15 best art exhibitions in Tokyo right now

A spectacular journey through the mysteries of an ancient civilisation arrives in Tokyo this autumn with ‘Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru’, held from November 22 2025 to March 1 2026 at the Mori Arts Center Gallery. Making its highly anticipated Asian debut, the exhibition has already captivated over 540,000 visitors across four cities worldwide since its 2021 premiere at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida.

Endorsed by the Peruvian government, the exhibition features approximately 130 artefacts on loan from Lima’s renowned Larco Museum, many of which are being displayed in Japan for the first time. Highlights include opulent gold adornments unearthed from royal tombs and sacred ritual items used in ancient temples, offering an intimate look at the artistry and spiritual life of the Andean civilisations.

Visitors can also experience an immersive recreation of Machu Picchu, the iconic city in the clouds, realised with cutting-edge digital technology. The exhibition’s narrative centres on the mythic hero Aiapæc, inviting audiences on an intellectual and emotional adventure through history, legend and archaeological wonder.

Pop art impresario Andy Warhol (1928–1987) blurred the boundaries between high culture and mass consumption, transforming everyday objects and the faces of celebrities into icons of contemporary art. His fascination with fame, beauty and repetition made him both a mirror of his age and a relentless critic of it, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate in today’s image-saturated culture.

Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo’s ‘Serial Portraits’ showcase is part of the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s Hors-les-murs program, which brings highlights from its Paris collection to audiences worldwide. This free exhibition focuses on Warhol’s radical reinvention of portraiture, from his playful photo booth experiments in the early 1960s to the spectral self-portraits he made shortly before his death.

Highlights like the Self-Portraits series (1977–1986) are displayed alongside both celebrated and lesser-known works to offer insight into Warhol’s evolving exploration of identity, celebrity and the endless possibilities of repetition. By juxtaposing iconic images with hidden gems, the exhibition reveals how Warhol turned portraiture into a stage for both personal reflection and cultural critique.

Shohei Ochiai paints like he’s trying to capture noise. His work pulls from the chaos of everyday Tokyo – billboards, backstreets, people passing too fast to register – and turns it into warped, colourful canvases that feel alive. He’s collaborated with Tamagotchi and even Pharrell’s Joopiter, but it’s his ability to make the ordinary feel electric that defines him.

For his new show ‘Aesthetic’ at Diesel Art Gallery, Ochiai takes on Shibuya itself, rebuilding the city through his own lens. The exhibition folds in sound, light, and fragments of the neighbourhood until the space feels more like a remix than a gallery. It’s Shibuya the way you feel it at 2am – loud, bright, and slightly unreal.


To mark the opening, Diesel is releasing a black and white hoodie collaboration with Ochiai, available from Diesel Shibuya and online later this month.

From November 14 to January 12, Tokyo City View hosts 'All of Evangelion', an art exhibition to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved Evangelion franchise. 

As its name suggests, the exhibition spans the entirety of Evangelion's decades-long history, featuring everything from original cels and drawings from the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series to never-before-seen digital materials from the Rebuild of Evangelion films.

Take a closer look at the exhibition here.

Explore how post-war black markets shaped the evolution of Tokyo’s urban fabric at this intriguing exhibition, held at Takashimaya Archives Tokyo on the fourth floor of the Nihombashi Takashimaya department store.

On show until February 23 2026, the display marks 80 years since the end of World War II and focuses on the makeshift marketplaces that emerged amid the ruins of Tokyo. During the war, large-scale demolitions, intended to prevent the spread of fires caused by air raids, created vacant lots across the city. In the chaotic years that followed, these empty spaces, together with bombsites and even roadside corners, were transformed into black markets. Known as yami-ichi, they supplied goods and sustenance in a time of scarcity while seeding new social and commercial hubs.

Particular attention is given to Shinjuku, where some of the black markets grew into vibrant entertainment districts that remain central to Tokyo’s identity today. And while most of the markets eventually vanished, their traces endure in the city’s streetscapes and neighbourhoods.

Curated by Tokukazu Ishigure of Kwansei Gakuin University, the exhibition reframes black markets as more than unlawful encroachments, highlighting their role as catalysts of urban renewal – spaces where disorder gave rise to energy, resilience and reinvention.

The Watari-um’s ‘One More’ brings together two global icons of contemporary urban art: Brazilian twins Osgemeos and American artist Barry McGee. Emerging from graffiti and street culture, both artists have redefined the boundaries between public art and the museum space, infusing walls, cities and galleries around the world with vivid colour, rhythm and humanity.

Known for their dreamlike murals and whimsical characters, Osgemeos have exhibited from the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington to Milan’s Pirelli HangarBicocca. McGee, celebrated for his bold, socially engaged work under the tag ‘Twist’, has been a central figure in the American street art scene, showing monumental installations at SFMOMA and the Venice Biennale.

