Itabashi Art Museum

In short

Located in Akatsuka, this municipal art museum opened in 1979 as the first municipal museum of its kind among the 23 special wards of Tokyo. It collects early modern paintings centered on the Edo Kano school, as well as avant-garde art from the Taisho to early Showa periods, and is also popular for its annual Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition.

• ​Edo Paintings​​: Early modern paintings, particularly from the Edo Kano school, such as Kano Tanyu's Mount Fuji Screen, form the core of the collection.
• ​Ikebukuro Montparnasse​​: The museum has held exhibitions introducing the artists who gathered in the Ikebukuro area during the early Showa period.
• ​Tiled Grand Roof​​: A major renovation in 2019 renewed the facility while preserving the original shape of its tiled grand roof from when it first opened.

History and Highlights

Itabashi Art Museum opened on May 20, 1979, as the first municipal museum of art among the 23 special wards of Tokyo. It was created as part of the initiative to develop the area around the Akatsuka Castle ruins as a "Forest of Education and Culture," and stands in a corner of Akatsuka Park. The building was designed by Murata Masachika.

The core of the collection consists of early modern paintings centered on the Edo Kano school, avant-garde art from the Taisho to early Showa periods, and works by artists associated with Itabashi Ward. Based on the collection and research of these works, the museum has held exhibitions introducing Edo culture and Ikebukuro Montparnasse.

Ikebukuro Montparnasse refers to the artistic and cultural sphere that emerged around Ikebukuro in the early Showa period, centered on the "Nagasaki Atelier Village." Many artists lived in rented houses equipped with ateliers, and the poet Oguma Hideo, who lived in the area, named it after Montparnasse in Paris.

The museum also holds exhibitions of illustration and design, among which the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition is a particularly popular event.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Edo Kano School Folding Screen​​: Kano Tanyu's Mount Fuji Screen is a pair of six-panel folding screens depicting Mount Fuji on the left screen and Miho no Matsubara on the right screen. It expresses a profound, subtle world through ink bleeding and shading techniques. In the past, exhibitions have allowed visitors to view the folding screen directly from tatami mats rather than through glass cases.
• ​20th-Century Avant-Garde Art​​: The collection features works by notable artists including Yoshihara Jiro, Nakanishi Natsuyuki, Kusama Yayoi, Arakawa Shusaku, Furusawa Iwami, and Fukuda Miran. Possessing both Edo paintings and relatively modern art defines the unique character of this museum.
• ​The Renewed Building​​: A large-scale renovation was conducted in 2019 to mark the 40th anniversary of its opening. While retaining the original form of the tiled grand roof from its founding, the exterior walls now layer glass with galvalume steel sheets. The spatial connections of the original building are carried on in areas such as the impressive grand roof along the approach and the entrance hall.

Strolling Tips

It is about a 14-minute walk from the South Exit of Nishi-takashimadaira Station on the Toei Mita Line. The museum stands with the hill of the Akatsuka Castle ruins behind it, facing Akatsuka Tameike Park. Take a moment to look up at the grand roof along the approach before entering the building. On the first floor, there is a community space that can be used free of charge.

Because there is no permanent exhibition room, it is advisable to check what exhibitions are currently open before visiting.

Itabashi City Local History Museum is located about 180 meters to the northwest, Joren-ji Temple is about 250 meters to the south, and Akatsuka Botanical Garden is about 430 meters to the south. You can comfortably continue your walk to include these alongside the Akatsuka Castle ruins and Akatsuka Tameike Park.