects. The artist paints traditional Thai art motifs directly onto stone and displays stupas below, while figures who seem straight out of Buddhist hell look on. Moving right across the mural, horse-backed Europeans shoot at loin-clothed natives in an endless cycle of suffering. Indonesian husband-and-wife pair indieguerillas, comprising Dyatmiko 'Miko' Bawono and Santi Ariestyowanti, collaborated with established Indonesian artist Heri Dono for seven pieces that make up the installation 'Consciousness of Humanity: a Journey to the Center.' Bright cartoon-like acrylics on wood draw on imagery from traditional Javanese puppet theater. The figurative illustrations were originally meant to be a public art work connecting a mosque and a church, says Bawono. But the commission didn't work out. '(The government) preferred a more neutral work with only shapes, like circles and triangles,' he says, adding that he's glad their vision could be executed on Naoshima. Do Ho Suh, 'Hub/s, Naoshima, Seoul, New York, Horsham, London, Berlin' (2025) | Thu-Huong Ha One floor down is a gallery containing Do Ho Suh's 'Hub,' an ongoing series that's brought the London-based Korean artist to global renown. Suh creates to-scale fabric and steel replicas of rooms and spaces he's lived in in Seoul, New York, Berlin, among others. For this iteration, he adds the hallway of a house from Naoshima, connecting it to previously made spaces. Though other works in this architectural series feature detailed fixtures like stoves, toilets and radiators, the ones here appear as one extended hallway, connecting place to place to place, smooth and nonspecific. On the lowest floor are three provocateurs of Japan's contemporary art world. Makoto Aida's newly commissioned 'Monument for Nothing — Red Torii Gate,' part of his ongoing project of the same name, critiques Japan and its leadership. A distorted torii gate sculpture looms over the space of the gallery, covered in low-res images collected from the news over the past three decades, a period in which Japan's economy has suffered and its birth rate has declined. The faces of Japanese politicians, with appearances by U.S. President Donald Trump and Steve Jobs, adorn the gate. One image shows former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wearing his infamous 'Abenomask,' while another shows him flanked by other former heads of government and cracking up. Thin sprouts rise up from all over the deformed figure, intended to represent hope for Japan's future — but they only manage to make the form look even more grotesque and diseased. Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, 'The Sweet Box: Michi in Transit' (2024-present) | Thu-Huong Ha The artist collective popularly known as Chim↑Pom shows elements from its Michi (as in, 'street') work in Tokyo's Koenji neighborhood, part of their 'Sukurappu ando Birudo' ('scrap and build') project. Documents, sofa parts, hoses, pipes and other debris from the demolitions of the former Parco building in Shibuya and Kabukicho Shopping District Promotion Association building are squashed into a box reminiscent of a shipping container, in a statement on Japan's constant construction and rebuilding. Stretching between the two works is Takashi Murakami's 13-meter-wide 'Rakuchu-Rakugai-zu Byobu: Iwasa Matabei RIP,' based on Iwasa Matabei's Edo Period (1603-1868) National Treasure screens depicting life in Kyoto, which the artist has updated since 2023. Finally, 99 life-sized wolf sculptures in Cai Guo-Qiang's 'Head On,' which has traveled all over the world from its debut in Berlin, now live on Naoshima as part of Fukutake's collection. Cai Guo-Qiang, 'Head On' (2006) | Thu-Huong Ha After the subterranean wolves, there's respite at the museum cafe. Breezy at the same time that it feels slightly weighted by the sea air and charged by the energy of trees tossed by the wind, the space contains a newly commissioned work by Indian artist N. S. Harsha. Harsha seized the chance to work on the cafe. 'I really like when art is positioned in a place where it's not exactly a museum, it's at the threshold,' he says. 'Happy Married Life' consists of panels telling three stages of a story about a wedding. 