Art Aquarium Museum, Tokyo

The Art Aquarium Museum (アートアクアリウム美術館) is a one-of-a-kind museum in Tokyo that blends art, design, and wildlife. Situated in the heart of the prestigious Ginza (銀座) district, it showcases mesmerizing displays featuring goldfish, where art and nature come together in harmony. The museum invites visitors to immerse themselves in a world of living art, seamlessly combining traditional Japanese aesthetics with a modern touch.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

How to Get to Art Aquarium Museum

Address: 〒104-8212 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 4 Chome−6−16, 三越新館 9階 9階入場口

The Art Aquarium Museum is centrally located in Tokyo, making it easily accessible by public transportation.

Here’s how you can get there:

By Train

Nearest Station: Mitsukoshimae Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line)
Exit: Take Exit A6 and walk approximately 2 minutes to the museum.
Alternatively, you can use Shin-Nihombashi Station (JR Sobu Line), which is about a 3-minute walk.

By Bus

Several bus routes stop near the museum. Check local bus schedules to find the most convenient option.

By Taxi

For a direct and comfortable option, take a taxi and ask the driver to take you to COREDO Muromachi, where the museum is located.

Goldfish Museum

The Art Aquarium Museum opened in May 2022, relocating from its previous site in the Nihonbashi (日本橋) neighborhood. Created by Hidetomo Kimura, the museum was designed to blend the elegance of goldfish with elements of Japanese culture and modern design. The result is a permanent exhibition where more than 5,000 fish of various breeds swim in aquariums of unique shapes and sizes, transforming them into living works of art.

At the Art Aquarium Museum, the space is illuminated by vibrant lights reflecting off the water, while moving shadows create a mesmerizing effect. The water itself becomes a dynamic canvas, and the aquariums take on the appearance of art installations. Visitors can watch the graceful movements of the fish, their forms glowing under multicolored lights, creating a truly enchanting atmosphere.

The museum frequently updates its exhibits to reflect the changing seasons, ensuring a fresh and immersive experience with each visit:

Spring – Cherry blossoms, with delicate petals projected onto the walls and water.
Summer – Scenes from summer festivals, glowing lanterns, and shimmering water splashes.
Autumn – Fiery red maple leaves and the warm flicker of lantern light.
Winter – Snowy patterns and magical winter illuminations.

The museum features several themed areas, each offering a distinctive perspective on Japanese culture by integrating light, water, and movement. It also showcases a diverse range of artworks inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship, including depictions of geisha, Kutani (九谷焼) ceramics, and ukiyo-e (浮世絵), the renowned Edo-period fine arts movement.

Kutani

Kutani is a traditional craft that originated during the Edo period and is produced in the town of Kanazawa (金沢市). At the Art Aquarium Museum, Kutani is showcased in several unique forms:

Aquariums adorned with traditional Kutani designs, where intricate patterns and paintings blend harmoniously with the graceful movements of swimming goldfish.
Ceramic installations inspired by themes of water, nature, and Japanese aesthetics, reflecting the essence of this historic craft.
Exclusive souvenirs crafted in collaboration with Kutani artisans, available in the museum store for visitors to take home a piece of this timeless tradition.

Ukiyo-e

The Art Aquarium Museum features more than 20 ukiyo-e works depicting goldfish and carp by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a renowned Japanese artist of the late Edo period. Known as the “fantastic painter,” Kuniyoshi gained popularity for his bold, eccentric, and often humorous artistic style, which brought a unique and dynamic perspective to traditional ukiyo-e art.

Goldfish Corridor

One of the most captivating installations at the Art Aquarium Museum is the Goldfish Corridor. This long tunnel is lined with dozens of aquariums filled with vibrant goldfish and carp, creating a breathtaking visual experience. The lighting continuously shifts colors, producing the illusion of flowing water and moving light, while shimmering reflections make the space feel almost hypnotic. In the evening, the illumination becomes even more atmospheric, and soft background music enhances the immersive experience, transporting visitors into a dreamlike world.

