![]() ![]() Artists are able to rent these spaces for short or long stints, as standalone work or as part of a collective exhibit with a theme. Consisting of both an east and west block, the space houses a seemingly endless number of rooms, each compact and with a haphazard layout that adds to the charm. If this was Alice chasing the proverbial white rabbit, then Design Festa, "an open space for everyone who expresses," is most certainly wonderland. I first came across Design Festa the old-fashion way, via a flyer taped to a telephone pole which repeated every 5m (16ft) or so to show me the way. These gatherings are as much a celebration of art as they are of the community that keeps it going. At another, I nabbed one of Breathing Tokyo’s stickers, a '90s Windows OS depiction of Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa, all while munching on homemade banana bread by JoshinJapan. One evening, we stood hyper-fixated at a pixel art piece of Van Gogh’s Starry Night by Codestar Creates. However, its ace-in-the-hole is the curated monthly meetups that have somehow managed to attract only the very best people this city has to offer. Artedly is the ordinary person’s art curator, connecting independent photographers and digital artists with cafes and community spaces around Tokyo. The IRL-scene has been a much-needed reprieve from the work-from-home doldrums, and one specific monthly gathering has been particularly worth getting out of my pajamas for. Take a walk down Takeshita Street in Harajuku, where street art is everywhere © Satoshi-K / Getty Images Where to find Tokyo's independent art A melting pot of art And if someone in charge hurries over with the universally spoken shaking of the head, it’s best to just apologize and comply. Usually, a "No photos" sign will be clearly visible next to the artwork. Do keep an eye out for outlier instances where this is not the case. You’d be surprised to find out how much can be said with just body language and a large dose of enthusiasm.įor the most part, independent artists love for their work to be photographed and shared. If there’s an artist in attendance, look them up prior on social media so you have something to talk about with the people who came to see them. Instead of a language test, you’ll have to pass a "vibe check," which should also be relatively simple. However, many events will be English-Japanese bilingual, with participants all speaking both to some extent. When attending community events, it certainly helps to know a few basic Japanese phrases, especially in the introduction stages. Many travelers come to Japan worried about the language barrier, but the international scene in Tokyo has made it almost easy to get by with English. Get the inside scoop on the latest cultural happenings all over the world delivered weekly to your inbox with our email newsletter. ![]() But there’s beauty in that impermanence and a certain serendipity that brings out the best in this city. Mural art may come and go, just as that zine artist you saw today will be gone tomorrow. The art scene in Tokyo is akin to the rapid heartbeat of this city, fleeting where no two encounters are ever the same. ![]() It just so happens to be hosted within a bustling, urban co-working space. My favorite meet-up is a monthly creative collective featuring everyone from pixel artists to bakers, live streamers to haikyo (abandoned buildings) photographers. I love disappearing into the day, burying myself into a quieter part of town and finding a local bistro that commissioned its next-door neighbor to design the T-shirts they have for sale. In a hyper-developed metropolitan, there is art institutionalized and gatekept behind museum entrance fees, and there is art running free in the backstreets, made by independents and bolstered by a spirited community. Tokyo is known as a city of juxtapositions, but never is this more true than when you’re standing before an elaborate mural of colors, shapes and history that just so happens to be gracing the outer walls of the German Embassy. ![]()
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