[March 2027] Art Event Calendar: Art Fair Tokyo, the Boso Art Festival, a Kyoto Art Fair and More

In March 2027, two art fairs are held back to back: ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO 2027 in Kyoto (Friday, March 5 – Sunday, March 7) and Art Fair Tokyo 21 in Tokyo (public days Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14). In Chiba Prefecture, two art festivals with Fram Kitagawa as general director open: the Boso International Art Festival Art×Mix 2027 on Saturday, March 6, and the Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival on Saturday, March 20. In Tokyo, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the National Museum of Western Art, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Suntory Museum of Art and The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts launch their spring exhibitions, and the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art opens “New! Ukiyo-e Exhibition” on Saturday, March 20. In addition, exhibitions that began in February or earlier continue through March at the Aomori Museum of Art, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art, The Museum of Art, Ehime and The Museum of Art, Kochi. Based on official announcements from each organizer and museum and materials published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, this article lists 31 events in all: 11 opening in March and 20 exhibitions that began in February or earlier and run into March.

March events vary widely in length. The art fairs last three days in Kyoto and four days in Tokyo, including the invitation-only day, while the two festivals in Chiba Prefecture run until late May. Among exhibitions that began in February or earlier, the Hans Haacke exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the “Time” exhibition at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, the Raphaël Zarka exhibition at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art and “The Great Van Gogh Exhibition: The Langlois Bridge at Arles” at Kobe City Museum continue into May. The Matisse exhibition at the National Museum of Western Art and “DIVA” at The National Art Center, Tokyo, which open on Saturday, March 20 and Wednesday, March 24 respectively, both run until Monday, July 19 (national holiday). Events from the previous month are covered in our February 2027 art event calendar.

Early March: Art fairs in Kyoto and Tokyo, and an art festival opens in Boso

ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO 2027 (Kyoto)

An art fair organized by Kyoto Prefecture, the Kyoto Shimbun and the ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO Executive Committee. In 2027 it will be held at the Meiji Kotokan of the Kyoto National Museum, with a preview scheduled for Thursday, March 4. The open call for exhibitors that Kyoto Prefecture ran in 2026 sought about five to ten artists and required exhibitors to stay at the venue throughout the fair to talk with visitors. The organizers say there is no exhibition fee and no commission on works sold at the venue. The director is contemporary artist Noboru Tsubaki. See also our article on ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO 2027.

Dates: Friday, March 5 – Sunday, March 7, 2027 (preview scheduled for Thursday, March 4)
Venue: Meiji Kotokan, Kyoto National Museum (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto)
Admission: Not stated on Kyoto Prefecture’s exhibitor call page (updated June 24, 2026)
Organizers: Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto Shimbun, ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO Executive Committee
Official website: https://artists-fair.kyoto/

Boso International Art Festival Art×Mix 2027 (Chiba Prefecture)

An art festival organized by an executive committee formed by Chiba Prefecture, Ichihara City, Kisarazu City and Otaki Town. Ichihara has held the art festival “Ichihara Art×Mix” since 2014. In 2027 the festival runs for 64 days, from Saturday, March 6 to Sunday, May 30, at sites across the three municipalities. The general producer is Takeshi Kobayashi, the general director is Fram Kitagawa and the art director is Ryo Toyofuku. Artwork passports went on sale on October 2, 2026, and second and subsequent entries are half price at all venues. On Saturday, March 13, the band Remioromen will perform “Re Dialogue TOUR 2027” at Ichihara City Civic Hall as an official program. An overview of the festival is available in our article on the Boso International Art Festival Art×Mix 2027.

Dates: Saturday, March 6 – Sunday, May 30, 2027 (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except during Golden Week)
Venue: Sites across Ichihara City, Kisarazu City and Otaki Town, Chiba Prefecture
Admission: Artwork passport: adults (19 and over) ¥3,000 in advance / ¥3,500 during the festival; youth (16–18) ¥1,000 in advance / ¥1,500 during the festival; children (15 and under) free. Advance sales end Friday, March 5
Organizer: Boso International Art Festival Executive Committee (Chiba Prefecture, Ichihara City, Kisarazu City, Otaki Town)
Official website: https://boso-artmix.com/

Roppongi 20th Anniversary Exhibition I: KIRIKO (Suntory Museum of Art)

On March 30, 2027, Suntory Museum of Art marks 20 years since it reopened after moving to Roppongi, and it will hold four anniversary exhibitions. The first features kiriko, a uniquely Japanese hand-cut glass that emerged in the late Edo period, driven by admiration for European cut glass. It will be followed by “The World of Shiba Kokan” (provisional title) from June and “Choju Giga” (provisional title) from September.

