Recommended Art Gallery and Museum Exhibitions Across Japan in May 2026

NPO Aoyama Design Forum presents the recommended exhibitions of art galleries and museums in May 2026. In addition to the schedule of events, we will provide you with detailed information such as the works on display. Please check the website of each museum for current opening hours before visiting.

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo MOT Collection “Art for Starters”

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo presents “Art for Starters,” a new edition of its MOT Collection exhibition showcasing works from its collection of approximately 6,100 pieces centered on postwar and contemporary art. Framed around the idea of “first encounters” with art, the exhibition invites visitors to explore questions such as how to begin engaging with art, what it means to truly see for the first time, and how artworks come into being. Featuring newly acquired works alongside collection highlights, the exhibition offers approachable entry points for both first-time museum visitors and returning audiences. Through a wide range of artistic expressions, visitors can discover personal connections to art and experience the joy of beginning a new dialogue with visual culture.

Dates: April 28 (Tue) – August 16 (Sun), 2026
Venue: Collection Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing) ※ Open until 21:00 on August 7 and 14
Closed: Mondays (except May 4 and July 20), May 7, July 21
Admission: Adults 500 yen / University & Vocational Students 400 yen / High School Students & Seniors 65+ 250 yen / Free for Junior High School Students and Younger
URL：https://tinyurl.com/2ws84xcf

The National Museum of Western Art “M. K. Čiurlionis: The Inner Constellation”

ミカロユス・コンスタンティナス・チュルリョーニス《祭壇》1909年、テンペラ／厚紙、国立M. K. チュルリョーニス美術館（カウナス）所蔵

The National Museum of Western Art presents a major retrospective dedicated to Lithuanian artist and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911), marking the first large-scale exhibition of his work in Japan in 34 years. Organized with the full cooperation of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, the exhibition features approximately 80 carefully selected works spanning painting and music-inspired compositions. Renowned for his visionary imagery exploring spirituality, mythology, and the mysteries of the cosmos, Čiurlionis created a uniquely poetic artistic universe during his brief but prolific career. The exhibition also includes the first presentation in Japan of his celebrated masterpiece Rex, offering visitors a rare opportunity to encounter one of Europe’s most singular Symbolist artists.

Dates: March 28 (Sat) – June 14 (Sun), 2026
Venue: The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 9:30–17:30 (Open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Closed: Mondays and May 7 ※ Open on March 30 and May 4
Admission: Adults 2,200 yen / University Students 1,300 yen / High School Students 1,000 yen
Image Credit: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Altar, 1909, tempera on paperboard, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas, Lithuania
URL：https://2026ciurlionis.nmwa.go.jp

EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM Special Exhibition “In Praise of Great Edo”

Following its reopening after nearly four years of renovation, the EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM presents its first special exhibition, “In Praise of Great Edo.” Composed entirely of works from the museum’s own collection, the exhibition explores the cultural richness of Edo as both a political center and a thriving city of popular culture. Through carefully selected masterpieces and materials exhibited for the first time, visitors can experience the vibrant world of sumo, kabuki, Yoshiwara, and the flourishing literary and artistic activities that shaped urban life in Edo. The exhibition highlights how interactions among people from different social backgrounds fostered a unique cultural environment whose influence continues to resonate in contemporary Japanese culture.

Dates: April 25 (Sat) – May 24 (Sun), 2026
Venue: Special Exhibition Gallery, 1F, EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM
Opening Hours: 9:30–17:30 (Open until 19:30 on Saturdays) Note: Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 1,300 yen / University & Vocational Students 1,040 yen / Seniors 65+ 650 yen
URL：https://tinyurl.com/372d3tef

Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art “UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI: The Spellbinding Ukiyo-e Works of an Eccentric Artist”

This major exhibition explores the extraordinary world of Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), one of the most innovative ukiyo-e artists of the late Edo period. Celebrated for his bold imagination and dynamic compositions, Kuniyoshi revolutionized ukiyo-e with powerful warrior prints, humorous caricatures, landscapes, portraits of actors, and bijinga. The exhibition brings together approximately 400 works, including impressive triptych compositions and rare paintings, revealing the full scope of the artist’s creative vision. Rich in visual energy, wit, and storytelling, Kuniyoshi’s works continue to captivate audiences today. Visitors will discover how the artist transformed traditional ukiyo-e into a vibrant and highly original form of expression that influenced generations of artists both in Japan and abroad.

