The Yokohama Museum of Art announced that it resumed all operations on February 8, 2025. After previously undergoing large-scale renovation work for about three years (beginning in 2021), the museum reopened in March 2024 for the Yokohama Triennale but closed again after the event. While some facilities have been open since November of that year, this year will be the first in four years that the entire museum will open as usual.
As a part of its full restoration, the Yokohama Museum of Art returned approximately 14,000 pieces of its collection from offsite storage. It also transformed the Grand Gallery near the entrance into what they call the “Jiyu (free) Area”. The soft interior design, based on pink and brown hues, and the shapes of stones used by architect Kenzo Tange, is particularly captivating and should appeal to children and adults alike. The area is open to everyone and does not require any admission fee to access. The museum aims to create a space that connects with the city rather than just being a place where visitors pay to view artworks.
To celebrate the reopening, the museum will hold a special exhibition entitled “Welcome Back, Yokohama” until June 2nd. The title conveys both the museum’s return and a warm welcome to those who lived in Yokohama at different times and from different places (and may be visiting again), as well as those living here today. The Yokohama Museum of Art is a great way to spend a day immersed in art and Yokohama.
Website: https://yokohama.art.museum/eng