Dates: Wednesday, March 10 – Sunday, May 16, 2027
Venue: Suntory Museum of Art (Roppongi, Tokyo)
Admission: Not stated in announcements as of October 26
Organizer: Not stated in announcements as of October 26 (announced by Suntory Museum of Art, Suntory Foundation for the Arts)
Official website: https://www.suntory.co.jp/sma/exhibition/future.html

Art Fair Tokyo 21 (Chiyoda, Tokyo)

The 21st edition of the art fair, with Tokyo International Forum as its main venue. Thursday, March 11 is the invitation-only day, and public days are scheduled for Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14. This time the “Projects” section moves outside Tokyo International Forum and will be shown in the B1 concourse of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. According to the organizer, the previous edition in March 2026 (ART FAIR TOKYO 20) had 141 exhibitors, a total of 56,938 visits and total sales of about ¥3.65 billion, up 28% from the year before. See also our article on Art Fair Tokyo 21.

Dates: Thursday, March 11 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 (March 11 is invitation-only; public days Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14)
Venue: Tokyo International Forum Hall E / Lobby Gallery (Chiyoda, Tokyo); Tokyo Midtown Hibiya B1 concourse (“Projects” section)
Admission: Not stated on the official website as of October 26
Operator: aTOKYO Inc.
Official website: https://artfairtokyo.com/

VOCA 2027: The Vision of Contemporary Art (The Ueno Royal Museum)

An exhibition of two-dimensional works by young artists recommended by museum curators, researchers and others from across Japan. Founded in 1994, it reaches its 34th edition in 2027. The Ueno Royal Museum has announced the 23 artists selected for 2027. It runs for 15 days and is open every day during the exhibition.

Dates: Monday, March 15 – Monday, March 29, 2027 (15 days, open daily; planned)
Venue: The Ueno Royal Museum (1-2 Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Not stated on the official website as of October 26
Organizer: The Ueno Royal Museum, Japan Art Association (special sponsor: The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited)
Official website: https://www.ueno-mori.org/exhibitions/voca/2027/

Late March: An art festival around Narita, and spring exhibitions in Tokyo and Hyogo

Innovative! Hayami Gyoshu (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)

An exhibition on Hayami Gyoshu (1894–1935), a Nihonga painter active from the Taisho era to the early Showa era. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo says it will bring together about 100 works from across Japan in four chapters and reread his work as “innovative” by setting it against a variety of documents. “Maiko of Kyoto” (1920, Tokyo National Museum) will be on view from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, April 11.

Dates: Friday, March 19 – Sunday, May 9, 2027
Venue: Special Exhibition Gallery (1F), The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Admission: Not announced as of October 26
Organizers: The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; The Mainichi Newspapers; Nikkei Inc.
Official website: https://www.momat.go.jp/exhibitions/572

Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival (Chiba Prefecture)

An art festival organized by an executive committee formed by Chiba Prefecture, Narita City, Inzai City and Sakae Town; the Japanese name is read “sora mizu ku” (sky, water, emptiness). The general director is Fram Kitagawa. About 25 artists and groups from Japan and abroad are expected to take part, with venues including the Narita City Cultural Arts Center (first half of the festival), a former bank site on the Naritasan Omotesando approach (second half), the former Munakata Elementary School and the area around Lake Inba in Inzai, and the area around Boso no Mura in Sakae. Artwork passports go on sale on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.

Dates: Saturday, March 20 – Sunday, May 23, 2027 (56 days; closed Mondays, or the following weekday when Monday is a national holiday or substitute holiday)
Venue: Sites across Narita City, Inzai City and Sakae Town, Chiba Prefecture
Admission: Not posted on the official website as of October 26
Organizer: Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival Executive Committee (Chiba Prefecture, Narita City, Inzai City, Sakae Town)
Official website: https://soramizuku.jp/

Matisse: The Poetics of Black and White (National Museum of Western Art)

A special exhibition centered on Matisse’s prints, subtitled “Focusing on the Print Collection of the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation.” Organized by the National Museum of Western Art and The Yomiuri Shimbun, it runs for about four months until Monday, July 19 (national holiday).

