Watarium has a special spot in my heart and is in my top 3 Tokyo art galleries of all time. Watari-um is well known for its dynamic exhibitions that showcase both international and Japanese artists. The museum, established in 1990, has hosted so far works by famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Nam June Paik, Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, and Yoshitomo Nara . Worth mentioning is the fact, that Keith Haring’s connection with the Watarium dates back to 1983, when he held his first solo exhibition in Japan at Galerie Watari, the precursor to Watari-um. This exhibition was Haring’s introduction to the Japanese art scene. I can asure you that 90% of their exhibitions are fantastic (with 10% being just good 😉). The museum is housed in a outstanding building designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta (and sometimes itself becomes a canvas for paintings and performances). Last but not least - discount for pairs is a nice touch that allows you to enjoy art without breaking the bank. Make sure to check out their shop in B1F where you can purchase some amazing books and an artwork by Japanese and foreign artist.

+3

The store had lots of interesting items from postcards to retro watches and clothes

+3

It’s a 4-story building with a not big space. In addition to the artworks, the space composition that varies for each floor and the background of the wall are interesting. It‘s worth a visit, and the museum shop has a variety of postcard collections..

+2

Don’t go with small kids. The Donald Judd exhibition was quite boring. We left after 20 minutes. The cafe and the museum shop were far more interesting. Some of the staff weren’t kid friendly at all - very pedantic about visitation rules. One could say even anal retentive.

The building was designed by Swiss architect Mario Potter. It is a private museum and the first floor is a bookstore with a wide selection of designed cards and art books. The basement is a coffee shop. This museum is useful when you want to take a break in the Aoyama area.