TOKYO: WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDSWe travel to four of the capital's lesser-known creative enclaves, where diverse talent blends with tradition to offer travellers new opportunities to engage with the city. Exploring Tokyo's art unveils its subtlety, something to be felt and experienced rather than simply viewed.
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Although Tokyo is home to a great number of art galleries and many of the world’s most gifted creatives, it may not be readily identified as an art capital to tourists. One may find art galleries in other cities out in the streets, but here they are placed in larger buildings. Yet, the public’s art appetite remains unquestionably ravenous, and Japan’s capital is dotted with creative spots tucked away in alleyways, says Ikuko Kato, art curator at the arts complex, Spiral. “Discovering them is a new way to discover the city.”
Tokyo’s art scene is witnessing the emergence of unconventional spaces as a fresh source of artistic inspiration. Fostering diverse talent and modernising traditional arts, the creative scene has never been more inclusive and progressive.
Staying local, going global
Installation view of “Terra è stata stabilita” (2018) by Bosco Sodiat SCAI THE BATHHOUSE,Tokyo. Photo by Nobutada Omote. Courtesyofthe artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE.
Installation view of “Modest Engagement” (2016) by Toru Kamiya at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo. Photo by Nobutada Omote. Courtesy of the artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE.
Installation view of “FORCE” (2015) by Kohei Nawa at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo. Photo by Nobutada Omote. Courtesy of the artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE.
A stroll through Ueno Park, a Tokyo favourite for cherry blossom viewing, takes you to SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. Established in 1993, the art gallery stands on the grounds of an approximately 200-year-old public bathhouse, featuring a tiled roof, towering chimney and white “noren” curtain. Now, it serves as a hub combining two worlds: the Japanese exterior of a beloved neighbourhood bathhouse and the borderless interior of a pioneering international gallery.
SCAI presents exhibitions every three months, displaying contemporary art from Japan and abroad. Every exhibition emphasises the need to perceive art as future-oriented and unrestricted by geographical borders, and carries a clear message: imagination begins in a familiar environment but grows where boundaries are pushed.
Since opening, SCAI has nurtured the creations of many artists. Among them are Lee Ufan, a leading figure of the Mono-ha ("school of things") group; sculptors like Toshikatsu Endo and Mariko Mori, and emerging talents like Kohei Nawa. You’ll also find international creators such as India's Anish Kapoor, the UK’s Darren Almond and Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Artists’ creations are regularly displayed on walls of SCAI, and two of its new gallery additions, SCAI PARK and SCAI PIRAMIDE, were established in Tokyo in 2017 and 2021. They are also shown in public spaces across Japan.
'Almost perfect' creative journeys
Almost Perfect. Photo credit: Brian Scott Peterson
Almost Perfect. Photo credit: Brian Scott Peterson
Almost Perfect. Photo credit: Brian Scott Peterson
Almost Perfect. Photo credit: Brian Scott Peterson
Tokyo-based visionary couple artist Luis and consultant for sustainable fashion Yuka Mendo, established Almost Perfect in Kuramae by chance. While searching for their future home, they fell in love with an old rice shop built in 1924. Although it was slightly too large for their family at the time, due to its vicinity to artisanal stores and soaked in the historic commercial culture of Kuramae, they felt it would be "perfect for artists". Located near the famous Asakusa, Kuramae used to be a traditional wholesale district for toys and stationery. Today, it is filled with cafés, artisan studios and design shops.
In 2018, Almost Perfect opened its doors to international residents seeking a creative break, lasting two to six weeks. The artists stay on the top floors, where they live and create. The programme culminates in an exhibit of their work in the public gallery, which used to be the rice shop, located on the ground floor. From film directors like Ryan Gasparini who directed a documentary about Almost Perfect to illustrators like Geri Coady who now has multiple Japanese clients, Almost Perfect has so far held space for more than 60 international creatives. According to Luis, these works encompass diversity in talent and art, brought to life with a pinch of Tokyo inspiration.
“Perfection is overrated. We’re all imperfect anyway,” says Luis. From his own journey making Tokyo his home later in life, he is aware that, like creativity, the need for escape knows no nationalities, gender, or social norms. But Tokyo, Luis ensures, is the perfect place to rebound and gain new inspirations.
The old, the new and the borderless
Tokyo Kimono Shoes
Tokyo Kimono Shoes
Heralbony
Heralbony
Quickly gaining popularity, Heralbony and Tokyo Kimono Shoes promote creative inclusion through their fashion and lifestyle offerings; Heralbony using art by people with learning disabilities, and Tokyo Kimono Shoes through upcycling traditional wear. Both embrace similar concepts, taking on lesser-known art forms and reusable traditions to ensure that no one, and nothing, is left behind.
Inspired by their brother, who was born with learning disabilities, twins Takaya and Fumito Matsuda founded Heralbony in 2018. It creates artistic prospects for those with disabilities and highlights the significance of diversity in art. Heralbony presents dozens of colourful and versatile merchandise, from fashionable clothes and accessories to lifestyle goods, interior design and art pieces. While primarily operating online, the Iwate Prefecture-based company runs regular pop-up stores and art exhibitions in Tokyo, including a recent collaboration with Disney at Shibuya’s Rayard Miyashita Park.
Similarly, Tokyo Kimono Shoes in Asakusa draws attention to another important topic: while the kimono is traditionally the ultimate example of high fashion in Japan, the majority of them end up covered in dust at the back of wardrobes. The company upcycles discarded kimonos into comfortable shoes hand-crafted by long-established Asakusa shoemakers. Customers can purchase ready-made in-store or online, or create their own designs from scratch at the store.
Located in the stylish neighbourhood of Aoyama is Spiral, a nine-floor arts hub. Since 1985, Spiral has championed corporate backing for new artists while furnishing multiple venues for art appreciation. With a free art gallery, café, multi-purpose hall, select shop and multiple stores, Spiral is a distinct alternative to museums and galleries with its multifaceted art.
Every spring, Spiral hosts an annual independent creators festival. It is an open-call event “to discover, foster, and support emerging artists and designers”. SPIRAL INDEPENDENT CREATORS FESTIVAL (SICF) hosts about 170 creators who display their work over two terms of three days. At the end of the event, two creators are honoured with a Grand Prize, one in the MARKET and one in the EXHIBITION category, that allows them to organise solo exhibitions at Spiral, and connect with art viewers and purchasers through events. According to Spiral’s art curator Ikuko Kato, though exhibitors vary yearly, the award-winning works share a distinctive focus on creativity, drawing on relatable topics and familiar materials.
In 2022, the SICF23 EXHIBITION Grand prize, for example, went to Namae Myoji who was presented with the highest award for her research on gender identity and issues. Her solo exhibition “Babel and Utopia” was one of Spiral’s most visited exhibitions of 2023. Ultimately, Spiral's creators invite visitors to draw closer to art, through the expression of emotions, beliefs and life stages.
Additionally, Spiral also hosts its annual Spiral Xmas Market in December and regular free exhibitions in its gallery. It is also one of the hosts of Rainbow Reel Tokyo, Tokyo’s best-known International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, held every July.
A new way to discover Tokyo
Beyond Tokyo's seamless urban fusion of new and old, evolutionary thrill and everyday comfort, lie hidden gems of unique talents worth travelling for. These destinations show that Tokyo is a place where art lives in both the undiscovered and the ordinary. All it takes is a trip here, to discover these perfect or at the very least, almost perfect destinations.
