[2024] Best 10 Exhibitions (80 per year)

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2024 I visited 80 exhibitions, and here I will introduce the best 10. I hope this will be a useful reference for your future museum visits!

▶︎ Summary

Out of the best 10, only two are in Tokyo. The rest are scattered across Aomori, Chiba, Kyoto, and other prefectures. The common characteristics of the best 10 were: 1) museums that integrate with nature and the local community, 2) art genres I didn't know about, and 3) wonderful architecture. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of exhibitions I'll encounter in 2025!

▼ My Best 10 Exhibitions of 2023

▶︎ 80 Exhibitions Visited in 2024

The number of exhibitions visited in 2024 increased to 80 (+6.7% year-on-year), and museums to 64 (+4.9% year-on-year). In particular, the proportion of museums outside of Tokyo increased. This is mainly because I traveled more, which led to an increase in the number of museums I visited while on trips. As a result, the number of Tokyo-based museums in my "My Best 10" decreased compared to the previous year (from 6 to 2).

In 2024, I also focused mainly on visiting museums I had never been to before. The number of first-time museum visits in 2024 was 48 (-5.9% year-on-year), and the proportion of the total was 75.0% (-8.6 points year-on-year). Since various museum and exhibition introductions are posted on note every day, they serve as a reference when I visit.

The number of prefectures with museums I visited in 2024 was 10 (+25.0% year-on-year). Note that since 2022, I have visited museums in 15 prefectures. Aiming for 47, I want to gradually increase the number of prefectures I visit for the first time.

On note, there are people who visit over 100 exhibitions a year (some even over 600!). Because I want to thoroughly digest each exhibition for myself, I record my thoughts on every exhibition I visit on note. Therefore, I expect the number of visits in 2025 to be around 60 to 80.

▼ 2024 View Count and Like Count Summary

▶︎ My Best 10 Exhibitions Visited

I find the process of looking back on the year, agonizing over this and that, to be the most fun. It is no exaggeration to say that I post for the sake of this process! I also love seeing similar retrospective posts on note. It is interesting because each person's individual values are reflected.

1st Place: Towada Art Center "Permanent Exhibition"

The concept of "coexistence of city, nature, and art" and "experience through art" is wonderful! In addition to having many public art installations, the permanent exhibition is interesting because they designed a dedicated room for each piece of art. Also, the impact of each piece of art is sufficient! Although it is in a remote location, it is worth going to Aomori Prefecture just for this museum!

2nd Place: Aomori Museum of Art "Collection Exhibition"

The 'Aleko Hall', a massive four-story atrium space 21m wide and 19m high, is breathtaking! I also have strong memories of the great location surrounded by nature and the dynamic architecture by Jun Aoki. The permanent exhibition, which displays a rich collection of works by Yoshitomo Nara and Shiko Munakata, is enough to enjoy for a full day!

3rd Place: DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art 'Collection Now on View'

Nature In addition to the pleasant environment surrounded by, I love the 'Rothko Room' and the 'Room of Dappled Sunlight,' which bring out the best in the works. Especially in the 'Room of Dappled Sunlight,' I felt refreshed when I just stared blankly in a state of nothingness. The collection, including Western paintings and contemporary art, is excellent and well worth seeing. It was well worth the one-hour bus ride from Tokyo Station!

Furthermore, following a shareholder proposal from the Hong Kong investment fund Oasis Management, the DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art has decided to close in April 2025, downsize and relocate to Tokyo, and sell off 3/4 of its collection. As a corporation, while upholding the principle of a going concern, it is the duty of a listed company to improve capital efficiency if business performance is sluggish.

I suspect that DIC's true intention was to close it completely. If the collection is reduced to 1/4, the quality of curation will also decline, and moving the museum to Tokyo will also incur operating and storage costs. If it continues to put pressure on business performance, the need to explain to shareholders will arise every term.

Some art fans were collecting signatures to save the museum. However, what a company needs more than signatures is continuous revenue. It's like saying, 'If you want to sympathize, give me money.' Since the collection belongs to DIC, they are free to sell it. There are voices lamenting the loss of the works, but if they are sold, someone else will own them. The works will not disappear.

Because DIC is a private company, in principle, only shareholders have the right to make proposals. It is DIC's responsibility that business performance has deteriorated, and it is also DIC that decides on improvement measures. Watching this commotion, I thought, 'Just let DIC do as they please...'