Dates: Saturday, March 20 – Monday, July 19, 2027 (national holiday)
Venue: Special Exhibition Galleries, National Museum of Western Art
Admission: Adults ¥2,300, university students ¥1,300, high school students ¥1,000
Organizers: National Museum of Western Art, The Yomiuri Shimbun
Official website: https://www.nmwa.go.jp/jp/exhibitions/2027matisse.html

New! Ukiyo-e Exhibition: Genius Artists of the Late Edo and Meiji Periods (Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art)

A touring exhibition based on the Asai Collection, a private collection of some 30,000 late Edo and Meiji ukiyo-e prints assembled by Yusuke Asai, who ran a bookshop in Osaka around 1897. More than 120 ukiyo-e prints, including oban triptychs, are combined with an “immersive exhibit” that draws visitors into the world of late Edo and Meiji ukiyo-e and with interactive digital content. There is also “OMIOKURI Ukiyo-e,” in which ukiyo-e characters see visitors off. Hyogo follows The Museum of Art, Ehime (July 25 – September 13, 2026), and the exhibition is scheduled to travel next to the Tohoku History Museum and the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art.

Dates: Saturday, March 20 – Sunday, May 23, 2027
Venue: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
Admission: Same-day tickets: adults ¥1,800, among others
Organizers: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, The Yomiuri Shimbun (planning cooperation: TOPPAN)
Official website: https://www.toppan-vr.jp/shin-ukiyo-e/

DIVA: The Voice That Moves Me (The National Art Center, Tokyo)

The Tokyo presentation of “DIVA,” an exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London that opened in 2023. It has toured five countries, and The National Art Center, Tokyo describes Tokyo as its only Asian venue and its final stop. It introduces about 100 singers and performers from opera, theater, film and popular music, and shows about 280 items from the V&A collection and private collections, centered on some 60 costumes actually worn by divas.

Dates: Wednesday, March 24 – Monday, July 19, 2027 (national holiday)
Venue: Special Exhibition Gallery 2E, The National Art Center, Tokyo
Admission: Not announced as of October 26
Organizers: The National Art Center, Tokyo; Victoria and Albert Museum; Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Official website: https://www.nact.jp/exhibition_special/2027/diva2027/

Idemitsu Museum of Arts 60th Anniversary: Treasures of the Idemitsu Collection at Geidai (The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts)

An exhibition held by Tokyo University of the Arts and the Idemitsu Museum of Arts at The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Idemitsu Museum of Arts. All three scrolls of the National Treasure “Ban Dainagon Emaki” (Illustrated Scroll of the Courtier Ban Dainagon) will be shown for the first time in 10 years, along with works that marked milestones in the formation of the Idemitsu Collection. See also our article on the Idemitsu Museum of Arts 60th anniversary exhibition.

Dates: Saturday, March 27 – Sunday, May 23, 2027
Venue: Galleries 1–4, Main Building, The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts
Admission: Adults ¥1,800, high school and university students ¥1,200, junior high school students and younger free
Organizers: Tokyo University of the Arts, Idemitsu Museum of Arts (co-organizer: The Tokyo Shimbun)
Official website: https://museum.geidai.ac.jp/exhibit/2027/03/idemitsu2027.html

Exhibitions continuing from February or earlier: Seven in Tokyo, by closing date

Exhibitions in Tokyo that began in February or earlier and continue through March, listed in order of closing date.

Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2027 (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum)

A festival of moving images held once a year in Ebisu since its first edition in 2009. According to the lineup of metropolitan cultural facilities (second installment) compiled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as of January 30, 2026, the festival runs from Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 21, with only the third-floor gallery of the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum continuing until Monday, March 22. Admission to the 2026 festival was free (only screenings and some events were charged).

Dates: Friday, February 5 – Sunday, February 21, 2027 (third-floor gallery only until Monday, March 22)
Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Admission: Not stated for 2027 in the metropolitan government’s materials (in 2026, admission was free; only screenings and some events were charged)
Organizers: Not stated for 2027 in the metropolitan government’s materials (in 2026: Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture; Nikkei Inc.)
Official website: https://www.yebizo.com/

Kaj Franck: Timeless Finnish Design (Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery)

A retrospective of the Finnish designer Kaj Franck (1911–1989). Franck created series such as the Kartio glassware, the Kilta tableware and its successor Teema, and is known as “the conscience of Finnish design.” Centered on the collection of the Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki, the exhibition presents more than 250 items, including signature glass and ceramic works, textiles, sketches, photographs and films.

