“Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS” Closes with Over 150,000 Visitors After About Five Months at La Villette; Next Stops Gifu and Ginza

The immersive exhibition “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS,” which sets in motion ukiyo-e by Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige and others through video, closed in Paris, France, on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The venue was “Espace Chapiteau,” a special tent in the Parc de la Villette, and attendance exceeded 150,000 during the run, which began on March 19. HITOHATA, INC., which took part in planning and producing the exhibition, announced the figure on August 28. The series’ next venue is the Gifu City Museum of History, opening on November 6.

*Disclosure: The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS” is an event whose planning and production involved HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

Attendance growth: from 100,000 to over 150,000

During the run, announcements were made at each attendance milestone: 100,000 on July 15, 120,000 on July 30 and 140,000 on August 20. After the close, on August 28, it was announced that the exhibition had ended with more than 150,000 visitors. All figures are from the organizers.

The run lasted about five months, from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, August 23, 2026. Compared against the list of venues published on September 23, it was the longest run of any venue in the series. The exhibition was open Tuesday through Sunday and closed every Monday and on May 1.

The Paris exhibition’s place in the series: the fourth overseas city, part of “PASSION JAPON”

The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition” began in Nagoya in summer 2023. Paris was its fourth overseas city, after Milan, Taipei and Kaohsiung, and the exhibition was held as part of the program “PASSION JAPON.” It was organized by Caramba Culture Live, with planning and production by HITOHATA, INC., TV Aichi and EUROPA EXPO.

During the Paris run, new venues also opened in Japan, in Aomori on July 11 and Hiroshima on July 18, so that three venues were open at once from July 18 to August 23. The Aomori exhibition was organized by The To-o Nippo Press and others, and the Hiroshima exhibition by Hiroshima Television and others; both set up venue-exclusive spaces introducing ukiyo-e that depict their localities.

The series’ cumulative attendance also grew during this period. Press materials issued during the Paris run put the cumulative total for the eight cities before it at more than 500,000. The August 28 announcement put the total at more than 600,000 across 11 cities, including Paris, Aomori and Hiroshima, and the September 11 announcement, reporting the close of Aomori and Hiroshima, at more than 700,000.

What was on display? More than 300 works by Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and others in video spaces

The subjects were more than 300 works by Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro, Toshusai Sharaku, Utagawa Kunisada and others. 3DCG animation and projection mapping depicted the world of ukiyo-e in a series of three-dimensional video spaces; according to the official website, the venue had nine video spaces with different concepts.

The ukiyo-e used include Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” and “Fine Wind, Clear Morning” from “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” Hiroshige’s “Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake” from “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” and Kuniyoshi’s “The Old Palace at Soma.” Ukiyo-e printed in the Edo period and reproductions were also displayed, with explanations of the history of ukiyo-e, Edo culture and the ukiyo-e artists. Photography and video were permitted in almost the entire venue.

Tickets included timed tickets and open tickets without a specified time. Timed tickets for adults (12 and over) cost €22.90 Tuesday through Friday and €25.90 on Saturdays and Sundays, and children 3 and under and people with disabilities holding a certificate were admitted free.

Next up is Gifu, and a permanent facility in Ginza in spring 2027

The series’ next venue is the “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU,” held in the 1st-floor special exhibition room of the Gifu City Museum of History from Friday, November 6, 2026 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday). Exclusively at the Gifu venue, it features productions in which ukiyo-e of Nobunaga and cormorant fishing come to life.

In spring 2027, the series’ first permanent facility, “Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA,” is scheduled to open in Ginza, Tokyo. Its location, opening date and ticket details will be announced later.

Editor’s perspective

What stands out in the Paris figures, alongside the attendance, is the length of the run. While most venues in Japan ran for around 50 days, Paris ran for about five months, and the total of more than 150,000 was built up over that long run.

This summer, three venues, Paris, Aomori and Hiroshima, were open in parallel. The video spaces and ukiyo-e introduced on each venue’s official website were common to all three, and Aomori and Hiroshima added local subjects. This structure, built around common video spaces with locally specific elements added, will carry over to the Gifu exhibition in November. The history of the series is summarized in our feature on the “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition”.

Overview

Name: Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS
Dates: Thursday, March 19 – Sunday, August 23, 2026
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 14:00–19:00, Friday 14:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–20:00, Sunday 10:00–19:00 (closing times are last entry)
Closed: Mondays, May 1
Venue: Espace Chapiteau, Parc de la Villette (special tent)
Address: 211 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
Admission: Timed tickets: adults (12 and over) €22.90–€25.90, among others (prices during the run)
Attendance: Over 150,000 (organizer’s figures)
Organizer: Caramba Culture Live
Planning and production: HITOHATA, INC., TV Aichi, EUROPA EXPO
Official website: https://www.ukiyoeimmersiveart.com/paris
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

For how ukiyo-e influenced Monet and Van Gogh, see What Is Japonisme? How Ukiyo-e Influenced Monet and Van Gogh.

*Top image: Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS (from a press release by HITOHATA, INC.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from HITOHATA, INC. (August 28, 2026, and others) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition PARIS” is an event whose planning and production involved HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available on HITOHATA, INC.’s event information page. Inquiries about hosting or co-organizing the “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition” and the “Yokai Immersive Art Exhibition” are accepted through the company’s inquiry form.