Yayoi Kusama Museum in Shinjuku

The Yayoi Kusama Museum is a contemporary art museum in Shinjuku dedicated to the Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama. Located in the quiet neighborhood of Bentencho in Shinjuku, this minimalist museum showcases various works from Kusama's past and present and introduces viewers to her life and inspiration. The building is striking amidst the more mundane surroundings and consists of cubes stacked on top one another.

At 90 years old, Kusama has left a notable mark on the contemporary art world and continues to create works to this day. Her well-known works include polka dot pumpkins and infinity rooms, which use mirrors to create an optical illusion of never-ending space. There are two exhibitions each year showcasing works from Kusama's past and present. The third floor has a permanent collection of her paintings from the "My Eternal Soul" series. The top floor is open air and usually showcases one of Kusama’s pumpkin works.

Admission is limited to 200 visitors a day. Tickets must be bought in advance online and are sold 2 months prior to the date of desired entry. Tickets are released at 10 a.m. on the first day of every month in advance. The ticket entry to the museum is timed and a short window, (90 minutes) is allowed for arriving to the museum, so do not miss it! There is a small gift shop on the first floor selling a variety of gifts with Kusama's designs. The museum is open from Thursdays to Sundays and open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The museum is also open on Japanese national holidays. Photos are allowed on floors 1, 4 and 5, but not on floors 2 or 3. There are two routes to the museum. The Tokyo Metro Tozai line can be taken to Waseda Station or the Toei Oedo Subway line can be taken to Ushigome-yanagicho Station stop.