'It's been a longtime idea of mine to get a microscope and telescope married. I wanted them to get married. It's time!' the artist says, chuckling. It's playful and joyful — Harsha's name means 'happiness,' so it sort of goes with the territory, he says — but the work also represents a union between what he sees as two components inside each of us, internal and external visions. That cheer is somewhat at odds with the depictions of suffering and political critiques on display throughout the rest of the museum, but it's a nice moment of whimsy against Ando's sleek, spare monochrome. It's worth noting that the new museum is one of the few art spaces on Naoshima that allows photography. Perhaps that's why the museum leans a bit too heavily on large-scale, Instagram-worthy crowd-pleasers. Which is unfortunate because the mix of critical Japanese works and works by younger Southeast Asian artists makes the Naoshima New Museum of Art otherwise a welcome addition to the larger Western-focused Benesse complex. N. S. Harsha, 'Happy Married Life' (2025) | Thu-Huong Ha Most of the indoor Naoshima spaces have long had a no-photo policy, which allows for more actual art-viewing, as opposed to the kind of look-at-me-looking-at-art experience that has become the norm at clogged art shows. One has to wonder if the new photography policy is pandering in a way Naoshima has largely been able to avoid (with the exception of its famous pumpkin, the rare public artwork that has its own self-governing line). Fukutake's shift to Asian art is more than a lofty vision of the world's future creative center — it's a shrewd commercial move for the tycoon who's already completely remade the island and region. Takamatsu Airport serves daily low-cost flights to and from Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei, making Naoshima an international weekend getaway that's as convenient (or inconvenient) from East Asia as from Tokyo. Streets of old-style Japanese houses are wedged in with cafes catering to foreign tourists, and a quiet slope is quickly interrupted by visitors shouting to each other as they fly by on motorized bicycles. The ferries and long queues are filled with the bustling excitement of languages from around the world, people holding up their phones, ready to look and be looked at. The entrance to the Naoshima New Museum of Art displays its oddly hard to read logo. | Thu-Huong Ha For more information about the Naoshima New Museum of Art, visit
Tokyo Weekender
5 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
The Best Things To Do in Tokyo This Month: June 2025
Here is what's happening across Tokyo for the month of June. Check out exhibitions, festivals, events and more! List of Contents: Exhibitions and Art Shows Festivals and Outdoor Events Live Music and Night Life Events Anime and Manga Events Food and Drink Events Film and Game Events Related Posts Tokyo Exhibitions and Art Shows in June Aokabi Saya: Mille Crepe 2 Exhibition Illustrator Aokabi Saya returns with Mille Crepe 2, a solo exhibition of new works showing at Parco Museum Tokyo. Known for blending analog and digital techniques, Aokabi draws inspiration from the stylized character designs of 1990s Japanese animation, reinterpreting them with a delicate balance of precision and spontaneity. Date & Time Jun 13-30・11:00-21:00 Price Free Location Parco Museum Tokyo More Details Ando Teru Exhibition: The Sculptor of The Hachiko Statue This exhibition revisits the sculptor behind Shibuya's beloved Hachiko statue, marking 80 years since his death. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 17・10:00-20:00 Price ¥1000 Location The Shoto Museum of Art More Info Closed on Mondays (except for July 21, and August 11, 2025), July 22(Tue.), and August 12(Tue.), 2025 More Details Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp Exhibition Celebrating the visionary duo Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, this exhibition explores their radical art and design fusion in the Dadaist movement. Together their work redefined 20th century modernism — offering a vibrant dialogue between form, freedom, and creative synergy. Date & Time Mar 01-Jun 01・10:00-18:00・Open until 20:00 on Fridays. Closed Mondays. Price ¥2000 Location Artizon Museum More Info (¥1800 if purchased online) More Details Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo Immersive Exhibit Hokusai's masterpiece ukiyo-e come to life in a way never experienced before. This immersive experience presents the beauty of Hokusai's art with modern technology for an interactive exhibit. Date & Time Feb 01-Jun 01・11:00-20:00・Last admission at 19:10 Price ¥4200 Location Tokyu