In Towada City, the Museum of Contemporary Art was built as part of the city’s plan to become a ‘City of Art’. The minute you see it, you’ll know it’s not a usual kind of museum – even the building itself is interesting! The exhibition spaces are independently spread out, and connected to each other by glass corridors.
What impressed me most was how the museum displayed the work – in connecting corridors, as wallpaper, on the floor, in outdoor spaces and so on. I never knew when I would ‘bump’ into the art … when I looked down while walking, when I turned a corner … what a great surprise! The museum also holds regular special exhibitions, so look out for these.
If you need it, there’s an excellent, free English audio guide for self-guided tours. Also, the art center's buildings are illuminated in the evenings until 9pm as part of the ‘Fragments of Color Cubes’ piece by Takahashi Kyota, so do linger.
And when you’re leaving, check out the ‘Art Square’ at the park next door. Unique outdoor pieces covered in polka dots said ‘photo time’ to me.
Towada Art Center
Address: 10−9 Nishi-Nibancho, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture 034-0082
Website: https://towadaartcenter.com/en/
Phone: +81 176-20-1127
