Yayoi Kusama Museum

In short

The Yayoi Kusama Museum was founded by the avant-garde artist Kusama Yayoi and opened in October 2017 in Bentencho, Shinjuku City. Presenting collections of Kusama's works through biannual exhibitions, it conveys the messages of "world peace" and "love for humanity" that she repeatedly advocated through her art.

• ​White Building with Polka Dots​​: A white structure featuring rounded, curved corners, with polka dots adorning the glass at the entrance.
• ​Floor-by-Floor Exhibits​​: Features exhibition galleries on the 2nd and 3rd floors, an experiential installation on the 4th floor, and a rooftop gallery along with a reading space on the 5th floor.
• ​Kusama Yayoi's Journey​​: Visitors can explore the diverse achievements of this artist renowned for her net patterns and polka dots.

History and Highlights

The ​Yayoi Kusama Museum​ was established by the avant-garde artist Kusama Yayoi and is operated by the Yayoi Kusama Memorial Art Foundation. It opened in October 2017. The location is very close to the studio and the sanatorium that were the base of Kusama's life from 1977 onward. Through biannual exhibitions showcasing collections of Kusama's works, it aims to widely spread to the world her repeated messages of "world peace" and "love for humanity."

Kusama Yayoi was born in 1929 in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations from an early age, she began creating paintings with motifs of net patterns and polka dots. She moved to the United States in 1957, establishing her status as an avant-garde artist through net paintings, soft sculptures, and installations incorporating mirrors and electric lights. In 2016, she was awarded the Order of Culture. She passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. It is said that she never laid down her paintbrush until just before her death.

The reinforced concrete building consists of five stories above ground and one basement floor, designed by Kume Sekkei. It is a white building with rounded curves at the corners, and the entrance glass is adorned with polka dots. It is a design that is unmistakably Kusama Yayoi, even from a distance.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Exhibition Galleries​​: The 2nd and 3rd floors serve as exhibition galleries. The collection of Kusama's works is presented in two exhibitions a year. Displaying major works from her early days up to the present and honoring Kusama Yayoi's wide-ranging achievements is a primary goal of the museum.
• ​Experiential Installation​​: The 4th floor was established as a level dedicated to experiential installations. When the museum opened, a "Mirror Room" work utilizing mirrors was installed. Since Infinity Mirror Room - Phalli's Field in 1965, mirror rooms have become one of Kusama's signature series.
• ​Rooftop Gallery and Documents​​: The 5th floor features an outdoor exhibition space and a browsing area where reference materials can be viewed. The rooftop gallery offers a panoramic view of the Shinjuku cityscape. If safety cannot be ensured due to weather or other conditions, the 5th floor is closed.

Visiting Tips

Admission is by timed-entry reservation only with a set visitor capacity; tickets are sold exclusively on the museum's official website. They cannot be purchased at the museum counter. Because the grounds are compact and there is no space to wait before entering, visitors should refrain from arriving prior to their designated entry time. It is about a 7-minute walk from Waseda Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, and about a 6-minute walk from Ushigome-yanagicho Station on the Toei Oedo Line. As there are no dedicated parking facilities for cars or bicycles, visitors are requested to avoid coming by car or bicycle. The Shinjuku City Soseki Sanbo Memorial Museum is located about 120 meters to the northwest.