Featured Events in Japan in May, 2025 (August Updated)

Overview Theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives Subthemes: Saving Lives Empowering Lives Connecting Lives Concept: People's Living Lab 1. A space where 8 billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits but will co-create our future society. 2.Even before the Expo begins, an online platform for sharing challenges and solutions from around the world will be launched. 3.A place where the world’s knowledge such as cutting-edge technology will be brought together, used to create new ideas, and shared, all to help resolve global issues facing mankind. Purpose World Expo has both cohesive and communication capabilities. We will use these capabilities as a trigger to sustain growth and development of Osaka, Kansai as well as Japan following on from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. What is a World Expo? A World Expo is an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world in an effort to address issues facing humankind on a global scale. The Osaka Expo 1970, Japan’s, and Asia’s, first ever, became a symbol of Japan’s rapid economic growth and one of the country’s most lauded events. Twenty years after the Aichi Expo 2005, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will bring the international community back to Japan. A World Exposition is a place, where new technologies and products are born, triggering greater convenience in our daily lives. Elevator (New York Exhibition, 1853), telephone (Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 1876) Family restaurants, wireless telephones, electric cars, moving sidewalks (Expo 1970 Osaka) Entry tickets embedded with IC chips, AED, dry mist (Aichi Exposition, 2005) Goals of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai To contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Achievement of Japan’s national strategy Society 5.0EXPO for SDGs In 2025, the world will be a mere five years away from 2030, the year the United Nations has set as the target for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it a crucial one for ramping up efforts to achieve these goals. Therefore, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will become a key platform for reaching the SDGs by 2030. The key is “Society 5.0” “Society 5.0” is Japan’s national strategy to develop a human-centered society that progresses economically and resolves social issues through a system that combines both cyber and physical spaces in a sophisticated manner. It refers to a new form of society chronologically following hunting, farming, industry, and information societies. A society that is able to resolve a variety of issues on a global scale with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, big data, and biotechnology is a society that will have achieved the SDGs. What we will realise at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Bringing together the wisdom of the world, including breakthrough technologies, to create and communicate new ideasExpansion of domestic and overseas investmentCreation of innovation through activation of human interactionActivation of regional economies and small and medium enterprisesA chance to communicate the wealth of Japan’s cultureThe multiple merits of a world expo held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan Activation of Japan’s economy and the Osaka, Kansai regional economy, and strengthened management of small and medium enterprises resulting from expanded business opportunities are expected to have an economic ripple effect of about JPY 2 trillion.Further development of Osaka, Kansai’s world-class life sciences and biomedical achievements through new innovation in line with Expo’s theme.Further enrichment of Osaka, Kansai’s proud, long history and culture through interaction with foreign cultures, and elevation of its global recognition.Enabling Japan’s young, next-generation creators in a variety of fields to communicate their talents to the world.Japan possesses one of the safest environments and most advanced transport infrastructure in the world, and Osaka, Kansai can be easily accessed from major cities in the world.

The Ghibli 3D Modeling Exhibition, which explores the appeal of Studio Ghibli works, will be held at Warehouse Terada B&C HALL/E HALL in Tennoz, Tokyo from Tuesday, May 27th. Studio Ghibli works, including the movie "How Do You Live?", which has been released in over 80 countries and regions, are now being watched all over the world. Behind the scenes, there were people in each country and region who loved the works and tried to spread them over a long period of time. This exhibition will introduce famous scenes from the movies through 3D models, tracing how overseas partners distributed the works. The 3D Modeling Exhibition is the origin of the full-scale Studio Ghibli exhibition that began in 2003, and will return to Tokyo after 22 years of evolution. Of particular interest is the Savoia S-21 flying boat that appears in the movie "Porco Rosso". The impressive flying boat, created based on the assumption that it "really existed," will look like it is about to take off from Warehouse Terada at any moment. The event will run from May 27th (Tuesday) to September 23rd (Tuesday, national holiday). The "Ham Ramen" that was on sale at the "Friday Road Show and Ghibli Exhibition" two years ago and became a hot topic will be back at the water facility "T-LOTUS M" next to the venue. In addition, tickets will be sold in combination with the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka and tickets linked to hotel accommodation plans.