Dates: Saturday, January 16 – Monday, March 22, 2027 (substitute holiday) (56 days; closed Mondays, but open on March 22; the entire building is closed on Sunday, February 14)
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery (Galleries 1 and 2)
Admission: Adults ¥1,800, university and high school students ¥1,100, junior high school students and younger free
Organizers: Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki, The Asahi Shimbun
Official website: https://www.operacity.jp/ag/

Mariko Mori: All That Shines (Mori Art Museum)

A solo exhibition of Mariko Mori at the Mori Art Museum. It is her first large-scale solo exhibition in Japan in 24 years, since “Mariko Mori: Pure Land” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2002), and presents about 40 works from more than 30 years of activity. The museum is open daily during the exhibition, from 10:00 to 22:00 (until 17:00 on Tuesdays only).

Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Sunday, March 28, 2027
Venue: Mori Art Museum
Admission: Adults ¥2,800 on weekdays (¥2,600 online), ¥3,000 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (¥2,800 online), among others
Organizer: Mori Art Museum
Official website: https://www.mori.art.museum/jp/exhibitions/marikomori/index.html

What a Wonderful World: Masterworks from the Musée d’Orsay (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)

A special exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. According to Tokyo Metropolitan Government materials (as of January 30, 2026), it shows about 110 works from the Musée d’Orsay collection, including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts and photographs.

Dates: Saturday, November 14, 2026 – Sunday, March 28, 2027
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Admission / Organizers: Not stated in the metropolitan government’s materials (as of January 30, 2026)
Official website: https://www.tobikan.jp/

FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary Exhibition “The World of Never-Ending Fantasy” (Tokyo National Museum)

An exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the FINAL FANTASY series, held at the Hyokeikan of the Tokyo National Museum. The museum says it will offer “hands-on content that lets you feel the world of the games with your fingertips and your skin,” and that some exhibits will combine works from its collection with FINAL FANTASY.

Dates: Friday, January 8 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
Venue: Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum
Admission: Tickets on sale on the exhibition’s official website (check the site for prices)
Organizers: Tokyo National Museum; FF 40th Anniversary Exhibition Executive Committee (Square Enix, TV Tokyo, Movic, TOPPAN, TOPPAN Crole, Nikkei Inc.)
Official website: https://www.jp.square-enix.com/ff40th/exhibition/

Hans Haacke (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo)

An exhibition of Hans Haacke, regarded as a central figure of the conceptual art that developed in New York in the 1960s. Tokyo Metropolitan Government materials (as of January 30, 2026) describe it as “the first major retrospective in Asia.” From the same day, Saturday, February 6, the museum will also hold an exhibition co-organized with the Sunpride Foundation.

Dates: Saturday, February 6 – Sunday, May 16, 2027
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Admission / Organizers: Not stated in the metropolitan government’s materials (as of January 30, 2026)
Official website: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/

“Time” Exhibition (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT)

A 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition directed by Tomohiro Okazaki. The venue says it will treat 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT itself as “one big clock,” with time-related devices placed throughout. The official website has announced a change of dates, and the exhibition now runs until Sunday, May 23.

Dates: Friday, February 5 – Sunday, May 23, 2027 (closed Tuesdays; open on Tuesday, February 23 and Tuesday, May 4)
Venue: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 1 & 2
Admission: Not stated on the exhibition page as of October 26
Organizers: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, The Miyake Issey Foundation
Official website: https://www.2121designsight.jp/program/time/

Exhibitions continuing from February or earlier: Eight in Kansai, Tokai and Kyushu, by closing date

Exhibitions in Kansai, Tokai and Kyushu that began in February or earlier and continue through March, listed in order of closing date.

Stratified Languages (The National Museum of Art, Osaka)

A special exhibition drawing on the collection of The National Museum of Art, Osaka. Focusing on places in Asia long regarded as border zones, it presents works centered on moving images, pictures and words connected with places where languages, ethnicities, cultures and ideologies intersect.

Dates: Tuesday, December 1, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027
Venue: B3 Galleries, The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Admission: Adults ¥1,800 (group and evening discount ¥1,600), among others
Organizer: The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Official website: https://www.nmao.go.jp/events/event/20261201_stratified-languages/

Paving the Way: 100 Years of Women Who Create (Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka)

An exhibition that traces roughly 100 years of women artists’ history through the works of about 50 artists. It is organized in 10 chapters spanning the 1920s to the 2020s.

