The Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum is housed in the former home and studio of it’s namesake in the backstreets of Aoyama.
Okamoto rose to prominence in Japan in the 50’s and 60’s, famous for his abstract and surrealist paintings, photography and sculpture. Numerous examples of his public works are dotted around Tokyo, including a huge, colourful mural called ‘The Myth of Tomorrow’ that looms over the public space in Shibuya Station. It was rescued and relocated from a hotel in Mexico several years ago. His sculpture ‘The Children’s Tree’ graces a plaza in Aoyama and a large sculpture that incorporates a clock called ‘Young Clock Tower’ is located in a public garden in Ginza.
His most iconic work however, the Tower of the Sun, is located in Osaka. It’s a 70-metre tower that houses a gallery space within its structure. It became the iconic symbol of the 1970 World Expo. After falling into disrepair, the tower was refurbished and reopened to the public in 2018.
Whether you’re a fan or new to his art, the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum makes for a fascinating pit stop if you’re in the Omotesando area. The two-storey post-war building is a veritable time capsule, filled with period furniture and packed to the rafters with examples of his offbeat work. The artist, who passed away in 1996, remains in residence too, in the form of flamboyant life-size mannequins in several of the rooms.
The museum also holds seasonal curated exhibitions that celebrate various aspects of the artist’s career.
A gift shop selling the artist’s merchandise, a small café and a lush tropical garden area full of sculptures round out what’s on offer.
Address: 6-1-19 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku,Tokyo
Getting there: Omotesando Station Exit B1 (Chiyoda, Ginza, Hanzomon Lines)
Nearby: Café Kitsune, Omotesando Hills, Nezu Museum, Spiral, SunnyHills
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