This image of Tokyo Tower is available to own along with similar works in our Farewell My Tokyo collection.
Tokyo’s Roppongi area offers an upscale atmosphere for food, shopping, and entertainment. It’s home to a number of critically acclaimed museums, as well as a variety of quirky and unique art galleries. Due to the large local expat population and high volume of international tourism, many museums in the area offer English language materials. Roppongi is the perfect choice for solo art lovers, a romantic date, an outing with friends, or a family day. Read on for our comprehensive list of museums and galleries to enjoy art in Roppongi.
* Please note that prices and hours are correct as of the time of this publication. Please check the provided links for the most up-to-date information.
Roppongi Art Triangle
If you have but a few hours and are eager to take in Roppongi’s art scene, there may be no better itinerary than the area’s famed “art triangle” consisting of three acclaimed art museums.
Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum is located at the top of Mori Tower, which commands a panoramic view of the Tokyo cityscape. The museum was opened to showcase the best of contemporary art and has been lauded for its original exhibitions and learning programs covering a wide variety of universal topics. All materials are available in English and Japanese, including simultaneous translation for art talks.
Admission: 1,800 yen fee includes access to both the Mori Art Museum and the tower’s Tokyo City View; discounts are available for seniors, children, and students
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 10am to 10pm, and Tuesday 10am to 5pm
Access: https://art-view.roppongihills.com/en/info/
The National Art Center, Tokyo
The National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT), makes an impression on visitors even before they enter the building, with its massive wavelike exterior fashioned in steel and glass. The immense 14,000 square-meter space highlights the latest art trends from Japan and all around the world, and is unique for its absence of a permanent collection, instead focusing on a variety of exhibitions across a dozen galleries.
Admission: Free, although special exhibits may require a separate ticket
Hours: 10am to 6pm Monday, Thursday, and Sunday and 10am to 8pm Wednesday and Saturday
Access: http://www.nact.jp/english/information/access/
Suntory Museum of Art
The Suntory Museum of Art, owned by Japanese beverage giant Suntory, is located on the Galleria 3rd floor of the upscale mixed-use complex Tokyo Midtown. The museum focuses on Japanese “Lifestyle Art,” introducing visitors to everything from paintings to lacquerware, ceramics, and textiles. There’s even a Japanese tea room on site.
Admission: Fees vary by exhibit, but junior high school students and younger can enter for free
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 8pm
Access: https://www.suntory.com/sma/map/
Other Popular Art Museums in Roppongi
Besides the big three museums that make up the Roppongi Art Triangle, there are two other notable museums worth visiting in Roppongi.
Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum
Also known as the Sumitomo Collection, the Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum houses traditional art objects which have been collected and preserved by generations of the Sumitomo family. This includes calligraphy, ceramics, Noh theatre costumes, and one of the world’s best collections of ancient Chinese bronzes and mirrors outside of China.
Admission: 800 yen, with discounts for students, and junior high school-aged children and younger can enter for free
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm
Access: https://www.sen-oku.or.jp/tokyo/english.html
Photo History Museum Fujifilm Square
Another photography-centric museum is the Photo History Museum Fujifilm Square, located inside of Tokyo Midtown. The museum, located in Fujifilm Square’s showroom, offers visitors a look at the evolution of photography and cameras, with rare antique camera equipment as well as past Fujifilm models.
Admission: Free
Hours: Open daily 10am to 7pm
Access: http://fujifilmsquare.jp/en/guide/access.html
Art Galleries in Roppongi
For art lovers visiting Tokyo, there may be no better place to take in the contemporary like Roppongi gallery scene.
21_21 Design Sight
Another Tokyo Midtown art destination is the design museum 21_21 Design Sight by world-famous Japanese designer Issey Miyake. The museum can be directly accessed from the garden outside of Midtown.
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10am to 7pm
Website: http://www.2121designsight.jp/en/
Gallery Art Unlimited
The Gallery Art Unlimited is dedicated to innovative works of art, photography, architecture, and film.
Hours: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, 1pm to 7pm
Website: http://www.artunlimited.co.jp/en/current/
Gallery MoMo Projects
Gallery MoMo Projects specializes in works of art by younger artists that capture the spirit of their generation or are created using innovative techniques.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 7pm.