Plaza Shibuya More Details Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art "Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art" at the Mori Art Museum spotlights contemporary artists that utilize game engines, generative AI and virtual reality technologies as tools for their visualization. Date & Time Feb 13-Jun 08・10:00-22:00・10:00-17:00 on Tuesdays, Admission until 30 minutes before closing Price ¥2000 for adults, ¥1700 for seniors, ¥1400 for university/high school students, free for children Location Mori Art Museum More Details Hilma af Klint: The Beyond Go and see the new exhibition of pineoreeing abstract artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1994) coming to the National Museum of Modern Art in March. Date & Time Mar 04-Jun 15・10:00-17:00・Closed on Mondays/Fridays and Saturdays open until 8 pm Price ¥2300 Location National Museum of Modern Art More Info ¥1,200 for University Students/¥700 for Highschool Students More Details Ukiyo-e In Play Exhibition Explore the evolution of traditional Japanese woodcut printing at the Contemporary Ukiyo-e Exhibition, featuring 85 artists reimagining the timeless art of ukiyo-e. Date & Time Apr 22-Jun 15・09:30-17:00 Price ¥1000 Location Tokyo National Museum More Details Love Fashion: In Search of Myself Exhibition A fashion exhibition from the archives of the Kyoto Costume, exploring clothing through our dreams and desires. From luxurious historical garments to iconic contemporary pieces from Alexander McQueen to Yohji Yamamoto, the show covers centuries of style to examine the deep connection that clothing has with human nature and the self. Date & Time Apr 16-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・Closed on Mondays Price ¥1600 Location Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery More Details "Japanese Gentian - Twin Lines," Daiya Yamamoto, 61 x 73 cm Daiya Yamamoto Solo Exhibition Daiya Yamamoto is an artist who skilfully merges traditional Western painting techniques with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to capture the essence of contemporary time. On view from May 24 to June 22, this exhibition marks Yamamoto's highly anticipated first solo show at Galerie Taménaga's Tokyo location since his acclaimed 2023 presentation at the gallery's Paris space, which captivated art enthusiasts in Europe. Featuring approximately forty new works, the exhibition spotlights Yamamoto's refined take on trompe-l'œil, a Western technique that creates the illusion of real-life presence. Date & Time May 24-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・11:00-17:00 on Sundays & Holidays Price Free Location Galerie Taménaga More Details Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition Godzilla is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Godzilla the Art Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery showcases 29 artists and their interpretation of the giant monster. Date & Time Apr 26-Jun 29・10:00-19:00・Until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing Price General and university students: ¥2500, high school students: ¥1600, elementary school and under: ¥600 Location Mori Arts Center Gallery More Info Weekday tickets are discounted More Details Living Modernity: 1920s–1970s Architecture Exhibition "Living Modernity" explores the home as an innovative space of beauty, and the 20th century ideals that shaped how we live today. Showcasing projects from Japan, Europe, America and Brazil, the exhibition includes an impressive name-call of iconic architects, and shares how Japan responded to modernism with a focus on natural materials. With display objects spanning graphic art, models and immersive experiences, this exhibition is sure to delight fans of interior and architectural design, alongside anyone who has ever taken pleasure in a Zillow scrolling session. Date & Time Mar 19-Jun 30・10:00-18:00・Closed on Tuesdays Price ¥1800 Location The National Art Center, Roppongi More Details Joan Miró Exhibition From March 1 to July 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will host a retrospective dedicated to Joan Miró, one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists. Date & Time Mar 01-Jul 06・09:30-17:30・Fridays open until 8:00 p.m. / Last entry 30 minutes before closing / Closed: Mondays (except April 28 and May 5) and May 7 Price ¥2,300 / ¥1,300 for University Students / ¥1,600 for people over 65 years old