Immersive art has become the most exciting trend in the art world in recent years, capturing attention at pop-up installations in some of the world’s most populous cities. With its own uniquely rich cultural and artistic legacy, Japan has been at the forefront of this global movement. The breadth of the experiences offered in Japan, from Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms to the multi-award winning teamLab exhibits that brings together art, science and technology, speak to the country’s embrace of this phenomenon. Moreover, it firmly positions Japan as the destination of choice for appreciators of experiential art.
Beyond traditional bucket-list-worthy attractions like the art island of Naoshima, Japan is capitalizing on this growing international fascination with immersive art and investing in more multisensory, interactive art experiences. The goal is to empower visitors to step inside the artwork and become participants rather than spectators.
The latest concept to enter the space is the Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition, reflecting the floating world of Japan. It opens on December 21st, 2024 and will run until March 31st, 2025.
This new exhibit takes place in Tokyo, only a short walk from Tennozu Isle Station. Its technological advancement and social interaction combined are an extraordinary immersion into the fascinating and dynamic culture of Japan.
Japan’s iconic woodblock prints like “Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)” by Katsushika Hokusai, are brought to life through brilliant 3DCG and projection mapping. 300 pieces by renowned artists like Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige, and many more, spring to life around visitors. Landscapes, people clad in kimono, and scenes of Japanese nature are beautifully composed to capture and enliven the quintessential images of Japan, inspiring visitors to feel immersed within them.
Art in Japan reflects the values, aesthetics, and spirituality of Japanese culture. The Sand Museum in Tottori is the only indoor museum devoted to sand sculptures, showcasing the most unbelievably massive structures erected by international teams. The Ghibli Museum of Animation in Mitaka is an essential stop for any lover of Japanese anime, bringing the vivid scenes from childhood classics like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle to life.
Reflecting the beauty of Japan’s natural world, The Hakone Open-Air Museum showcases a spectacular array of installations across the gorgeous surroundings of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, with Mt. Fuji in view. The awe-inspiring gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art offer the most immaculate representation of Japanese gardening.