Dates: April 24 (Fri) – June 21 (Sun), 2026 Note: Some works will be rotated during the exhibition period
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art (Aichi Arts Center 10F)
Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00, Fridays until 20:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 1,800 yen / University Students 1,000 yen / High School Students 800 yen / Free for Junior High School Students and Younger
URL：https://www.ctv.co.jp/kuniyoshi/

The National Museum of Art, Osaka “Nakanishi Natsuyuki: Devices for Gentle Gazing and Endless Lingering”

Marking the tenth anniversary of the death of Nakanishi Natsuyuki (1935–2016), this exhibition is the first full-scale retrospective dedicated to one of Japan’s most influential postwar painters. Tracing his artistic journey from the late 1950s onward, the exhibition examines Nakanishi’s persistent exploration of what painting can be and how images emerge within space. Refusing to be confined to either abstraction or representation, his works challenge viewers to reconsider the nature of visual perception itself. Through paintings, installations, and archival materials, the exhibition highlights the artist’s profound engagement with the act of seeing and the “place” where painting exists. Nakanishi’s practice continues to provide important insight into contemporary discussions surrounding painting and artistic expression in Japan.

Dates: March 14 (Sat) – June 14 (Sun), 2026
Venue: The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00, Fridays until 20:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 1,500 yen / University Students 900 yen
National Museum of Art, Osaka ©NATSUYUKI NAKANISHI
URL：https://tinyurl.com/4ycx66fh

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum “W. Eugene Smith and New York: The Loft Era”

W.ユージン・スミス〈私の窓から時々見ると...（As from My Window）〉より 1958年頃 東京都写真美術館蔵 ©1958, 2025 The Heirs of W. Eugene Smith

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum presents Japan’s first exhibition focusing on the years W. Eugene Smith spent in his legendary New York loft between 1957 and the late 1960s. Widely recognized as one of the twentieth century’s greatest documentary photographers, Smith used this period to expand photography beyond conventional photojournalism and explore its artistic possibilities. The exhibition features works created in and around the loft, where musicians, writers, and artists gathered in an atmosphere of creative exchange. Through intimate photographs of urban life, jazz culture, and everyday scenes viewed from his window, visitors are invited to encounter a more personal and experimental side of Smith’s practice. The exhibition reconsiders his legacy not only as a photojournalist, but also as an artist deeply engaged with the creative spirit of New York City.

Dates: March 17 (Tue) – June 7 (Sun), 2026
Venue: 2F Gallery, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Thursdays and Fridays until 20:00)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 700 yen / Students 560 yen / High School Students & Seniors 65+ 350 yen
Image Credit: W. Eugene Smith, from As from My Window, ca. 1958, Collection of Tokyo Photographic Art Museum ©1958, 2025 The Heirs of W. Eugene Smith
URL：https://topmuseum.jp

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto “Modern Urban Life and Takehisa Yumeji: Works from the Kawanishi Hide Collection”

This exhibition explores the vibrant culture of modern urban life through the works of Takehisa Yumeji and artists associated with the Kawanishi Hide Collection. Celebrated as both a painter and designer, Yumeji became an iconic figure of the Taisho era, creating images and graphics that resonated deeply with young people of the time. The exhibition presents postcards, prints, illustrations, and everyday design objects alongside works by artists such as Kawanishi Hide and Onchi Kōshirō, who were inspired by Yumeji’s modern sensibility. Through depictions of city life, fashionable culture, and experimental artistic expression, the exhibition offers a vivid portrait of Japan’s emerging modernity in the early twentieth century and the flourishing visual culture that shaped the era.

