A 200-year-old public bathhouse named Kashiwayu, turned in 1993 into one of Tokyo’s most respected contemporary art galleries. The high ceiling where bathers once soaked under skylights now holds works by Lee Ufan, Anish Kapoor, Tatsuo Miyajima and Mariko Mori, and the lockers, chimney and tiled floor remain as the gallery’s quiet signature. Entry is free and the staff are happy to talk.
Visit in the early afternoon as part of a Yanaka walk, allowing twenty minutes for the single room. The gallery is tucked into a lane beside Yanaka Cemetery, and the row of old houses around it is itself worth lingering in.
Tips
- Shows change every couple of months and the space shuts between them, so check the website before walking over
- The original bathhouse chimney and the tiled entrance are preserved and are part of the experience
- Pair it with the nearby Asakura Museum of Sculpture and the Yanaka Beer Hall for a slow art afternoon