With ‘One More’, the duo transforms the Watari-um into a dynamic playground of imagination. Conceived as a spontaneous dialogue between long-time friends and collaborators, the exhibition blurs the lines between painting, sculpture, animation and installation. Expect a universe where urban energy meets poetic introspection – a celebration of creativity, community, and the enduring spirit of the streets that inspires the artists.

Women’s emancipation was in full swing at the beginning of the twentieth century and had a considerable influence on fashion. The interwar period saw the emergence of the liberated woman, in search of a modern and daring style reflecting her new spirit. At the same time, the Art Deco movement was born, blooming during the 1920s first in relation to interior architecture and furniture. It was in this context that the first icon of Art Deco fashion was born: the garçonne, an emblematic figure of the Roaring Twenties.

Art Deco fashion came to be characterised by geometric and clean shapes, bold colours and high-quality materials. Beaded dresses, furs, feathers and sequins make up the Art Deco wardrobe, where graphic patterns and bold prints bring a touch of sophistication and theatricality to outfits.

Looking back at this era of luxurious and opulent wear – and celebrating the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris – the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is organising the ‘Art Deco and Fashion’ exhibition from October 11 2025 to January 25 2026. The museum will display about sixty iconic Art Deco outfits – including evening dresses from the great Parisian houses such as Poiret, Chanel and Lanvin – as well as paintings, prints, handicrafts, and other artwork from Japanese and foreign museums.

Noritake Suzuki is an acclaimed picture book author known for his wit, vibrant illustrations, and deep empathy for childhood wonder. Born in Hamamatsu in 1975, Suzuki got his big break with Ketchup Man in 2008 and has since captivated readers with hits like the Shigotoba, The Working Place of Japan Professionals series and the bestselling Big Pinch Picture Book, which earned him the top prize at the MOE Picture Book Awards in both 2022 and 2024.

From October 8 to December 7, the Play Museum in Tachikawa serves as host for the artist’s imaginative world by way of an exhibition based on Suzuki’s hit Big Pinch book series, which depicts the small yet dramatic ‘crises’ children face in everyday life. 

Labelled ‘pinch entertainment’, it’s an immersive experience where you get to step into, play with and even create your own cartoon disasters. From oversized spilt milk to interactive ‘pinch’ games, the exhibition transforms anxiety into laughter.

Exclusive to this Play Museum exhibition are original sketches, early illustrations and hands-on installations that visitors of all ages can enjoy. For fans of imaginative storytelling and joyful problem-solving, this is a must-visit celebration of life’s little mishaps.

Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa has long been recognised as one of contemporary cinema’s most uncompromising and visionary voices. Emerging in the 1980s, Costa quickly established a distinctive style defined by stark contrasts of light and shadow, rigorously composed frames, and an unflinching gaze at the margins of society.

His films, such as In Vanda’s Room (2000), which captured the daily struggles of Cape Verdean immigrants in Lisbon’s Fontainhas district, marry documentary intensity with painterly precision. Acclaimed internationally, Costa’s work has extended beyond the cinema screen to major exhibitions, including ‘Company’ (Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, 2018) and ‘The Song of Pedro Costa’ (Spain, 2022-23).

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum presents Costa’s ‘Innervisions’ until December 7. Inspired by Stevie Wonder’s 1973 album of the same name, which profoundly influenced Costa’s youth, the exhibition reflects on the interplay between individual lives and wider social realities. The show introduces characters that play vital roles in the artist’s oeuvre, alongside the environments they inhabit, situating Costa’s cinema within its broader sociohistorical context.

Complementing the exhibition, the museum will host Carte Blanche, a film series curated by Costa, together with screenings of his own seminal works. Offering rare insight into the filmmaker’s creative universe, ‘Innervisions’ invites audiences to rediscover the power of cinema as both art and social critique.

Hokkaido-born Atsushi Suwa is one of Japan’s foremost contemporary realist painters. Noted for his extraordinary technical mastery, Suwa combines rigorous research with a penetrating gaze, producing works that explore physical likeness and themes such as memory, mythology and the traces of history. His portraits, still lifes and narrative paintings have earned him wide acclaim both in Japan and abroad.

From September 11 to March 1 2026, the What Museum on Tennozu Isle presents the artist’s first large-scale solo exhibition in three years. Encompassing around 80 works, the exhibition spans early creations, intimate family portraits and newly painted still lifes, with nearly 30 of the pieces shown publicly for the first time. At the heart of the display is At the Shore (2025), a monumental painting depicting a human-like figure assembled from objects in Suwa’s studio, reflecting the artist’s pandemic-era withdrawal from portraiture and his gradual reawakening to the human form.

Curated by Takenori Miyamoto, the exhibition unfolds across five themed rooms and is accompanied by a documentary film and a short story by Akutagawa Prize winner Kaori Fujino.

Few artists have touched the soul of modern art as profoundly as Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). In a mere decade, the Dutchman produced an astonishing body of work, including vivid landscapes, tormented portraits and expressive still lifes, that continues to resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.

