Tokyo University of the Arts, National arts university in Taito City, Japan
Tokyo University of the Arts is a national arts university in Taitō, Tokyo, operating across several locations in the region. The main campus sits near Ueno Park and includes buildings for fine arts, music, film, and media design.
The university emerged in 1949 from the merger of two schools founded in 1887, one for fine arts and one for music. These two institutions were the first national arts academies in Japan during the Meiji era.
The campus maintains teaching in traditional forms such as Nihonga painting and Shamisen music, while modern studios for digital design sit right alongside them. Students can engage with calligraphy or lacquerwork and collaborate on international film projects at the same time.
The facilities are spread across different neighborhoods, including Ueno for classical arts, Yokohama for film production, and Toride for applied media. Visitors should check which location suits their interests, as each campus has its own focus.
The university runs a museum of university art that displays works by alumni and faculty spanning over a century. Visitors can see how Japanese artistic style has evolved from the Meiji period to the present day.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