Location Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum More Details Kenjiro Okazaki Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Kenjiro Okazaki's first major Tokyo retrospective highlights groundbreaking works, exploring the transformative power of form across media. Date & Time Apr 29-Jul 21・10:00-18:00 Price Location Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 1F/3F More Details Exhibition: World Fair in Japan 1970-2005 Architecture fans will delight in this deep dive into Japan's Expo designs, from Osaka in the '70's to Aichi 2005's eco-conscious pavilions. Date & Time Mar 08-Aug 31・10:00-16:30 Price Free Location National Archives of Modern Architecture More Info Closed on Mondays, except public holidays (closed the following day instead) More Details Tokyo Festivals and Outdoor Events in June The 44th Yokohama Open Port Festival This year marks the 44th Yokohama Port Opening Festival, a popular event for Yokohamaites to celebrate the opening of the port of Yokohama in 1859 and honor the history of their hometown. Approximately 2,500 fireworks will be shot off at Rinko Park in the grand finale of the three-day festival. The fireworks and drone shows will illuminate the night sky of the Minato Mirai area. Date & Time May 31-Jun 02・19:20~ Price Free Location Rinko Park More Details Keisei Rose Garden 'The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle' Experience the Keisei Rose Garden's spring festival, "The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle," where the garden turns into a rose-filled theme park. Throughout the festival period, guests can enjoy tea in the small castle inside the garden, and ride a merry-go-round or the self-driving car to explore the garden premises. Date & Time Apr 19-Jun 15・09:00-18:00 Price ¥1,800 Location Keisei Rose Garden More Details My Melody & Kuromi Anniversary Party at Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland To celebrate My Melody's 50th anniversary and Kuromi's 20th anniversary, Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland theme parks will have new attractions, entertainment, photo spots, merchandise and food. Date & Time Jan 17-Dec 31・・Specific event and attraction dates may vary Price Location Sanrio Puroland More Details Tokyo Live Music and Night Life Events in June Bruno Pernadas Duo and The Hatch Live Show Double Bill Lisbon-based musician Bruno Pernadas returns to Japan in a rare duo performance with saxophonist José Soares, supported by The Hatch. Date & Time Jun 18, 2025・19:00-21:30・Doors open at 18:30 Price ADV ¥4,800＋1D, SAME-DAY ¥5,300＋1D, UNDER 29 ¥3,800 Location WALL & WALL More Details Candlelight : A Tribute to Joe Hisaishi at Christ Shinagawa Church Enjoy the enchanting music of Joe Hisaishi at Christ Shinagawa Church, with a candlelit performance of iconic Studio Ghibli scores by the Fleurs Quartet. Date & Time Jun 27-Jul 04・16:45-17:50 Price ¥3,800 - ¥7,200 Location Christ Shinagawa Church More Details Candlelight: Piano Classics Experience the magic of Piano Classics by candlelight at Christ Shinagawa Church, featuring timeless works by Chopin, Debussy, Mozart and more. Date & Time Jun 27, 2025・19:00-20:05 Price ¥5,050 - ¥7,550 Location Christ Shinagawa Church More Details chanmina Chanmina Area of Diamond 3 Tour Tokyo 2025 This June, Chamina, the body-positive rapper and singer, will perform at two dates in Tokyo. She'll be drawing from a bag of hits. Date & Time Jun 28-29・18:00~・OPEN 17:00 | June 29 OPEN 16:00 / START 17:00 Price ¥9,500 Location Yoyogi 1st National Gymnasium More Details Hibiya Music Festival 2025 A 'free and borderless' music event, the Hibiya Music Festival returns this May, bringing live performances by top artists to Hibiya Park. Date & Time May 31-Jun 01・10:30-20:30 Price Free Location Hibiya Park More Info Some venues may require entry fee. See website for details More Details Candlelight : A Tribute to Joe Hisaishi Experience the music of Joe Hisaishi like never before at a candlelit tribute concert in Tokyo's Kanze Noh Theater, featuring iconic Studio Ghibli scores performed live by Ensemble Themis. Date & Time May 24-Jul 21・ Price ¥4000 - ¥8200 Location Kanze Noh Theatre Ginza More Details Tokyo Community and Family Events in June Nerd Nite Tokyo #69: Trains of Future Past Science, history and craft beer come together at the latest edition of Nerd Nite Tokyo, where experts and enthusiasts gather for an evening of lively talks