Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

Ebisu, Meguro & Around


Housed in a Bauhaus-style mansion from the 1930s, this museum hosts exhibitions from influential contemporary artists, both from Japan and overseas. There are also fascinating permanent installations designed especially for the house’s nooks and crannies. The patio cafe (which overlooks the sculpture garden) and excellent gift shop make the trip out here worthwhile.

It’s 1.5km from Shinagawa Station. Or take bus 96 from platform six (¥210, every 20 minutes) one stop to Gotenyama, from where it's a three-minute walk.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ebisu, Meguro & Around attractions

1. Terrada Art Complex

0.61 MILES

Part of the re-fashioning of the Tennōzu Isle warehouse district, this charcoal-grey warehouse contains six contemporary galleries: Kodama Gallery (www…

2. Archi-Depot

0.72 MILES

Archi-Depot curates changing exhibitions of the models architects make to conceptualise buildings, some of which have gone on to be built; others remain…

3. Hatakeyama Collection

0.96 MILES

Get a feel for wabi-sabi – the aesthetic of perfect imperfections that guides the tea ceremony – at this museum specialising in the pottery and art…

4. Sengaku-ji

1.14 MILES

The story of the 47 rōnin (masterless samurai) who (cleverly, murderously) avenged their master, Lord Asano – put to death after being tricked into…

5. Happō-en

1.24 MILES

Three centuries ago this garden, with strolling paths around a large pond (home to many carp), was the backyard of a vassal to the shogun. Today its the…

6. Institute for Nature Study

1.36 MILES

What would Tokyo look like were it left to its own natural devices? Since 1949 this park, affiliated with the Tokyo National Museum, has let the local…

7. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

1.46 MILES

Although the Teien museum often hosts excellent exhibitions – usually of decorative arts – its chief appeal lies in the building itself: it's an art deco…

8. Meguro Gajoen

1.5 MILES

Tokyo's most over-the-top wedding venue is resplendent with indoor waterfalls and gilded friezes (which speaks to the fashion in Tokyo during the height…