Website: https://www.gallery-momo.com/current-exhibition
Ota Fine Arts
Located in the Piramide Building along with Perrotin Tokyo, Ota Fine Arts is best known as the primary gallery of world-famous artist Yayoi Kusama.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: http://www.otafinearts.com/en/
Perrotin Tokyo
Founded by French gallery owner Emmanuel Perrotin, the Perrotin Tokyo is a vibrant and creative space for experiencing contemporary art. It’s located on the 1st floor of the Piramide Building, just a short walk from Roppongi Station.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: https://www.perrotin.com/exhibitions/current/tokyo/6
Shugo Arts Show
Shugo Arts Show in Roppongi is focused on the development of original art throughout Asia and sharing it with the rest of the world. The collection includes art objects, paintings, and sculptures.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: http://shugoarts.com/en/
Snow Contemporary
Snow Contemporary is a gallery that exhibits work by creatives from Tokyo and around the world. It’s located in the upscale Nishi-Azabu neighborhood adjacent to Roppongi.
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 1pm to 7pm
Website: http://www.snowcontemporary.com/en/
Taka Ishii Gallery
The Taka Ishii Gallery is home to works from famous Japanese photographers as well as young emerging Japanese artists. The gallery plans to expand with exhibitions for photographers from other countries as well.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: https://www.takaishiigallery.com/en/
Tomio Koyama Gallery
Discover genre- and border-crossing works at Tomio Koyama Gallery, which aims to set new trends in the world of contemporary art.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: http://tomiokoyamagallery.com/en/
Toto Gallery Ma
A space where people, place, and time intersect, Toto Gallery Ma (meaning “Space”) is a specialty gallery in Nogizaka centered around architecture and design.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm
Website: https://jp.toto.com/gallerma/index_e.htm
Wako Works of Art
Located on the same floor as Ota Fine Arts in the Piramide Building, a contemporary art gallery dedicated to introducing the local audience to artists from around the world.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Website: http://www.wako-art.jp/top_en.php
Yutaka Kikutake Gallery
The Yutaka Kikutake Gallery is a space for contemporary artistic expression from paintings to photography, film, and sculpture art.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6pm
Website: http://www.ykggallery.com/en/exhibitions/
Zen Foto Gallery
The Zen Foto Gallery in Roppongi features works from photographers in Japan and throughout Asia, both contemporary and historical.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 7pm
Website: http://www.zen-foto.jp/web/html/about.html
Art Museums and Galleries Near Roppongi
Beyond the borders of Roppongi a few noteworthy galleries can be accessed in just a couple train stops. If you have time, we recommend visiting the following while in Tokyo.
Keio University Art Center
As the name suggests, Keio University Art Center is an art space for presenting temporary exhibitions based on research and the university art collection, as well as a variety of contemporary works. It’s located across from the Keio University Mita Campus Main Gate.
Hours: Weekdays, 10am to 5pm
Station: Shirokane-Takanawa
Website: http://www.art-c.keio.ac.jp/en/
PGI
Located one stop from Roppongi in Azabu-Juban, Photo Gallery International (PGI) is a photography gallery focused on works representative of their era.
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Station: Azabu-Juban
Website: https://www.pgi.ac/en/
Take Ninagawa
Take Ninagawa showcases art from the modern post-war era by artists ranging from the historically acclaimed to the up-and-coming.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Station: Azabu-Juban
Website: https://www.takeninagawa.com/en/
Farewell My Tokyo Collection by Ciaolink
Farewell My Tokyo is a collection of intricately embossed artwork that captures Tokyo's unique, vibrant mix of contemporary and traditional Japanese culture found within the city's most iconic destinations.
The artwork is created with pachika, a special paper that becomes transparent when heated. Each piece in this collection is produced under skillful control of temperature, pressure, and time during pressing. It's an unprecedented style of expression originated by Ciaolink. These picturesque Farewell My Tokyo prints will make an exciting conversation piece to display in your home or office, or a striking contemporary souvenir for friends and family.
If you would like to purchase a print, please visit our online shop to see each piece in greater detail.