Okuno Building | Time Out Tokyo — Once luxury apartments, now quirky galleries – Ginza's Okuno Building is a must-visit

Top 15 galleries in eastern Tokyo

Spot cutting-edge art in old warehouses, bathhouses and schools

Monday 1 December 2014

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Walking around the eastern side of Tokyo, sooner or later you're bound to notice buildings that, while maintaining their external appearance as storage facilities, schools and office blocks, actually house art galleries and other similar spaces occupied by energetic creatives. Some of the city's most interesting exhibitions are held at places like these, so anyone looking for inspiration will want to keep up to speed with where to find them. This list of 15 excellent galleries should get you started.

Galleries to watch

Yuka Tsuruno Gallery

Art
Galleries
Shinagawa

Focusing mainly on contemporary art and photography, this gallery moved to Shinonome in March 2013 and is located inside the multi-purpose Tolot building, which also houses the printing company of the same name. Past exhibitions have highlighted artists like Tim Barber and José Parlá.

Art
Suehirocho

A large multi-level art centre that opened in Akihabara in March 2010, 3331 Arts Chiyoda occupies the site of the old Rensei Junior High School. In addition to housing galleries and exhibition spaces – and opening the old schoolyard as a public park – the facility also makes use of the school roof and gymnasium and has various year-round workshops and events slated to go off.

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Okuno Building Room 306

Art
Ginza

Photo: Okuno Building

Now home to around 20 shops and art galleries, the 1930s Okuno apartments were once some of the most luxurious abodes in the neighbourhood. Room 306 is a multi-purpose space hosting everything from exhibitions to talks – when visiting, make sure to check out the retro tiled exterior and Ginza's oldest manually operated lift.

Art
Galleries
Ginza

One of Japan’s largest printing companies presents contemporary design and graphics here. Japanese designers are prominent, but major international talents appear from time to time.

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Scai The Bathhouse

Art
Galleries
Yanaka

Scai the Bathhouse

Formerly a bathhouse (the building is over 200 years old), this high-ceilinged space in a charming neighbourhood near Ueno Park features contemporary Japanese artists and international practitioners. Like many of the Yanaka district's art galleries, the fact that it is situated in an antiquated building gives it a minimalist aspect that is at once both traditional and extremely fashionable.

Art
Ryogoku

ギャラリーモモ

Opened in 2008, the second outpost of this contemporary art gallery strives to cultivate a new generation of artists through an exhibition selection that emphasises fresh new names and unique personalities.

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Walls Tokyo

Art
Hakusan

This gallery is located opposite the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens entrance and displays stuff ranging from street art to pieces by up-and-coming contemporary artists. All of the displayed pieces can be bought through their website – a boon for collectors.

Art
Asakusabashi

This casual space, found inside a two-storey building to the north of Asakusabashi Station, is open for everything from traditional exhibitions to live shows. The folks running Tensai Sansujuku also dabble in music production, publishing and tasty food events.

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Gallery αM

Art
Bakurocho

Run by Musashino Art University, this gallery invites a new guest curator every year and then holds a uniquely themed special exhibition. Young artists have been the backbone of the gallery since its inception, making it a valuable place for art lovers to see cutting-edge contemporary art. Bakurocho, where αM is located, is a great place for gallery hopping, with a growing number of galleries and offices for creative industries opening in recent years.

Art
Kanda

This old Kanda shop has been renovated and made into a laid-back, artistic café and gallery, where you can just drift away and forget your worries. Interaction with artists is emphasised here, with workshops and parties regular occurrences.

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Reminders Photography Stronghold

Art
Mukojima

This spacious Mukojima gallery hosts photography-related exhibitions, publication events, projects, workshops and the like. British veteran Chris Coekin's recent show was a particular highlight.

Art
Kojimachi

Located near the Imperial Palace, this gallery and event space is hidden in a basement right in the middle of the Hirakawacho business district. Exhibitions, music events and the like take place regularly, with trade displays and branded events also occasionally on the schedule. Functions as a place of support for young but outstanding artists.

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Gallery Éf

Art
Asakusa

ギャラリーエフ

The beamed ceilings and lacquered floors of this extremely rare example of a 19th-century earthen-walled warehouse are tough competition for the contemporary art that is shown here. The shows are mainly by lesser-known but interesting Japanese artists, with some international names joining in. There’s a nice cafe too.

Art
Bakurocho

This art and food office complex is fast gaining a reputation as the art and culture epicentre of Nihonbashi. Housed in a beautifully renovated old building, 131 is home to a total of ten creative organisations and also features a nice restaurant. Check their website for upcoming public events.

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Taka Ishii Gallery [MOVED]

Art
Sendagaya

[MOVED TO SENDAGAYA] Housed in a warehouse right by the Sumida River, Fukagawa's gallery complex contains a selection of eight visit-worthy Tokyo exhibition spaces. One of the best of these is Taka Ishii, which shows photography by major international and Japanese artists (including Nobuyoshi Araki, Naoya Hatakeyama and Thomas Demand).

Top 15 galleries in eastern Tokyo

Galleries to watch

Yuka Tsuruno Gallery

3331 Arts Chiyoda

Okuno Building Room 306

Ginza Graphic Gallery

Scai The Bathhouse

Gallery MoMo Ryogoku

Walls Tokyo

Asakusabashi Tensai Sansujuku

Gallery αM

Te To Ka

Reminders Photography Stronghold

Anagra

Gallery Éf

Creative Hub 131

Taka Ishii Gallery [MOVED]