A Half-Day Art Museum Stroll: A Hipster's Guide to Tokyo

From location to content curation, Tokyo’s art museums all have their own distinct personalities. Even without much explanation, you can often sense their essence just by being in the space. Some might worry that art museums are intimidating or that truly appreciating them requires too much effort and comes with the fear of “not understanding.” In recent years, museums and galleries around the world have undergone significant changes—they no longer emphasize strong educational intentions but instead convey the feeling of being lifestyle and entertainment spaces. Their thoughtfully curated retail sections are must-visits for lovers of lifestyle goods, while their restaurants and cafés have seen a notable improvement in quality. Larger museums even offer several dining and café options at varying price points and styles, often featuring some of the best views in the entire museum.

 

Tokyo is home to hundreds of art museums, so going on an art museum stroll is absolutely doable. However, deciding which museum is worth spending an afternoon (or even a whole day) in might not be so easy. Atmosphere is probably the most important factor. Among the museums we visited, everything from the exhibitions to the cafés gave off a wonderful vibe that made you want to stay longer—perfect spots for a slow, mindful trip around Tokyo.

Walking about 10 minutes from Omotesando, the Watari-Um Museum appears in a uniquely triangular plot of land. Before arriving here, many wouldn’t know what the name “Watari-Um” means. It wasn’t until meeting Mr. Hiroshi Watari that we learned: “Watari” is the Japanese pronunciation of the museum’s first part, and “Um” is the reverse of the first two letters of the English word “Museum,” combining to form the name.

 

In fact, the museum is built on the site of Mr. Watari’s former residence. He shared that his whole family loves art, so they invited the renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta to design the space. With the concept of “architectural sculpture,” they constructed this small yet futuristic-looking museum on the original site of the Watari home.

 

The museum shop “On Sundays” is definitely worth a visit. From the first floor to the basement, the space resembles a bookstore and features a variety of items sourced from around the world and other museums. On the large wall in the basement, there’s now a carefully arranged display of umbrellas—a full wall of them. They’re from Fox, a British high-end handmade umbrella brand. Mr. Watari explained that this is also part of an exhibition concept, with the display changed once a month.

 

Although it’s a small museum, the Watari-Um sees quite a number of visitors. The elevators connecting its various floors are always busy with people coming and going. The closest subway station is Jingūmae Station on the Tokyo Metro line, and its location off the main shopping streets means it takes a bit of effort to find.

 

【Info】

Address: 3-7-6 Harajuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Phone: +81-(0)3-3402-3001

Website: www.watarium.co.jp

 

Hara Museum ARC—Enjoy a Weekend in a Elegant Mansion with Beautiful Gardens

 

 

Enjoying the view of the courtyard at the Art Café (Café d'Art)—taking in the beautiful lawn and the sculptures scattered across it—is an absolute must-do when visiting the Hara Museum. Whether reflecting on the exhibitions you’ve just seen or simply soaking in the rare tranquility of Tokyo, it makes for a wonderful travel experience. The café also offers distinctive food and drink options, such as signature cakes inspired by the museum, a Champagne Evening on Wednesdays, and weekend picnic baskets (Garden Basket) that include a bottle of wine, sausages, salad, and dessert. It’s a highly recommended value-added service. If you’re looking for a relaxed, atmospheric art museum in Tokyo, the Hara Museum will definitely surprise you.

 

【Info】

Address: 4-7-25 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan

Phone: +81-(0)3-3445-0651

Website: www.haramuseum.or.jp