From Monday 7 July, World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (WCH Tokyo 25) will host a landmark exhibition celebrating the rich legacy of the World Athletics Championships, in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Tokyo 25 edition. Open to the public, the exhibition displays items from the largest collection of international athletics memorabilia in the world, offering a rare opportunity to view items used by some of the greatest athletes of all time.
On display will be an extraordinary collection of competition uniforms, running shoes, medals and equipment which have either been worn, won or used by more than 80 medallists and world record holders from past World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games. These pieces not only represent athletic excellence but also tell stories of record-breaking moments, national pride and global sporting unity.
The exhibition is themed “Tokyo 91 – Tokyo 25”, a tribute to Japan’s deep and continuing connection with the world of athletics. It commemorates the 1991 World Championships held in Tokyo, where legendary performances, such as Carl Lewis’s (USA) world record in the 100 metres, captured global attention. It also looks ahead to September 2025, when Tokyo will once again welcome the world’s best athletes for the country’s third time hosting the Championships.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Tokyo skyline, this unique exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the evolution of the sport, relive unforgettable moments from the past, and build excitement for what promises to be a spectacular event this September.
MOWA exhibition details
Date: Monday, 7 July – Sunday, 21 September 2025.
Please note that the North Observation Deck will be closed on Monday 14 July, Monday 28 July, Tuesday 12 August, Monday 25 August, and Monday 8 September, and the exhibition will not be available on these dates.
Location: Tokyo Metropolitan Government No.1 Building
45th Floor North Observation Deck & 2nd Floor North Exhibition Space (2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Opening hours: 9:30am to 10:00pm (last entry at 9:30pm).
Admission: Free
Please note that the observation deck may close without notice due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances. For the latest updates on closures or changes, please check the official X account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck.
More details are available on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Finance website.
45th Floor North Observation Deck Exhibition
Life-size panels of four legendary Japanese athletes, Hiromi Taniguchi, Koji Murofushi, Naoko Takahashi and Haruka Kitaguchi, the current world and Olympic javelin champion
Touchscreens featuring highlight footage of gold medalists from the 1991 Tokyo Championships and all seven Japanese World Champions since the inaugural 1983 Helsinki Championships
A collection of memorabilia from legendary athletes—both past and present—from 1924 to today
Main exhibition: 2nd Floor Exhibition Space
Medal sets from the Tokyo 1991 and Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships
An exhibition showcasing the history of all 19 editions of the World Athletics Championships from 1983 to 2023
Life-size displays of the men’s and women’s world records in pole vault and high jump
Equipment used in hurdles, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw
Life-size panels of two iconic sprinters USA’s Carl Lewis and Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, and Japan’s 2004 Olympic marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi
The photos from the MOWA Heritage Athletics Exhibition in Budapest.
AloJapan.com