and good conversation. Held monthly, this laid-back lecture series combines curious minds with a casual setting, offering a fun and approachable take on big ideas. This month's theme explores transportation across time, from the industrial age to the quantum future. Date & Time Jun 20, 2025・20:00~・Doors open at 19:00 Price ¥1,000 Location Ryozan Park Lounge More Details Tokyo Anime and Manga Events in June Bleach: The Locus of the Brave II From June 11 to July 13, dive into the world of Bleach with this special Tokyo exhibition! Explore exclusive production materials, behind-the-scenes footage, immersive experiences, and stylish photo spots. Also, don't miss the mysterious "Kurosaki" corner and tons of exclusive Bleach goods. Date & Time Jun 13-Jul 13・11:00-20:00 Price TBA Location Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park More Details Leiji Matsumoto Manga Exhibition The "Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Journey of Creation" exhibit at Tokyo City View showcases more than 300 original drawings, including Matsumoto's early works and never-before-seen content from "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Pirate Captain Harlock." Date & Time Jun 20-Sep 07・10:00-20:00 Price Location Tokyo City View More Details My Hero Academia Original Art Exhibition The globally acclaimed manga series My Hero Academia is being honored with a special exhibition in Tokyo, celebrating creator Kohei Horikoshi's artistic journey and the series' conclusion after a remarkable 10-year run. This exhibition offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of one of Japan's most successful modern manga series up close. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 31・10:00-20:00 Price ¥2200 Location CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO More Info Discounts for students More Details © Sotsu, Sunrise Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- Exhibition A special exhibition of the latest work in the Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuuX (Siege Ax) -Beginning-, is currently being held. Date & Time May 24-Aug 11・11:00-19:00 Price Free Location Anime Tokyo Station More Details Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition In 2003, Tokyo was blessed with the Ghilbli 3D sculpture exhibition. Now, 22 years later, it is back and bigger than ever. Dive into the worlds of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Pom Poko with full-scale sculptures from the films. You can even see the Savoia S-21 flying boat from Porco Rosso. Date & Time May 27-Sep 23・09:30-20:00・Last Entry at 19:00 Price ¥1,900 Location Warehouse TERRADA B&C HALL More Details Tokyo Food and Drink Events in June Pierre Hermé Paris Afternoon Tea at Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar is providing a "classic" afternoon tea service in collaboration with Pierre Hermé from June 1, 2025. Date & Time Jun 01-Jul 31・ Price ¥7,500 Location Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar More Info ¥11,000 includes a macaron gift More Details Il Lupino Prime Tokyo's Fresh Green Afternoon Tea Il Lupino Prime Tokyo, a German-owned Italian restaurant established in Hawaii, is offering a Green Afternoon Tea course. Date & Time May 16-Jun 30・11:30-23:30 Price ¥7,800-¥8,800 Location Il Lupino Prime Tokyo More Info For the Cocktail Set: ¥8,800-¥9,800 More Details Tokyo DisneySea Food & Wine Festival The Food & Wine Festival returns for a second year at Tokyo DisneySea. Guests can sample a variety of dishes and exclusive seasonal beverages. Date & Time Apr 08-Jun 30・・Specific menu and merchandise sale dates may vary Price Location Tokyo DisneySea More Details Le Petit Chef ANA InterContinental Tokyo recently announced the opening of Le Petit Chef, a cinema dining restaurant with projection mapping. Date & Time Feb 07-Jul 31・12:00-22:00・Three Seatings Price ¥14,000-¥21,000 Location ANA InerContinental Tokyo More Details Sapporo Beer The Perfect Black Label Wagon Event Sapporo's Perfect Black Label Wagon is touring at 13 stops celebrating their flagship draft beer around the country. Guests can enjoy Sapporo beer and other exclusive goods at the event. Date & Time Apr 09-Aug 24・・Please check event details for each venue Price Experience passes: ¥1200 (Tokyo), ¥1000 (other locations) Location Roppongi Hills Arena More Details Asian Spice Afternoon Tea – A Fragrant Feast of Spices and Dim Sum ANA InterContinental Tokyo