Osaka Kansai Expo has decided to hold the "Japan Fireworks Expo", and the "Japan Fireworks Expo" will show the world the charm of Japan's unique culture, the world's highest level of fireworks technology. Fireworks festivals in various places have their own regional characteristics and are deeply connected to local culture and traditions. There are also many fireworks festivals with a history of 100 years. For example, fireworks festivals started to pray for the comfort of those who died in the great famine and plague and for the elimination of diseases. Fireworks festivals that started as a symbol of reconstruction after war and earthquakes, and include mourning and wishes for peace. Fireworks masters from all over the country gather together to compete in technology and artistry. Fireworks set off near the sacred shrine are solemn and there is a fireworks festival where you can feel a special atmosphere.

For millions of years, unique aesthetics have been born on the islands of Japan and have been passed down from generation to generation. From Jomon earthenware, Haniwa, Erika, armor, and ukiyo-e, to the popular anime that has taken the world by storm, this is an immersive theater that combines NHK's high-definition video technology with “New Wafuism”. The New Wafuism Theater is an immersive theater that incorporates NHK's high-definition video technology. In the theater, you will be able to experience Japanese culture through a time-traveling journey with national treasures and important cultural properties of the Tokyo National Museum.

Japanese game auteur Hideo Kojima, the mind behind Death Stranding and the Metal Gear series, has revolutionised interactive storytelling with his cinematic sensibility. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, celebrated for Drive and Only God Forgives, is known for his stylised, meditative explorations of violence and human nature. Bound by mutual respect and a fascination with the convergence of their mediums, the two artists share a decade-long friendship that has sparked artistic collaborations across film and video games. The two visionary creators now reunite in Tokyo for an ambitious installation. From April 18 to August 25, Prada Aoyama hosts ‘Satellites: Nicolas Winding Refn with Hideo Kojima’, an exhibition that invites visitors into a retro-futuristic space where Refn and Kojima appear across six exposed television screens together shaped like a spaceship, engaging in dialogue on identity, death and creativity.The journey continues in an adjacent dressing room filled with cassette tapes, interweaving AI-translated soundbites and film soundtracks, allowing guests to craft their own narrative from fragments of conversation. Blurring the lines between analogue and digital, film and games, ‘Satellites’ explores human connection in an age of technological fusion.

The popular Poop Museum has made its glorious return to Fukuoka, better than ever! “＼”Power up!!”／ Poop Museum FUKUOKA” will be making its return to the city starting from April 18th, 2025. The experience has evolved since visiting Fukuoka last, and plenty of mainstays of the original exhibit as well as brand new and thrilling poo-ventures await you there! Cute and pop art influenced poop-designs will transform your humdrum everyday into a unique and unforgettable experience!

Tokyo Metropolitan Government has created a new tourist resource for nighttime viewing by using the exterior wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 as a screen to express a variety of art with light and sound, and to perform projection mapping all year round in order to activate and revitalize nighttime tourism. This time, as the 45th anniversary is approaching next year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will begin showing works using the world-famous "Pac-Man". The game board appears on the outer wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and Pac-Man, who is making a futuristic scene, eats up everything vividly. The music of the game of Pac-Man, which has a futuristic feel, and the music of the highly friendly soundtrack maker Mr. Haraguchi Sasuke have produced. Please enjoy the collaborative work of Pac-Man and Tokyo that can only be seen in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

This original art exhibition will introduce works with "science" and "magic" motifs, and will explore Fujiko F. Fujio's unique way of making dreams come true. The secret gadgets of the future in "Doraemon," the science laws of Planet Marl that appear in "Chimpui," the magic used in "Jungle Kurobee," and more... Through the original drawings, you can enjoy the world of "science" and "magic" that only Fujiko F. Fujio could depict.

Are you ready for a great party? Join Kuromi, My Melody and Hapidanbui for an exciting exhibition! Dive into interactive displays, dance to hit music, and enjoy hands-on fun.

In Iwin, where Okakura Tenshin, a modern Japanese scholar and art critic, lived in his later years, there is an inaccessible mountain along the shore. Coming out of the deep mountain forest, there is a valley. There are the remains of rain-fed rice terraces, now a swamp covered with reeds. They look like secret rice terraces. Considering the long existence of nature and the continued presence of human activities, we decided to create art works with the remains of rice terraces hidden in the forest. Then, walking through the forest covering the ruins of rice terraces and investigating the vegetation, we wanted to turn the entire forest covering the ruins of rice terraces into an art space that blends in with the surrounding plants. teamLab's project Digitized Nature explores how nature can become art. The idea of ​​the project is that immaterial digital technology can turn nature into art without harming it. The works explore how the existence of these forms can be used to create a place where we can transcend the boundaries of our understanding of the continuity of time and feel the long continuity of life. Using these manifestations of long-term presence, we can try to transcend boundaries and understand the long continuities of time, and how we can continue to accumulate meaning in this place even today.

