Arts Maebashi, Art museum in Chiyodamachi, Maebashi, Japan.
Arts Maebashi is an art museum in Chiyodamachi, Maebashi, housed in a former department store with a punched metal exterior designed by Sakakura Associates. The interior spans several gallery levels with high ceilings that allow for flexible presentation of contemporary art.
The museum opened in 2013 inside a former department store and received official museum status in 2015. The conversion changed the role of the building for the city, moving it from retail to public cultural use.
Arts Maebashi shows contemporary art with a focus on artists from Southeast Asia and works closely with local schools. Visitors can see how the gallery brings together international and community voices in the same exhibition rooms.
The museum is about a 10-minute walk from Maebashi Station and closes on Wednesdays. The shop and café inside are open to anyone without needing a ticket for the galleries.
The building received the Good Design Award for turning a low-ceiling retail space into tall exhibition galleries. This solution shows how a former commercial building can take on a new purpose without losing its original character.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