is offering Asian Spice Afternoon Tea – A Fragrant Feast of Spices and Dim Sum at Karin Chinese Restaurant. Date & Time May 01-Aug 31・11:30~・Three Sittings, 2-hour limit: 11:30 - 14:-00 - 17:30 Price ¥8,855 Location Karin Chinese Restaurant More Info Enjoy an optional free-flow drink plan for an extra ¥3,000 per person More Details Mori no Beer Garden's 40th Edition Mori no Beer Garden is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue and an all-you-can-eat drinks menu. Date & Time Apr 15-Sep 23・16:30-22:00・Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:00. From July 19 to August 31: 14:00-22:30, Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:30 Price ¥6,000-¥7,000 for adults Location Niko Niko Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien More Details (c)Kristin Perers Bills Spring-Summer 2025 Menu The all-day dining restaurant Bills (stylized as bills) starts its spring-summer 2025 menu at all eight locations in Japan from April 22. Date & Time Apr 22-Oct 15・ Price Breakfast-Brunch ¥3,000-¥3,999 Location bills Ginza More Info Dinner ¥5,000-¥5,999 More Details Tokyo Film and Game Events in June Kaminari Japan Film Festival 2025 On June 9, 2025, the Kaminari Japan Film Festival returns to Theatre Guild Daikanyama in Tokyo, celebrating outstanding independent films from around the world. Starting at 3:30 PM, the festival will screen a diverse selection of films across multiple categories, including Music Video, Horror, Documentary, and Narrative. Date & Time Jun 9, 2025・15:30-21:00 Price ¥2,200 Location Theatre Guild Daikanyama More Details Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2025: Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2025: Japan's LGBTQ+ Film Festival Returns This Summer Date & Time Jun 21-22・・Event on July 12 and 13 take place at Tokyo Women's Plaza Price Free Location Euro Live 1F KINOHAUS More Details Related Posts Unmissable Fireworks Festivals in Japan for Summer 2025 Everything You Need To Know About Tokyo Pride 2025 The Ultimate Guide to Nakameguro: Tokyo's Stylish Canal-Side Gem
Japan Times
31-05-2025
- Japan Times
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first'
Mateusz Urbanowicz, 38, is an artist and animator from Bytom, Poland, who now lives in Chiba Prefecture. He worked on background art for anime such as 'Space Dandy' and 'Your Name.' Since leaving a full-time career in animation, Urbanowicz has released several art books including 'Imaginary Storefronts,' his latest publication that explores the beauty of mundane storefronts in Japanese neighborhoods. 1. What sparked your career shift from electrical engineering to animation? I always drew, painted and was into computers. I worked at a company in Poland selling drawing tablets and making illustrated demos. Working on digital art brought me to Japan and got me my first job in animation. 2. Who is your biggest artistic influence? Hayao Miyazaki. I watched his documentaries often while working in animation. He influenced me to put the audience first, rather than choose what would be easy to make or sell. 3. How long did it take to find your artistic style? My art is more of a tool for what I want to convey. For a while I was into making things realistic, but still painterly. At some point I started to veer away from that to make my pictures simpler and looser. I am still developing my style. 4. How has illustrating Japanese neighborhoods helped you rediscover Tokyo? It's a two-way process: I get inspired and then I'm inspired to hit the streets again. Lately I try to experience more freely, instead of getting hung up on capturing the perfect frame with a camera. Even if I don't take a photo, an image will still percolate in my brain and end up in some of my art. 5. What kind of preparation and research do you do to draw backgrounds for movies such as 'Your Name.'? For animated movies like 'Your Name.,' there's a team or background director that does the research for you. They provide sketches, photos and color palettes that you have to match. You are like a craftsman making a pot that has to be similar to other pots. 6. How was it adjusting your style to the movie's? I'm not formally trained. I learned all my skills from other people's art. I had an easier time looking at what everyone was doing, or how my art was being fixed by the art director and seeing my art improve with feedback. 