Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

Hara Museum of Contemporary Art was an art museum in Kita-Shinagawa, Japan, housed in a modernist residential building. The architecture followed Bauhaus principles with smooth lines and functional spaces adapted for exhibitions and cultural gatherings.

Jin Watanabe designed the building in 1938 as a private residence for a family. After the war, the space served as embassy offices before being transformed into an art museum in 1979.

The building displayed works by international artists including Karel Appel, Alexander Calder and Yayoi Kusama until it closed in 2021. Visitors could experience the collection in rooms originally designed for residential life.

The museum offered lecture spaces, workshops and a glass-enclosed cafe that made it a center for artistic education. These facilities encouraged exchange between artists and visitors in an open setting.

The use of residential rooms for exhibitions gave artworks an intimate setting. Visitors moved through galleries that had once been bedrooms and living rooms.

Location: Kita-Shinagawa

Inception: 1979

Official opening: 1979

Address: 東京都品川区北品川4-7-25

Website: http://haramuseum.or.jp

GPS coordinates: 35.62103,139.73606

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:56