[category]
[title]
The Nishi-Shinjuku skyscraper district is in the midst of an artistic makeover right now, with two major art events happening simultaneously – the One Minute Projection Mapping Competition and the Light Art Park.
Encroaching on the turf of local salarymen, Shinjuku Chuo Park serves as the venue for 12 large-scale illuminated art installations by top artists from Japan and across the globe. The programme of light sculptures is being overseen by Kenji Kohashi, creative director of Ultra Japan and the events producer of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Here are some of our favourites, all on display until May 31.
The first artwork that comes into view when entering the park’s ‘Fun More Time’ central plaza is ‘Embrace’ by Beamhacker, a participatory installation where visitors can join hands with the human-shaped illuminated silhouettes to form a human chain, causing ripples of light to spread in a chain reaction.
Adjacent to the participatory installation is ‘Visible Tower’, a rectangular prism tower made up of LED screens that mirror its surroundings in the daytime, and display AI-generated cityscapes and cosmic light trails after dark.
Climb up the stairs on the right-hand (North) side to enter the lawn, where you’ll find a stunning spinning globe by UK artist Luke Jerram. Titled ‘Gaia’ and making its Japan debut, the massive artwork measures 7 metres in diameter and features highly detailed 120-dpi NASA imagery of Earth's surface.
Before heading back to Shinjuku Station, be sure to take a peek at the impressive showcase of projection mapping works by digital creators from around the world at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. While tickets to enter the viewing area have sold out, the mappings can be viewed from outside the designated area. Featuring videos that made it to the final round of the International Projection Mapping Competition, the submissions all range between 1 minute to 1 minute 59 seconds in length. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges from among the 18 finalists.
More from Time Out Tokyo
We tried the 'waterless' toilet in Tokyo's Nakameguro Park
Shibuya’s Hands store will close in November after 48 years in business
Guitar legend Masayoshi Takanaka's new Japan tour kicks off this summer
Seoul's Kompakt Record Bar lands in Tokyo
Tokyo's life-size Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba will be retired this August
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.