7. How do you set boundaries between work and illustrating for fun? I don't do art for fun. Mostly I do art to create something good. And it requires me to be more intentional and focused. There's this pressure that if you aren't hustling, then you aren't really working or aren't really an artist. This is why my partner and I moved to a cheaper place to have more space to spare. 8. What do you do when you are creatively stuck? When I feel stuck, I know it means I lack knowledge about the subject. It took me five years to complete the 'Tokyo Storefronts' book (published in 2018). I wanted to make a book that was realistic enough where the storefronts seemed like they could actually exist, and fantastic enough that readers would want to visit. It was difficult because I am not used to drawing from my imagination. I draw from references. 9. What makes a great storefront? I love the human-designed aspect of storefronts. I think about what decisions they make, like where they would place flowers. 10. Traditional storefronts are increasingly shutting down as Tokyo goes through redevelopment. What are your thoughts on these disappearing shops? Tokyo is fast at redevelopment. They just build a high-rise there and nothing good really happens for the neighborhood's residents or visitors. The city would be better if it redeveloped with more conscious direction from the city and local government, as well as with people who care about the beauty of the neighborhood controlling this process. In your latest book, you create storefronts inspired by real ones you have encountered. 11. Can you tell us about one of your favorites? The ones where I've figured out the human dimension are my favorites. For example, I imagined the owner of a dry cleaner as a guy who once was a master cleaner in a fancy hotel in Tokyo. He is the perfect cleaner. He can erase any stain, and has perfected cleaning sheets. After leaving the hotel, he came back to his old town and set up a small shop. He wanted to be as independent as possible so he has a mishmash of Showa Era (1926-89) architecture with tanks, ducts, pipes and machinery. He likes giving lessons in cleaning. I had fun figuring out the quirky details. Urbanowicz has a soft spot for fleshing out the 'human dimension' of storefronts by inventing backstories and characters that inform their architecture and design. | Mateusz Urbanowicz 12. What do you want visitors to take away from visiting Japan? When people visit Tokyo, they already expect a retro-futuristic city. I recommend taking a step back to remember that people live in cramped spaces full of cars and architecture, and still manage to be civil and friendly. 13. What is an underrated anime with iconic scenes of Tokyo you recommend? 'Whisper of the Heart.' The scenes of 1980s to 1990s suburban Tokyo danchi (public housing) living are inspired by Sakuragaoka (Tama, Tokyo). I started watercolors because of the bicycle boy character. 14. What's one art tool you can't live without? A pencil, mechanical or traditional. Even though I paint with colors, I am a line person. 15. What is your favorite pencil? A 1960 Caran d'Arche 1.18-millimeter lead pencil. 16. What are your favorite colors for a limited watercolor palette? Lemon yellow, ultramarine, Naples red or any earthy red color, another red, another blue and orange. I like the combo of ultramarine and reddish brown to make neutral tones. 17. Do you have a sketchbook with you wherever you go? Yes, although I don't think of it as a sketchbook, but a secret journal to draw and take memos in. 18. What do you recommend for a travel-friendly sketchbook kit? Ballpens are great. I have an oil-based one and use it to draw line sketches and take memos. They are reliable, low-maintenance and waterproof. Great for fast sketches cause the line pops on watercolor. Also a small watercolor kit and a pencil. 19. What do you want people to take away from your art? To be more conscious about your surroundings. My biggest dream is that someone will read my books and see my Tokyo storefronts, and when it comes time for them to make a decision about their new house or garden, they will think more about what impact this will have on people when they see it. 20. Where can people learn more about your art process? I have a website and have made a lot of YouTube videos in the past. I also have a Patreon for Q&As about my art and techniques. To see more of Mateusz's work, find him on Instagram @mateusz_urbanowicz or YouTube @mattjabbar.
