Artizon Museum

Artizon Museum is an art gallery specializing in Impressionist and Western-style Japanese art.

Located in Kyobashi, just a short walk from Tokyo Station, this museum’s concept is “experiencing creativity.” It used be called the Bridgestone Museum, but was reopened in a brand new building as Artizon Museum in 2019.

Permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition at Artizon Museum features a rotation of artworks from the Ishibashi Foundation Collection. The collection was started by Shijiro Ishibashi (1889-1976), the founder of the Bridgestone Corporation and the original Bridgestone Museum. At first, Ishibashi’s personal collection focused on works by Western-style Japanese artists such as Hanjiro Sakamoto (1882-1969), Shigeru Aoki (1882 -1911), and Takeji Fujishima (1867-1943). Then he expanded the collection to Western artworks and Impressionist paintings.

Today, the collection includes works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Cézanne.

Special exhibitions

Artizon Museum holds one or two special exhibitions at a time. They usually run for three to four months. Past exhibitions include one on the works of Marie Laurencin (1883-1956) and one called “ABSTRACTION: The Genesis and Evolution of Abstract Painting Cézanne, Fauvism, Cubism and on to Today.”

Museum facilities

Artizon Museum has a museum shop with a nice range of staionery, postcards, and even small canvas prints of a few paintings. There are also books, but they are mostly in Japanese. There’s also a café with some genuinely delicious food, free coin lockers, and an “Info Room” where you can read books about the museum and its exhibitions.

How to buy tickets for Artizon Museum

You can buy tickets online from the museum website or in person. The online tickets have a slight discount. Tickets have set entry time-slots, so you can only buy in-person tickets if that time-slot still has tickets left.

Ticket prices vary depending on the exhibition but are generally between ¥1,500 and ¥2,000 for adults. Tickets are free for children in junior high school and younger. High school and university students can also get in for free, but you need to book in advance.

How to get to Artizon Museum

The museum is just under 5 minutes on foot from Kyobashi Station on the Ginza Line. Or, Tokyo Station is about a 7-minute walk away.

Things to do nearby

There are lots of things to do in the Tokyo Station area, including plenty of shopping and dining options.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need for Artizon Museum?

We recommend allowing around 2 hours to fully appreciation Artizon Museum. Real art-lovers might want even more time though.

Does Artizon Museum have English support?

Yes, mostly displays also have English translation. There’s also a free audio guide app available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. The museum has free WiFi so you can download the app on the day. Just don’t forget to bring your own earphones.