Dates: Saturday, January 9 – Monday, March 22, 2027 (substitute holiday)
Venue: 5F Gallery, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
Admission: Adults ¥1,900 (advance and group ¥1,700), among others
Organizers: Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka; The Mainichi Newspapers
Official website: https://nakka-art.jp/exhibition-post/paving-the-way100/

“The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” 20th Anniversary: Mamoru Hosoda Origins Exhibition (Fukuoka Art Museum)

Centered on director Mamoru Hosoda’s “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” “Summer Wars” and “Wolf Children,” the exhibition shows production materials such as storyboards, layouts, key animation drawings and background art. Fukuoka Art Museum’s announcement describes it as “the largest ever” in scale.

Dates: Friday, January 22 – Sunday, March 28, 2027
Venue: 2F Special Exhibition Gallery, Fukuoka Art Museum
Admission: Adults ¥2,200 (advance ¥2,000), among others
Organizers: The Nishinippon Shimbun, Nishinippon Shimbun Event Service and others
Official website: https://hosodagenten.exhibit.jp/

Fontanesi: Italian Light, Landscapes of the Heart (Nagoya City Art Museum)

An exhibition marking the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy and the 150th anniversary of Antonio Fontanesi’s arrival in Japan. Nagoya City Art Museum calls it “the first major retrospective in Japan of Fontanesi, master of modern Italian landscape painting,” presenting about 200 works in all.

Dates: Saturday, February 6 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
Venue: Nagoya City Art Museum
Admission: Adults ¥1,900 (advance and group ¥1,700), among others
Organizers: Nagoya City Art Museum, GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino, Fondazione Torino Musei, The Chunichi Shimbun
Official website: https://art-museum.city.nagoya.jp/exhibitions/post/fontanesi/

Where Do We Stand?: Art in Our Time (Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art)

An exhibition introducing the work of 20 Japanese artists, focusing on works from the 1990s to the present. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto is cooperating in its planning.

Dates: Friday, January 29 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art (10F, Aichi Arts Center)
Admission: Prices not stated on the exhibition page
Organizers: Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Melco Group
Official website: https://apmoa.museum/exhibition/wheredowestand

Maruyama Okyo: Beyond the Real, a Spatial Revolution (Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts)

An exhibition on Maruyama Okyo (1733–1795). Okyo valued shasei, painting from close observation of real subjects, and gave rise to the lineage known as the Maruyama school. Centered on a group of 165 sliding-door and wall paintings handed down at Daijoji Temple in Kami, Hyogo Prefecture (popularly known as the “Okyo Temple”), it introduces his career from his early years to his last. Osaka follows the Edo-Tokyo Museum (Saturday, November 28, 2026 – Sunday, January 24, 2027), and some works will be changed during the exhibition.

Dates: Saturday, February 6 – Sunday, April 4, 2027 (closed Mondays; open when Monday is a national holiday, closing the following weekday instead)
Venue: Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
Admission: Not announced as of October 26
Organizers: Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, NHK Osaka, NHK Enterprises Kinki, The Yomiuri Shimbun
Official website: https://www.osaka-art-museum.jp/special_exhibition/10344

Raphaël Zarka: Geometry, Time, Skateboarding (Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art)

The first full-scale solo exhibition in Japan by Paris-based artist Raphaël Zarka (born 1977). Alongside his major works to date, it is expected to include new works created during a residency in Kyoto.

Dates: Saturday, February 6 – Wednesday, May 5, 2027 (national holiday)
Venue: Higashiyama Cube, New Wing, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Admission: Adults ¥1,800 (group ¥1,600), among others
Organizers: City of Kyoto, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., Kansai Television, The Mainichi Newspapers
Official website: https://kyotocity-kyocera.museum/exhibition/20270206-20270505

The Great Van Gogh Exhibition: The Langlois Bridge at Arles (Kobe City Museum)

The second part of the exhibition, following Part I, “Café Terrace at Night,” which drew about 530,000 visitors in Kobe. Of “The Langlois Bridge at Arles” (mid-March 1888, oil) from the Kröller-Müller Museum, the organizers say “it is rarely lent outside the Netherlands, and this is its first showing in Japan in about 70 years.” Until Wednesday, April 28, visitors with reservations get priority entry on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; from Thursday, April 29 (national holiday), entry is by reservation only.