Noritake was founded in 1904 (Meiji 37) with the aim of manufacturing dinner sets for export. A dinner set is a set of tableware with a set size and purpose for the number of people. Since successfully manufacturing such sets in 1914 (Taisho 3), the company has developed and sold shapes and patterns to meet market needs. At times, the company has sought added value beyond the tableware's original function and design in order to provide products that are in line with the times. This trend accelerated after the period of high economic growth. When consumers had the financial means to spend on interior design, Noritake sold ceramic reproductions of works by painters, calligraphers, and illustrators. In the mid-1960s, when the penetration rate of black-and-white televisions exceeded 90%, the company also began to produce melamine children's tableware decorated with characters from anime and puppet shows. The 1970s marked an era of fashion and diversification of everyday items. Noritake, which places emphasis on developing high-value-added products that add color to life, began manufacturing and selling tableware in 1977 in collaboration with a famous fashion designer. This was the beginning of the boom in designer and character products in the ceramics industry. This led to an increase in design collaborations and joint development with artists and other companies. In recent years, with the growth of content businesses such as manga and anime, the needs and target demographics of character products have expanded. The expansion of sales networks with the spread of online services has increased consumers' options, and products are increasingly required to have value other than functionality and a story. Against this backdrop, collaborations that utilize the mutual advantages of companies are not uncommon. During its long history, Noritake has cultivated the technology to commercialize high-quality models with rich colors and delicate patterns. Enjoy the world of co-creation created by sharing the desire to utilize this to deliver products that resonate with your heart.

Space cats have landed in Saitama. From now until August 31, Hyper Museum Hanno presents 'Ship's Cat Island', a new exhibition from contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe. The exhibit consists of 80 of Yanobe's works, namely sculptures and drawings of cats decked out in space gear. For a family-friendly affair, check out the 'Hyper Kids Program', an experiential workshop for parents and kids to enjoy together.

What kind of image do you have of the Crown? The origin of the Crown was Kiichiro Toyoda's desire to "make a passenger car for the masses and enrich life in Japan." This year marks the 70th year since its birth. It has continued for 16 generations as the longest-lived passenger car made in Japan. In this special exhibition, we will introduce all 16 generations of the car, dividing the period from its launch in 1955 to the present into the founding period, maturity period, and transformation period. It has not been an easy road so far. Why has it survived for 70 years? We hope you will learn about the history of the Crown's development, which has been repeated through "succession" and "innovation" in pursuit of the "Crown-like" style to suit "Japanese lifestyles" that change with the times.

Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs will feature 183 pieces of rare artefacts from ancient Egypt that focus on the almighty pharaoh, Ramses The Great and it will be the largest collection of artefacts on Ramses II to ever leave Egypt. This spectacular exhibition will also boast the FIRST ever virtual walkthrough of Ramses II’s famous temples as well as a full-length documentary ever produced on Ramses II’s tomb.

When Charlie Brown and his sister Sally get on the school bus with their friends and head off to school, various events await them. They meet unique friends and teachers. Classes are conducted day by day, and sometimes there are tense presentations, and as a reward, there are dance events. When they get home, they do their homework, and during summer vacation, they meet new people at summer camp. The school life of the Peanuts gang is a familiar, bittersweet experience. Enjoy school life with the Peanuts gang through about 45 carefully selected comics.

Nijigen no Mori's hugely popular attraction, Godzilla Intercept Operation, will hold a "Destroyah Special Exhibition" for a limited time from Thursday, March 13th to Sunday, December 14th, 2025, as part of the "30th Anniversary of Destroyah's Birth Project". This special exhibition will allow you to enjoy the world of "Godzilla vs. Destroyah", the final installment of the Heisei vs. Godzilla series, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary since its release, through various exhibits. This is the first time that a special exhibition dedicated to "Destroyah" has been planned, and in particular, the exhibition of "Destroyah's flying objects and aggregates", which have rarely been shown in the past, and the comment panel exhibition from Hideo Okamoto, who designed Destroyah, and Shinichi Wakasa, who sculpted it, are must-see projects for fans. The "Destroyah Special Exhibition", surrounded by numerous battle scenes with Destroyah in which Godzilla used all his strength, is a special project only available at Nijigen no Mori! Godzilla fans around the world, come witness everything about Godzilla's greatest enemy, Destroyah, here!