Dates: March 28 (Sat) – June 21 (Sun), 2026
Venue: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Fridays until 20:00) Note: Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Mondays (except May 4)
Admission: Adults 1,800 yen / University Students 1,100 yen / Free for High School Students and Younger
URL：https://www.momak.go.jp/

Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art “400 Years of Western Paintings: Masterpieces from Tokyo Fuji Art Museum”

Spanning four centuries of Western art history, this exhibition brings together approximately 80 masterpieces from the renowned collection of Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Beginning with Renaissance paintings from sixteenth-century Italy and continuing through Impressionism and modern art, the exhibition traces the evolution of artistic styles and ideas across Europe. Visitors can encounter works ranging from mythological and religious subjects to innovative paintings by artists such as Monet and Cézanne, whose approaches transformed the language of modern painting. Carefully selected from one of Japan’s leading collections of Western art, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of European painting history within a single exhibition space.

Dates: March 20 (Fri, Holiday) – May 24 (Sun), 2026
Venue: Main Building North Corridor 1F, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4)
Admission: Adults 2,000 yen / University & High School Students 1,500 yen / Elementary & Junior High School Students 500 yen
URL：https://tinyurl.com/49yhc6c9

The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama “Ansei & Toshiko Uchima: Weaving Colors and Memories”

内間安瑆《Forest Byobu (Autumn-Stone)》1979年 多色木版、紙 個人蔵

This exhibition revisits the artistic achievements of Ansei Uchima and Toshiko Uchima, a creative couple whose works bridged Japanese and American postwar art. Born in the United States to Japanese immigrant families, Ansei Uchima developed a highly distinctive style of woodblock printmaking influenced by Japanese aesthetics and modern abstraction. His celebrated “Forest Byobu” series demonstrates a refined balance of color, rhythm, and spatial composition. Alongside Ansei’s prints, the exhibition also highlights Toshiko Uchima’s imaginative assemblages and collages, revealing the rich dialogue between their artistic practices. Featuring related works by artists such as Isamu Noguchi, the exhibition sheds new light on cross-cultural artistic exchange and the diverse expressions that emerged in postwar art.

Dates: March 7 (Sat) – May 31 (Sun), 2026
Venue: The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama
Opening Hours: 9:30–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4)
Admission: Adults 1,200 yen / Students & Visitors Under 20 1,050 yen / Seniors 65+ 600 yen / High School Students 100 yen
Image Credit: Ansei Uchima, Forest Byobu (Autumn-Stone), 1979, color woodblock print on paper, private collection
URL：https://tinyurl.com/4cuzewuw

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa “ROJŌ [shared ground] ― am i in your way?”

鈴木康広《遊具の透視法》2001 撮影：川内倫子

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Street Observation Society, this exhibition explores the concept of public space and asks a provocative question: who truly owns the street? Expanding beyond contemporary art, the exhibition brings together historical documents, video games, public bath culture, street performance, and various forms of urban observation to examine how people interact with shared spaces. By tracing past artistic and critical practices alongside contemporary approaches to the city, the exhibition encourages visitors to reconsider the everyday environments that surround them. Through humor, curiosity, and critical insight, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on urban life and the hidden narratives embedded within ordinary streetscapes.

Dates: April 25 (Sat) – September 6 (Sun), 2026
Venue: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Image Credit: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Perspective Playground Equipment, 2001, Photo by Rinko Kawauchi
URL：https://tinyurl.com/bdvf22ev

POLA Museum Annex “POLA Research Institute of Beauty & Culture 50th Anniversary Exhibition ‘Modern Beauty: Modern Cosmetic Culture’”

五三桐紋蒔絵婚礼化粧道具 合わせ鏡（明治時代）ほか

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the POLA Research Institute of Beauty & Culture, this exhibition traces the evolution of cosmetic culture and beauty ideals in modern Japan. Since its establishment in 1976, the institute has viewed cosmetics not merely as products, but as an important cultural practice deeply connected to everyday life. Through historical beauty tools, cosmetics, and archival materials, the exhibition explores how concepts of appearance and personal style developed during the modern era and continue to influence contemporary ideas of beauty today. By examining changing social values, fashion trends, and cultural aspirations, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the meaning of beauty in both the past and the present.

