Bunkamura is a multi-purpose cultural center -- the name literally translates to culture village (Photo: Tyoron2 / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Bunkamura

A multi-purpose arts and culture center in Shibuya

Bunkamura is a multi-purpose cultural center -- the name literally translates to culture village (Photo: Tyoron2 / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Kim   - 4 min read

Tokyo is home to a myriad of destinations focused on arts and culture, including Shibuya's Bunkamura, which literally translates to "culture village". The multi-purpose venue was opened back in 1989 and spans over several floors, where you'll find a gallery, museum, theater, performance hall, and cinemas.

Bunkamura's logo is made up of several colored shapes, each of which corresponds to a section of the venue.

The logo is made up of colorful shapes, each of which corresponds to a different section of the venue
The logo is made up of colorful shapes, each of which corresponds to a different section of the venue (Photo: 田中たかし / Public Domain)

The blue rhombus corresponds to the cinema floor, which is home to two movie theaters - quite simply named Le Cinema 1 and Le Cinema 2. Both are equipped with the latest in digital projecion technology, and showcase a range of films from different genres.

Le Cinema 1 and Le Cinema 2 showcase a range of different films
Le Cinema 1 and Le Cinema 2 showcase a range of different films (Photo: Razgrad / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The red square corresponds to Orchard Hall, which is a world-class performance hall that seats over 2000 people. It's used for concerts, opera, and ballet, and was designed with acoustics in mind.

Orchard Hall from the outside
Orchard Hall from the outside (Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson / CC BY 2.0)

The green circle corresponds to Theatre Cocoon, a venue designed for events like contemporary dance and musical drama. Seating almost 750 people, the theater's layout is intended to maximize the intimacy between the performers and the audience members.

Lastly, the yellow triangle corresponds to The Museum, which typically hosts between four to six exhibitions each year. They focus on specific themes including Western art from the 19th and 20th centuries, photography, masterpieces from international museums, and the works of female artists.

The Museum at Bunkamura
The Museum at Bunkamura (Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson / CC BY 2.0)

If you're looking for what's on at the Bunkamura throughout the year, visit the calendar section on their official website for a comprehensive list.

Getting there

Bunkamura is located around 6 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station, which is served by the JR Saikyo, Yamanote, and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon, and Fukutoshin lines, and the privately operated Keio Inokashira Line, Tokyu Den-en-toshi line, and Tokyu Toyoko line.

For those who opt to drive, parking is available on the B2 floor of the building.

Kim

Kim @kim.b