Dates: Saturday, February 6 – Sunday, May 30, 2027 (closed Mondays, Tuesday, March 23 and Thursday, May 6; open when Monday is a national holiday or substitute holiday)
Venue: Kobe City Museum
Admission: Adults ¥2,800 on the day / ¥2,600 in advance; university students ¥1,400 on the day / ¥1,300 in advance; high school students and younger free
Organizers: Kobe City Museum, The Kobe Shimbun, The Sankei Shimbun, Kansai Television, Hakuhodo
Official website: https://www.ktv.jp/event/vangogh/

Exhibitions around Japan: Hokuriku, Chugoku, Shikoku and more

Exhibitions in Tohoku, Hokuriku, Chugoku and Shikoku that began in February or earlier and continue through March, listed in order of closing date.

Lieko Shiga: Nanumokanumo (Aomori Museum of Art)

A solo exhibition of Lieko Shiga (born 1980 in Aichi Prefecture), a photographer and artist based in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, held to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Aomori Museum of Art and 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. It presents photographs, video, texts and installations both old and new, and the museum calls it the largest exhibition of her career. New photographs and videos shot in Aomori and elsewhere in Tohoku are also on view. The title, “Nanumokanumo,” is a dialect expression from the Sanriku coast.

Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 (in March, closed on Monday, March 8)
Venue: Aomori Museum of Art
Admission: Adults ¥1,700 (advance and group ¥1,500), university students ¥1,200 (advance and group ¥1,000), 18 and under and high school students free
Organizer: Lieko Shiga Exhibition Executive Committee (Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori Broadcasting Corporation, Aomori Television, Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, Aomori Prefectural Tourism and International Exchange Organization)
Official website: https://www.aomori-museum.jp/schedule/18042/

Riusuke Fukahori: Into the Ripples on the Water’s Surface (The Museum of Art, Ehime)

An exhibition of Riusuke Fukahori, an artist who has long made goldfish his subject. Using a technique sometimes called “2.5D painting,” in which acrylic paint is applied in layer upon layer of clear resin, he creates strikingly three-dimensional goldfish. The exhibition presents paintings, including new works, as well as video and large-scale installations. The Museum of Art, Ehime says details will be announced later.

Dates: Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 (in March, closed on Tuesday, March 2 and Monday, March 8)
Venue: Special Exhibition Galleries 1 and 2, 1F Main Building, The Museum of Art, Ehime
Admission / Organizers: Not stated on the exhibition page as of October 26
Official website: https://www.ehime-art.jp/exhibition/detail/7076ee71-14c9-429e-a008-054dffb65fba

Hiroyuki Oki Exhibition (The Museum of Art, Kochi)

An exhibition of Hiroyuki Oki (1964–2025), a filmmaker and contemporary artist. In the early 1990s Oki made Kochi one of his key bases and created many works while engaging with the prefecture’s landscape, culture and people. The Museum of Art, Kochi says the exhibition traces the achievements of Oki, who died suddenly in 2025.

Dates: Saturday, January 23 – Sunday, March 28, 2027 (The Museum of Art, Kochi is open daily except during the New Year holidays)
Venue: The Museum of Art, Kochi
Admission / Organizers: Not stated on the exhibition page as of October 26
Official website: https://moak.jp/event/exhibitions/okihiroyuki.html

GODZILLA THE ART Exhibition (Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art)

An exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of Godzilla. With Takeshi Yoro as general producer, it shows a body of artworks created by contemporary creators on the theme of Godzilla. Miniatures, footage and period materials also showcase the beauty of Godzilla’s design and the appeal of the films. A special exhibition ticket also gives same-day admission to the collection exhibition.

Dates: Thursday, February 11 (national holiday) – Sunday, April 11, 2027 (closed Mondays; open Monday, March 22 and closed Tuesday, March 23)
Venue: 3F Special Exhibition Gallery, Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art
Admission: Adults ¥1,800 (advance and group ¥1,450), students ¥1,200, high school students ¥500, elementary and junior high school students ¥300
Organizers: GODZILLA THE ART Exhibition Tottori Executive Committee (Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art Partners, TSK San-in Chuo Television), GODZILLA THE ART Executive Committee
Official website: https://tottori-moa.jp/exhibition/view/godzilla/

From Today to Tomorrow: Passing On Artworks (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa)