Dates: April 28 (Tue) – May 31 (Sun), 2026
Venue: POLA Museum Annex (POLA Ginza Building 3F, Ginza, Tokyo)
Opening Hours: 11:00–19:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Note: Closes at 18:00 on May 13 and May 20 / Opens at 12:00 on May 24
Admission: Free
Image Credit: Wedding Cosmetic Set with Paulownia Crest Makie Mirror Stand, Meiji period, and others
URL：https://tinyurl.com/2r6a5z76

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka “Special Exhibition ‘MOCO Collection Omnibus —Debut Appearances and Comebacks— PART2’”

色絵美人文六角大壺_三好和義氏撮影

This special exhibition presents a diverse selection of ceramics and tea utensils from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, highlighting works being shown publicly for the first time as well as pieces returning after long periods out of view. Centered on the Shokei Collection of tea ceramics, the exhibition also features export Imari ware, works by leading mingei ceramic artist Hamada Shōji, and examples of “Kosometsuke” porcelain produced in Jingdezhen during the Ming dynasty for the Japanese market. Korean water droppers and other refined objects further reveal the cultural richness of East Asian ceramic traditions. Presented in an omnibus format, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to encounter a broad range of artistic styles, techniques, and historical narratives through exceptional ceramic works.

Dates: April 11 (Sat) – August 2 (Sun), 2026
Venue: The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Opening Hours: 9:30–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Closed: Mondays, May 7, July 21 Note: Open on May 4, July 20, April 27, and July 27
Admission: Adults 1,600 yen / High School & University Students 800 yen
Image Credit: Photograph of Large Hexagonal Jar with Beauty Design in Overglaze Enamels by Kazuyoshi Miyoshi
URL：https://tinyurl.com/3badrppt

Fukuda Art Museum “Jakuchū: Prancing Feathers and Swelling Gourds”

This exhibition celebrates the extraordinary imagination of Itō Jakuchū through approximately 40 works spanning his artistic career, including newly discovered and recently acquired masterpieces. A major highlight is the first post-conservation presentation of Kasozukan alongside the Important Cultural Property Saichufu, allowing visitors to compare two remarkable works created only about a year apart. Early paintings such as Turnips and Two Chickens and newly added works including Old Pine and White Cranes further illuminate Jakuchū’s evolving style and fascination with the natural world. The exhibition also introduces works by contemporaries such as Yosa Buson, Maruyama Ōkyo, and Nagasawa Rosetsu, offering a broader perspective on the vibrant artistic culture of eighteenth-century Kyoto.

Dates: April 25 (Sat) – July 5 (Sun), 2026
Venue: Fukuda Art Museum
Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Closed: May 12, June 2, June 16
Admission: Adults 1,500 yen / High School Students 900 yen / Elementary & Junior High School Students 500 yen
URL：https://tinyurl.com/3b4824te

GR Gallery “Kohei Yamada: MY SCREEN TESTS”

GR Gallery presents “MY SCREEN TESTS,” the first New York solo exhibition by Japanese artist Kohei Yamada. The exhibition introduces a new body of work consisting of large-scale paintings and corresponding studies that examine the relationship between art, commerce, nostalgia, and cultural identity. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of American Pop Art, particularly Andy Warhol, Yamada explores the shifting boundaries between mass media imagery and personal memory. His works move fluidly between abstraction and representation while incorporating a wide range of techniques including oil painting, acrylic, dripping, and pointillism. Through layered surfaces and visually striking compositions, the exhibition reflects on contemporary image culture and the ways in which visual experiences shape collective imagination in the digital age.

Dates: May 15 (Fri) – June 14 (Sun), 2026
Venue: GR Gallery, New York
URL：https://tinyurl.com/mr2s57mr

√K Contemporary “Emi Kusano ‘Ornament Survival’”

√K Contemporary presents “Ornament Survival,” a solo exhibition by artist Emi Kusano, one of the leading figures in the global AI art scene. The exhibition marks the Japanese debut of Kusano’s new series first unveiled at Art Basel Hong Kong Zero10 in March 2026. Expanding upon the original presentation with newly created works, the exhibition also includes representative pieces such as the “Office Ladies” series. Kusano’s practice critically explores nostalgia, pop culture, and collective memory within the context of the digital era, combining AI-generated imagery with references to retro Japanese aesthetics and internet culture. Through vibrant visuals and layered conceptual narratives, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the emotional and cultural dimensions of technology-driven contemporary society.

Dates: May 16 (Sat) – June 20 (Sat), 2026
Venue: √K Contemporary
Opening Hours: 13:00–19:00
URL：https://tinyurl.com/yte2sjwj