Legend has it that the Kannon of Kiyomizu-dera Temple transforms into a blue dragon and drinks from the waterfalls at night, so this event is held to honor the Yasha Goddess, and to pray for the people who come to worship. The dancing blue dragon parades from Okuno to the cobblestone streets around Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The blue dragon is believed to be one of the four great gods that protect the city of Kyoto. In addition to the blue dragon, there are men dressed in traditional samurai clothes, and the streets are filled with music and spectacular dancing. It's really magical! The Spring Festival is on March 14-15 and April 3. The Fall Festival is September 14-15, starting at 14:00 (2pm).

The official name of Sensoji Temple comes from the Golden Dragon Mountain, and it is called "Golden Dragon Mountain Sensoji Temple", and the name "Golden Dragon Dance" comes from the name of this mountain. "Golden Dragon Dance" is a dance that started in 1958 to commemorate the reconstruction of the main hall of Sensoji Temple, Kannon Hall. This dance is based on the story of Guanyin Bodhisattva enshrined in Sensoji Temple. According to legend, she appeared as a golden dragon that descended from the sky, and overnight she created a thousand pine trees that symbolize a good harvest. The 18-meter-long, 88-kilogram shining golden dragon dances gorgeously to the music of the celebration, and this scene is absolutely impressive.

From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, René Lalique (1860-1945) was known outside of France as an original jewelry maker. However, his work was extremely broad, leaving behind a large variety of "clothing accessories" such as decorative collars and handbags. At the 1900 Paris World's Fair, held ahead of the new century, Lalique served as general manager of the jewelry department. Later in life, he had an unexpected connection with Jeanne Paquin (1869-1936), a top designer who held that position in the fashion department. The women's fashion led by Paquin and others at the time was dresses with curved lines that harmonized with the popular decorative style "Art Nouveau." Many women worked hard to create a slim waist that was suitable for the flowing silhouette. It was in the 1920s, after World War I (1914-1918), that women were liberated from corsets that were so tight that they were damaging their health. At the same time, when the trend for decoration shifted to the linear "Art Deco" style, Lalique had already made a major shift to mass production of glass products, mainly for interior design. The custom-made clothing that he concentrated on in the early days of his debut is a perfect match for the Art Nouveau style of dress, which sought elegance with a slim waist. The Lalique Museum Hakone, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is holding a special exhibition that will highlight Lalique's works from its collection from a fashion perspective and introduce the items in the form of an illustrated book. In addition, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Rene Lalique's death, a dress with a silhouette from the early 20th century, when he was active, has been recreated (photo right). As a highlight of the exhibition, we will be trying to wear Lalique's works for the first time, approaching the reality of Lalique in fashion. Please take a look at 18 carefully selected items from the museum that will help you understand Art Nouveau clothing, including anecdotes about the history of clothing, as if you were flipping through an illustrated book.

Aubusson, a city in central France, has been known as a place where tapestries have been woven since the 15th century, and in 2009, tapestries woven in this region and the traditional techniques were registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Aubusson International Tapestry Center, which opened in 2016, introduces the history and techniques of tapestries and carpets through a wide range of examples. Since 2019, a project has been underway to weave scenes selected from Hayao Miyazaki's animated films into giant tapestries. In this special exhibition, a tapestry depicting a scene from the film "Spirited Away," one of the works in the project, will be shown for the first time in Japan. Materials related to the production of tapestries will also be exhibited at the venue, and Aubusson's tapestry techniques will be introduced.

In 2025, Osaka will be transformed into a giant art museum! "Learning: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025" will be held from April to October. The exhibition will cover various areas of Osaka and take the World Expo as an opportunity to bring an unprecedented art feast. Among the first wave of 28 international artists announced, heavyweight creators such as surreal sculpture master Ron Mueck and conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan will surely present a visual feast that subverts imagination!

In this exhibition, Wurm will explore the human body, one of the most fundamental sculptural motifs, through themes of time, volume and surface, figuration, and representation. The human form—shaped by external influences such as clothing, furniture, language, and social ideologies—is depicted as fragile, mutable, and filled with boundless possibilities. Often absurd and paradoxical, Wurm’s works expose the structures underlying social norms, institutions, and power. The exhibition will feature the Japan premiere of Wurm’s latest large-scale installation, School (2024), along with recent key works from his Skins and Flat Sculpture series.