Ahead of its long-term closure from May 2027, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa reexamines what it means to pass artworks on to the future. Focusing on works in the collection that call for consideration of conservation and restoration, display and methods of transmission, it takes up crafts, mixed media, media art, installations and works involving performance, and presents processes such as research, restoration, equipment renewal, re-staging and documentation as part of the exhibition. Gallery 2 shows work by James Turrell, and Gallery 5 shows work by Chiharu Shiota in the second half (from Tuesday, February 2, 2027). The museum plans to close from May 6, 2027 to March 2028 for major renovation work. See also our article on the long-term closure of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Sunday, April 18, 2027 (closed Mondays; open Monday, March 22 and closed Tuesday, March 23)
Venue: Galleries 1–6 and Community Zone, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Admission: Adults ¥1,200 (online and group ¥1,000), university students ¥800 (¥600), elementary, junior high and high school students ¥400 (¥300), 65 and over ¥1,000
Organizer: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa [Kanazawa Art Promotion and Development Foundation]
Official website: https://www.kanazawa21.jp/data_list.php?g=65&d=1853

Editor’s perspective

Among the events starting in March, the two art festivals in Chiba Prefecture share the same general director, Fram Kitagawa, and most of their dates overlap. The Boso International Art Festival runs for 64 days from Saturday, March 6 to Sunday, May 30, and the Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival for 56 days from Saturday, March 20 to Sunday, May 23, so both are open from March 20 to May 23. Their closing days differ: Boso is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Sora Mizu Ku on Mondays. Boso is selling advance artwork passports (adults ¥3,000, until March 5), while Sora Mizu Ku had not posted prices on its official website as of October 26.

The two art fairs take different forms. ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO asks exhibitors chosen through an open call to stay at the venue throughout the fair and charges no exhibition fee or sales commission. Art Fair Tokyo is a fair to which galleries and others apply to exhibit, and the last edition had 141 exhibitors. Kyoto runs from Friday, March 5 to Sunday, March 7 and Tokyo from Thursday, March 11 to Sunday, March 14, so they start six days apart. As of October 26, neither fair’s official announcements gave admission prices.

In terms of light and spatial expression, March also brings museum exhibitions that build in moving images or hands-on displays. “New! Ukiyo-e Exhibition” at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art combines an immersive exhibit with interactive digital content, and the FINAL FANTASY exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum offers hands-on content. The “Time” exhibition at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT treats the building itself as a clock. “From Today to Tomorrow: Passing On Artworks” at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa presents the processes of research, restoration, equipment renewal, re-staging and documentation of collection works, including media art and installations, as part of the exhibition.

Frequently asked questions

Which art fairs are held in March 2027?

In Kyoto, ARTISTS’ FAIR KYOTO 2027 is held from Friday, March 5 to Sunday, March 7 at the Meiji Kotokan of the Kyoto National Museum (preview scheduled for Thursday, March 4). In Tokyo, Art Fair Tokyo 21 is held at Tokyo International Forum and other venues; Thursday, March 11 is the invitation-only day, and public days are scheduled for Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14. As of October 26, neither fair’s official announcements gave admission prices.

When and where are the Boso International Art Festival and the Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival held?

The Boso International Art Festival Art×Mix 2027 is held from Saturday, March 6 to Sunday, May 30 at sites across Ichihara City, Kisarazu City and Otaki Town in Chiba Prefecture. The Sora Mizu Ku Art Festival is held from Saturday, March 20 to Sunday, May 23 at sites across Narita City, Inzai City and Sakae Town. Fram Kitagawa is general director of both.

Are museums open on Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23?

March 22 is a substitute holiday. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the National Museum of Western Art, the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Nagoya City Art Museum, the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukuoka Art Museum, the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa are open on the 22nd and closed on Tuesday, March 23. Kobe City Museum is also closed on the 23rd. The Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts is closed on Mondays (open on holidays, closing the following weekday instead), and Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery is closed on Mondays but open on the 22nd, the last day of the Kaj Franck exhibition. The Mori Art Museum (until 17:00 on Tuesdays) and VOCA 2027 at The Ueno Royal Museum are open every day during their exhibitions, The Museum of Art, Kochi is open daily except during the New Year holidays, and 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT is closed on Tuesdays.

*Information as of October 26, 2026. Please check each official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Ryo Toyofuku, “Satomi Plant Museum,” as shown in announcement materials for the Boso International Art Festival Art×Mix 2027 (Photo by Osamu Nakamura, from Ichihara City’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on official announcements from the organizers of each art festival and art fair and from each museum, as well as materials published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (as of October 26, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team