Tokyo Architecture Festival, Van Gogh, Ghibli, Ukiyo-e and moreーhere is a selection of the best exhibitions opening in Tokyo and beyond in May 2025.
Tokyo Art Beat presents a selection of the best exhibitions opening in May 2025. Bookmark the exhibitions on the TAB website or TAB app and never miss the openings and closings.
【Tokyo】“Tokyo Architecture Festival” (Various locations)
The Tokyo Architecture Festival is a celebration of the city’s architectural diversity. Following last year’s success, this year’s edition continues the exploration of the city’s architectural charms scattered throughout the urban landscape. New areas such as Ueno-Hongo, Kanda-Kudan and Minato Ward have been added, with expanded participation from universities and cultural institutions. The festival will feature rare building openings, guided tours and lectures by architectural experts, and live broadcasts.
Venue: Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho areas, etc.
Schedule: May 17 – May 25
【Tokyo】“The World of Designs by Hashiguchi Goyo” (Fuchu Art Museum)
This exhibition showcases the diverse work of Goyo Hashiguchi, which goes beyond printmaking to include book design, posters, and both Western and Japanese paintings. Beginning with the book cover for Natsume Soseki’s I Am a Cat, the exhibition features around 50 books that reveal the aesthetic brilliance of Hashiguchi’s design work – an excellent opportunity to experience the essence of his artistic style, which goes beyond mere decoration.
Venue: Fuchu Art Museum
Schedule: May 25 – July 13
【Tokyo】“Identity Systems Germany: Rebranding West Germany After 1945” (Ginza Graphic Gallery)
This exhibition highlights the role of design in reconstructing the identity of postwar West Germany’s government and corporations. Originally held in Kyoto, this expanded version features archives from the “A5 Collection Düsseldorf.” Using posters, manuals and sketches, it explores visual branding strategies and encourages reflection on how design relates to society.
Venue: Ginza Graphic Gallery
Schedule: May 27 – July 5
【Tokyo】“The Five Great Ukiyo-e Artists: Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi” (Ueno Royal Museum)
This exhibition showcases five iconic ukiyo-e artists of the Edo period: Utamaro, known for graceful portraits of women; Sharaku, famous for dramatic actor prints; Hokusai, who uniquely depicted landscapes and people; Hiroshige, who revitalized landscape prints; and Kuniyoshi, with his humorous and impactful style. Approximately 140 works will be on display, showcasing masterworks in a variety of genres, including portraits, actor prints, and landscapes.
Venue: Ueno Royal Museum
Schedule: May 27 – July 6
【Tokyo】“Ghibli 3D Model Exhibition” (Warehouse Terrada B&C/E Halls)
Returning to Tokyo after 22 years, this exhibition recreates iconic Studio Ghibli scenes in three dimensional format. Expect detailed models from classics like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Pom Poko, and Whisper of the Heart. A special screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s 2002 short animation Imaginary Flying Machines will also be shown.
Venue: Warehouse Terrada B&C/E Halls
Schedule: May 27 – September 23
【Tokyo】“Renoir and Cézanne: The Two Masters Who Pioneered the Modern Era” (Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo)
Curated by the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, this world-touring exhibition is the first to focus on Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne simultaneously. On display are masterpieces such as Renoir’s Two Young Girls at the Piano and Cézanne’s Portrait of the Artist’s Son, along with works by Picasso, who was influenced by them. Approximately 50 works will explore the roots of modern art through portraits, still lifes and landscapes.
Venue: Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo
Schedule: May 29 – September 7
【Tokyo】“Introduction to Traditional Art: Sutra Copies and Calligraphy by Zen Priests” (Nezu Museum)
This exhibition contrasts the serene beauty of sutra copies with the dynamic expressiveness of calligraphy. Featuring National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, visitors can visually appreciate the differences between two styles, experience both the balance of sutra writing and the distinctive touch of calligraphy.
Venue: The Nezu Museum
Schedule: May 31 – July 6
【Kanagawa】“A Renewal of Passion: The Impact of Van Gogh” (Pola Museum of Art)
The Pola Museum’s first Van Gogh exhibition features three works from the museum’s collection, including The Gleize Bridge over the Vigueirat Canal (1888) and Still life with Thistles (1890). The exhibition examines Van Gogh’s lasting influence across time and place, and the new values his art brings to the world today.
Venue: Pola Museum of Art
Schedule: May 31 – November 30
【Nara】“Atsushi Uemura Exhibition” (Shouhaku Art Museum)
A retrospective exhibition celebrating the Nihonga artist Atsushi Uemura, known for revolutionizing bird and flower painting. Presented in two parts, the exhibition features previously unseen early works that experiment with spatial composition, as well as refined later works.
Venue: Shouhaku Art Museum
Schedule: May 3 – July 13
【Osaka】“Kansai Art Annual 2025: ‘CO’” (Shinsaibashi Parco)
A new exhibition showcasing Kansai’s emerging contemporary artists. “CO” stands for “Collaboration”, symbolising the connections not only between artists and galleries, but also between different cultural stakeholders. Artists such as Tomoko Atsuchi, Akira Okamoto, Ken Kamide and others will present works that reinterpret perception, society and existence.
Venue: Shinsaibashi Parco
Schedule: May 23 – June 22
【Osaka】“Osaka Art & Design 2025” (Various locations)
In its third year, the festival covers approximately 60 locations across Osaka, including Umeda, Nakanoshima, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Abeno areas. Under the theme “Overlaps,” a variety of works by up-and-coming creators will be on display. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the museums and also shop for art, furniture, and fashion.
Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store, etc.
Schedule: May 28 – June 24
【Osaka】“Immersive Museum Osaka 2025 – Impressionism & Japonism” (Dojima River Forum)
Experience an immersive environment that brings together Impressionism and Ukiyo-e. This museum-style exhibition reinterprets masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Hokusai and Hiroshige through powerful sound and visual effectsーa fully immersive redefinition of art appreciation.
Venue: Dojima River Forum
Schedule: May 31 – September 5
【Kagawa】“Inaugural Exhibition – From the Origin to the Future” (Naoshima New Museum of Art)
A new museum dedicated to contemporary Asian art will open at the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, designed by Tadao Ando. Participating artists include Makoto Aida, Martha Atienza, Cai Guo-Qiang, Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, Heri Dono, Indieguerillas, Takashi Murakami, N. S. Harsha, Sanitas Pradittasnee, Motoyuki Shitamichi + Jeffrey Lim, Do Ho Suh, Pannaphan Yodmanee.
Venue: Naoshima New Museum of Art
Schedule: May 31 – TBD
【Fukuoka】“Beardsley, a Singular Prodigy” (Kurume City Art Museum)
Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) created refined and provocative works in stark black and white until his death at age 25. In collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, this exhibition traces his life and work. Featuring approximately 200 pieces, it includes rare drawings, early illustrations, color posters, and decorative art.
Venue: Kurume City Art Museum
Schedule: May 24 – August 31
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