Yet Van Gogh’s posthumous fame owes much to those closest to him: his brother Theo, Theo’s wife Johanna, and their son Vincent Willem. Together, they ensured that the painter’s vision and legacy would endure for generations.

The first exhibition in Japan to focus on the Van Gogh family and their collection, ‘Van Gogh’s Home’ at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum features over 30 of its protagonist’s works, from early drawings to late masterpieces, as well as four letters shown on these shores for the first time. The display traces the journey of the collection from the artist’s death to the present day, with highlights including immersive digital experiences and rarely seen works by Van Gogh’s contemporaries.

Marking 80 years since the end of the Pacific War and 40 years since Setagaya’s Peace City Declaration, the Lifestyle Design Center in Sangenjaya’s Carrot Tower invites visitors to reflect on childhood, daily life and peace across the turbulent decades of Showa Japan.

Curated by Akio Kasuga, a noted scholar of design and children’s culture and a professor emeritus at Tokyo Zokei University, the exhibition draws from his remarkable collection of more than 6,000 objects. On view are board games, picture books, magazines, toys, school supplies and everyday items spanning the pre-war, wartime and post-war years. These materials reveal how social upheaval, political control and cultural transformation were reflected in the lives of children.

The displays capture both the constraints of wartime propaganda and the post-war re-emergence of colour, creativity and hope, from early heroes of manga and animation to the optimism of rapid economic growth. By revisiting the tools of play and learning that shaped generations, the exhibition encourages visitors to consider the enduring themes of war, peace and the future of childhood in Japan.

Tsukasa Hojo’s popular manga City Hunter debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1985, and the action comedy series has since become firmly established in the Japanese comics canon. The story follows the charismatic but easily distracted private investigator Ryo Saeba, an inveterate womaniser, as he takes on high-stakes missions in Tokyo, helping those in need while navigating an ever-expanding cast of allies and adversaries. Known for its gripping blend of action, humour and heartfelt moments, City Hunter has inspired anime adaptations, films, and live-action interpretations around the world.

To commemorate the manga’s 40th anniversary, the Ueno Royal Museum will be hosting ‘Forever, City Hunter’ from November 22 to December 28 2025. The special showcase is set to feature a vast collection of original artwork, tracing the series’ evolution over four decades. Fans will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of City Hunter through rare illustrations, behind-the-scenes sketches, and iconic moments that have defined the series.

Sharing his thoughts on the milestone, Tsukasa Hojo humorously noted that while protagonist Ryo Saeba repeatedly proclaims himself ‘twenty years old’ (regardless of his real age), City Hunter is now celebrating its ‘second coming-of-age ceremony’. Here’s to hoping that Ryo’s adventures will continue to resonate with readers for decades to come.

This year marks a century since the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris gave birth to the Art Deco movement. The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum celebrates with a dazzling display highlighting the work of jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels, which won a Grand Prize at the landmark event 100 years ago with creations such as the ‘Entwined Flowers, Red and White Roses’ bracelet.

That gemstone-adorned stunner and around 250 other creations from the Art Deco giant, including jewellery, timepieces and accessory cases from the Maison’s patrimonial and private collections, will be exhibited alongside 60 archival documents.

The museum’s Main Building, once the residence of Prince Yasuhiko Asaka and itself an architectural masterpiece shaped by the Art Deco spirit, will display rare pieces crafted between the 1910s and 1930s. The annex, meanwhile, will highlight the Maison’s signature savoir-faire, transformable designs and exquisite gemstone artistry.

Seeking to facilitate dialogue between history, craftsmanship and design, the exhibition invites visitors to rediscover the artistic vitality of Art Deco while celebrating the enduring artistry and innovation of Van Cleef & Arpels.

Note that tickets must be purchased for a specified date and time slot. The museum will extend its opening hours to 8pm on November 21, 22, 28 & 29 and December 5 & 6.

With ‘Prism of the Real: Making Art in Japan 1989–2010’, the National Art Center, Tokyo offers an illuminating look at how Japanese and international artists responded to an era of seismic change – namely the two transformative decades that followed the end of the Showa era (1926–1989), when the Cold War’s conclusion and the onset of globalisation reshaped the world’s cultural landscape.

Featuring works by over 50 artists, the exhibition traces the evolution of contemporary art in Japan from the early stirrings of internationalisation in the 1980s through a period of creative fermentation marked by technological shifts, socio-political upheaval and the expansion of global dialogue. Across three thematic sections, visitors will be able to view a diverse array of works that grapple with identity, memory, war trauma, and the forging of new communal bonds.

Like a prism refracting light into myriad wavelengths, the exhibition highlights the multiplicity of perspectives that shaped artistic expression in Japan between 1989 and 2010, offering visitors a powerful lens on a pivotal cultural moment in Japan’s (and the world’s) history.