The Setouchi Triennale is a festival of art, architecture and, more generally, culture. The festival takes place in 17 locations scattered around the eastern part of Japan's Seto Inland Sea, in spring, summer and autumn. It is a must-attend event for art lovers and countryside enthusiasts. Over the past decade, it has become the most important art festival in Japan and one of the most important in Asia. The Setouchi Triennale exhibits artwork and architecture from many artists from around the world. A recurring theme is "Restoring the Ocean".

"Design Ah! Neo" is an exhibition that expands the concept of the program "Design Ah! Neo" currently airing on NHK Educational TV into an experiential space. It has been held as a "Design Ah! Exhibition" at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in 2013, and at six museums across the country, including the Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art from 2018 to 2021. The third "Design Ah! Neo" exhibition will exhibit new works with new themes, while retaining the concept of encouraging children to enjoy various thoughts and discoveries about design.

A modern art festival held every three years in the Setouchi Islands. Held for the first time in 2010, the 100-day exhibition period is divided into three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. Visitors can experience the charm of Setouchi in each season. During the exhibition period, it attracted about 1 million visitors from Japan and abroad, making it a representative international art festival in Japan. In addition to showing the artists' vision and ideas, the exhibits in the art festival will include 17 locations in 2025, including Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, Oshima, Inujima, Takamatsu Port and Uno Port, Seto Ohashi, Shido and Tsuda area, Hikida area, Honjima, Takamishima, Awashima, Ibukijima, and Utazu area. It is closely integrated with local traditional culture and the characteristics of the sea, and also shows the diversity of the local area. It is an event that people who like art and culture must experience once!

Nyoirinji Temple is also known as the "Frog Temple" and is home to around 10,000 frog statues. Wind chimes are believed to ward off evil spirits, and thousands of them are placed around the shrine with wishes for a safe summer written on them. The wind chimes are hung with colorful pieces of paper that sway in the wind, creating a magical and photogenic sight. The cool sound will help you forget the summer heat. It attracts many tourists, including families with children and the elderly.

From a young age, Kusama has suffered from visual and auditory hallucinations. Her mental health condition has had a tremendous impact on the artist’s creative activities. In the 1950s, driven by her own obsessions, Kusama created an enormous number of drawings, resulting in an opportunity to make her breakthrough as an artist. After relocating to the United States in 1957, the artist began to create a series of works that could be described as ritual of “self-obliteration,” where all existence is engulfed in infinitely repetitive patterns such as polka dots and nets while the self is immersed into a boundless world. These works express a desire for salvation from psychological disorders and simultaneously reflect her intention to liberate society from absurd oppression through happenings and other forms of expression.

Approximately 100 pieces will be on display, ranging from Kin Shiotani's early works to new works created specifically for this exhibition, to thoroughly introduce his artistic career spanning 30 years. The paintings are difficult to interpret just by looking at them, and the long titles are hard to imagine just by reading them. Please enjoy looking at both the paintings and the titles and letting your imagination run wild, asking yourself questions like "Is this what it means?", "I see!", and "That's so true!"

This exhibition introduces the world of prints by world-renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama (1929-). Yayoi Kusama made her international debut at the 45th Venice Biennale in 1993 as a representative Japanese artist, but her active involvement in printmaking from an earlier stage of her career was a major driving force behind her current acclaim. In 1979, Yayoi Kusama exhibited her first prints. In contrast to her other works based on themes such as death and suffering after returning from the U.S., her prints are rich in color with vivid motifs. In addition to abstract expressions of her earlier works, motifs such as pumpkins, dresses, grapes, flowers, and butterflies covered in distinct colors and composed of mesh and polka dots are distinctive in her printworks. It is no exaggeration to say that Kusama, whose creative activities are rooted in the proliferation of dots and nets, inevitably encountered printmaking, an art of reproduction.

The Izumi Museum has a collection of more than 3,500 pieces, with a core collection of about 500 Chinese bronzes and bronze mirrors. Both in terms of quantity and quality, it is the leader in overseas bronze collections. Therefore, the "Age of Chinese Bronze" held at the Izumi Museum this spring is also worth paying attention to. If you go to visit the Izumi Museum's reopening exhibition, we also recommend that you pay special attention to this bronze exhibition, including the museum's treasure Tiger You, the early Warring States period chime bells, the Qiang bell, the Kui God drum, the owl zun, the taotie pattern square lei, the taotie pattern square yi, the ge you and other important bronze objects in the collection are all on display.