4th Place: Nerima Art Museum 'Kimiyo Mishima: Memories to the Future'

Kimiyo Mishima's personality was what drew me to this exhibition. True to being a Kansai person, she said, 'It's more fun than feeling gloomy, I express it with humor,' and 'Some people think it's trash, some think it's art, and that's fine.' Her candid way of talking about art and her own work was charming, and I empathized with it deeply. May she rest in peace.

5th Place: Kyocera Museum of Art, Kyoto 'Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto'

Takashi Murakami's first major solo exhibition in Japan in 8 years (and his first in a public museum in 23 years)! With about 170 works, 90% of which are new—the sheer volume of the exhibition was incredible! For anyone who loves contemporary art, this was an unmissable exhibition. The many catchy, photo-friendly works were truly impressive. It helped me deepen my understanding of Takashi Murakami's concept of "Superflat".

6th Place: Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, "Mugonkan and the Former Shinano Dessin Museum"

Beyond being a unique perspective, it provided a great deal of historical insight from an artistic angle. There were no works by famous artists in the venue. What was there was a collection of works by young, unknown painters who died in the war. When I locked eyes with the self-portraits of the silent fallen painters, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for being able to live in this era in good health.

7th Place: Kikuchi Kanjitsu Memorial Tomo Museum, "Kikuchi Biennale: Contemporary Ceramics Now"

I had absolutely no interest in ceramics, but I was able to instantly grasp the appeal of "contemporary ceramics." I also felt an exceptionally high sense of taste in the architecture and the exhibition rooms. It's not a flashy museum, but it's one I would highly recommend even to those who aren't interested in ceramics.

8th Place: The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, "Tsukuru-ten: Turning TASKO Factory's Inspiration into Form"

Both the special exhibition and the "Art Forum," which anyone can enter, were thoroughly enjoyable for both adults and children! The museum's child-friendly management philosophy was very endearing, and at the same time, I thought it was a model for all museums. Also, the retro-modern architecture by Junzo Yoshimura and the location in front of the lake were superb!

9th Place: Nakano Museum of Art, "Masterpieces of Japanese and Western Painting"

A small museum in Gakuenmae, Nara Prefecture. It was the first time I thought, "This is a museum I'd like to live in." The comfort of the "lounge" overlooking the pond is amazing! If this were my home, I could lounge around for hours. It felt like visiting the home of someone with great taste who collects art as a hobby. The only drawback is that the opening period is short.

10th Place: ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA/445 "CUBE", "IM MEN <FULFILL>"

An exhibition held at the art space "CUBE" at ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA / 445 (free admission). In addition to being able to easily understand Issey Miyake's unique brand concept of "A Piece of Cloth," I was impressed by the purity of not using the word "sustainable" even once. Every apparel company should take note.

Extra Edition: Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

I visited without any expectations, and it was very interesting! Especially the "Textile Machinery Pavilion"! Clothes that we touch casually every day. I learned a lot because I was able to understand the process from cotton to fabric, including demonstrations. The "guided tour" is an absolute must-recommend. To enjoy it fully, it was a facility that required 4 to 5 hours.

▶︎ Summary

Was this helpful for your future reference? There were only two exhibitions in Tokyo, resulting in a scattered list. When I make a top 10 list, my own preferences become clear. I seem to be attracted to 1) the fusion of art with nature or the region, 2) genres I knew nothing about, and 3) wonderful architecture. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of exhibitions I'll encounter in 2025!

▶︎ Exhibitions scheduled for 2025

For your reference, I will note down the exhibitions scheduled for 2025 that I am interested in.

✔️ Within Tokyo

・Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum "Miró Exhibition"
・Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum "Sophie Calle and Toulouse-Lautrec"
・Tokyo Station Gallery "Tsuguharu Foujita: Paintings and Photographs"
・Mori Art Museum "Machine Love: Video Games, AI, and Contemporary Art"
・21_21 DESIGN SIGHT "Garbage and Poop Exhibition"
・21_21 DESIGN SIGHT "Ramen Bowl Exhibition"
・Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum "Light Descends There: Noe Aoki / Ritsue Mishima"
・Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery "LOVE Fashion"
・The National Art Center, Tokyo "Japanese Contemporary Art and the World 1989-2010"

✔️ Outside Tokyo

・Art Tower Mito "Arata Isozaki Exhibition"
・POLA Museum of Art "Colors: Exploring the Secrets of Color - From Impressionism to Contemporary Art"
・Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka City Museum of Art "Paul Klee Exhibition"
・Yokohama Museum of Art "Welcome Back, Yokohama"
・Shiga Museum of Art "BUTSUDORI: Photographic Expressions of Objects"
・Naoshima New Museum "Opening Commemorative Exhibition"