In videos: take a virtual tour of all 9 Pavilion Tokyo 2021 art installations

This Yayoi Kusama installation in Shibuya lets you cover a stark white space with different sizes of colourful round stickers. The pure white pavilion is a full re-creation of a Japanese apartment, complete with a post box and bicycle in the entryway. Step through the apartment’s front door and you’ll find yourself in a fully equipped kitchen, with the table all set for a meal. The highlight, however, is a room in the very back of the flat with all-white tatami flooring. The apartment itself is so impressive, it’s easy to forget that all the colourful designs you can see were made by people adding their coloured stickers as they explored the pavilion.

This wooden, bowl-shaped installation with its oddly shaped openings and intertwined spokes is a place where people from different nationalities and backgrounds can come together. The pavilion's concept matches its location – the ‘Global Bowl’ is set up in front of the United Nations University, known for its large international community. Feel free to step inside the pavilion and sit or lie down on the raised parts, while enjoying the bustling sounds of the city.

Japanese architect Junya Ichigami has transformed the garden of kudan house into a mystical landscape, combining the lush greenery with a tall, ancient-looking wooden structure made from carbonised yakisugi cedar. Narrow paths guide you through the garden, while the dark wooden planks provide shade on sunny days. The sounds of nature and the classical music from the on-site café add to the relaxed atmosphere.

Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima’s installation is inspired by a winding stream and is intended to match the features of the Hama-rikyu Gardens. The shallow waterway is adorned with flowers and its surface reflects the sky, clouds and surrounding landscape. The peacefully flowing water of ‘Suimei’ adds to the calm atmosphere of the tranquil garden. Staring into the water, you’ll soon forget all about the busy cityscape in the distance. 

This elevated wooden teahouse by Japanese architect, architectural historian and director of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, Terunobu Fujimori is located in front of Victor Studio. You can even go inside through a small round hole at the back of the structure. Head up the ladder to the top floor, where you’ll have a panoramic view of the National Stadium across the street.

Making-of video

Constructing the grass-covered wooden teahouse beside a busy Tokyo road was no simple feat. In this video, you’ll get to see the entire installation come together including the wall panels, traditional fusuma sliding screens, lighting and even the greenery.

To take a look inside the teahouse in person, you’ll have to get a (free) ticket on the day of your visit at the nearby WATARI-UM, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art. For more information, see here.

‘Cloud pavilion’ in Yoyogi Park

This massive cloud-shaped installation by world-renowned architect Sou Fujimoto is located inside Yoyogi Park near the Panorama Grass Field. You can walk under the artificial cloud and enjoy the shade during hot summer days, while listening to the sounds of cicadas in the surrounding trees.

‘Cloud pavilion’ at Takanawa Gateway Station

The same installation can also be found inside the ticket gates at Takanawa Gateway Station, the newest train station on Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line. The pavilion matches the station’s modern look and adds a bit of whimsy to an everyday commute. The display area is spacious and not often crowded, so you can observe the installation at your own pace.

Only a short walk from Shibuya Station, this wooden structure highlights the balance between nature, people and the environment. Even though the ‘Street Garden Theater’ is on the side of a busy road in one of Tokyo’s most bustling neighbourhoods, you’ll be surprised how relaxing this maze-like structure is to explore. 

Making-of video

See how the multiple layers of this wooden installation looked before being filled with plants, herbs and flowers. There are over 100 pots on display.

These two Japanese castles by artist Makoto Aida sit majestically in front of the entrance to the ginkgo tree-lined Icho Namiki Avenue in Meiji Jingu Gaien. The two pavilions are made from inexpensive materials – think cardboard and blue tarpaulin. However, these materials are known for being robust and reliable and are regularly used during natural disasters and for temporary housing of the homeless. 

Making-of video

Despite their humble materials, these castles required careful construction. The smaller castle is made of a steel frame draped in blue plastic tarp, while the taller structure uses cardboard, mainly from vegetable and egg boxes, attached to a wooden skeleton.