Take a moment to reflect in a tatami room inside the Museum of Narratives Takanawa in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Splashes and smiles fill the terraces at the Museum of Narratives Takanawa, a museum that is not a traditional museum.
The Museum of Narratives is an eight-floor concept that opened its doors on March 28 in the relatively new Takanawa Gateway part of Tokyo. The museum combines traditional themes with digital presentations, and intertwines knowledge, relaxation and performances into an immersive experience.
Only two formal exhibits inhabit the museum on the second and fifth floors.
The first, on the second floor, provides an introduction, guiding visitors through the museum’s origin, its spiral logo and the rotating theme that changes twice a year. The space blends creative visuals with informational videos, setting the tone for what’s ahead.
One drawback, however, is that several of the videos are available only in Japanese; however, all the written material includes English translations.
An exhibit at the Museum of Narratives in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
The museum’s main attraction is the fifth-floor exhibit, “Spiral, Spiral: Evolving Human Narratives,” a 16-part audio and visual experience that leans into the central theme, life as culture, while reflecting its spiral logo concept.
The exhibit is interactive and immersive, guiding visitors through a series of connected spaces that build on one another. While entry to the Museum of Narratives is free, this exhibit requires a separate ticket, costing 2,500 yen, or $15.71, for adults; 1,500 yen for visitors under 25; and 800 yen for elementary through high school students.
Beyond the exhibits, the remaining floors are designed for visitors to slow down and linger.
Three dining areas are spread throughout the building on the first, third and sixth floors, each offering a different atmosphere. The MoN Park Cafe focuses on lighter plates and refreshments, while MoN Kitchen and MoN Garden provide full meals paired with views of the surrounding city.
Hot or cold water foot baths come with a view at the Museum of Narratives Takanawa in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
For those looking to relax rather than dine, the museum offers a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces.
The fourth floor features a large tatami room made up of 100 connected panels, where visitors can remove their shoes and unwind.
Continuing that experience, the sixth floor includes a foot bath where guests can soak their feet in warm or cold water while overlooking the city and the surrounding garden.
The basement level was closed during my visit, but it houses a multifloor library that you can view and a concert venue that hosts live performances and talks.
The Museum of Narratives opened in March in the Takanawa Gateway section of Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: From Sengakuji Station’s A4 exit the museum is a one-minute walk. Google plus code: JPQR+VP Minato City, Tokyo
Times: Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed every second Tuesday of the month.
Costs: Admission is free but the main exhibit costs 2,500 yen for adults, 1,500 yen for adults under 25 and 800 yen for students.
Food: MoN Park Cafe, MoN Kitchen and MoN Garden.
Information: Online: montakanawa.jp/en
AloJapan.com