Goldfish Bamboo Forest

Another remarkable installation at the Art Aquarium Museum is the Goldfish Bamboo Forest. This exhibit features tall, transparent water-filled columns housing goldfish, arranged to resemble a bamboo grove. The soft greenish illumination gives the impression of being surrounded by a real bamboo forest, while the fish glide effortlessly through streams of light, their movements reflecting on the surrounding walls to deepen the immersive effect. In Japanese culture, bamboo symbolizes strength and resilience, while goldfish have long been associated with prosperity and good fortune, making this installation a beautiful fusion of nature, tradition, and art.

Ginza Mantoro

Step into an atmosphere of quiet solitude, where a soft, subdued glow creates a sense of warmth and tranquility. This installation is inspired by the lantern festival at Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara. The museum has carefully curated these unique artifacts, each carrying the history of past eras, adding an air of mystery and harmony to the space. The gentle flickering of the lanterns enhances the serene ambiance, inviting visitors to pause and reflect.

Goldfish Waterfall

This breathtaking installation reimagines the traditional Japanese waterfall, replacing the flow of water with the graceful movements of goldfish in a vast glass tank. The illumination shifts throughout the day, synchronized with musical accompaniment to create a dynamic and ever-changing spectacle.

Morning: Soft blue and turquoise hues evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.
Evening: Warm gold and scarlet tones mirror the glow of festival lanterns, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere.

Goldfish Waterfall embodies the philosophy of harmony and perpetual movement, drawing visitors into a mesmerizing, meditative experience where art and nature blend seamlessly.

Temaririum

Temari (手まり) are traditional Japanese embroidered balls that were originally crafted as toys but later became symbols of good luck and elegance. Decorated with intricate geometric patterns, they are associated with wishes for happiness and harmony in Japanese culture. In the Temaririum, these beautifully patterned spheres are reimagined as floating installations, with goldfish swimming gracefully inside, blending tradition with artistic innovation.

Shojirium

Inspired by shoji (障子)—the delicate sliding paper screens found in traditional Japanese interiors—Shojirium is a space where light, water, and shadows interact to create a mesmerizing visual experience. Soft, diffused light filters through translucent screens, while aquariums filled with goldfish add a dynamic element, casting intricate, ever-changing shadows on the walls. The lighting subtly shifts in rhythm with the water’s movement, enhancing the immersive effect and evoking a sense of serenity and seclusion. This installation beautifully fuses the aesthetics of a classic Japanese home with modern lighting technology, transforming every moment into a living work of art.

A Show of Kingyo

In this captivating installation, goldfish swim in low, square aquariums adorned with kimono obi (belts), blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary art. The lighting constantly shifts in color, making the fish appear and disappear within the flowing streams of light. Moving with elegance and fluidity, the goldfish seem to perform a slow, hypnotic dance, drawing visitors into a dreamlike spectacle.

Oiran Belt Dance (Obimai)

This exhibit is inspired by the world of the legendary oiran (花魁), the elite courtesans of the Edo period known for their beauty, artistry, and elaborate attire. The name Obimai comes from “obi”, the traditional kimono sash, a symbol of elegance, status, and refinement. In this enchanting display, long silk-like ribbons, reminiscent of luxurious oiran obi, float gracefully in the air, swaying as if engaged in a slow, rhythmic dance. Hundreds of goldfish glide effortlessly between these shimmering strands, creating the illusion of an aquatic performance. This installation captures the opulent atmosphere of Edo-period festivals, evoking the grandeur of the oiran dochu, when courtesans paraded through the streets in their resplendent finery, mesmerizing onlookers with their majesty.

Oiran Flower Dance (Hanamai)

The Oiran Flower Dance area is a vibrant and dynamic space where light, movement, and color blend seamlessly. Background projections create the illusion of sakura petals swirling in a delicate dance, while the water in the aquariums reflects the enchanting display, immersing visitors in a dreamlike spectacle.

The name hanamai (花舞) translates to “flower dance” in Japanese (花 for “flower,” 舞 for “dance”) and carries multiple layers of cultural significance:

A tribute to the oiran, the elite courtesans of the Edo period, whose performances were elaborate, theatrical spectacles. Their elegant movements, combined with lavish decorations and floral motifs, made them symbols of refinement and artistry.
A connection to sakura and hanami, the cherished Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing. Sakura flowers represent fleeting beauty and grace, and the falling petal-like projections enhance this poetic parallel.
A harmony between nature and movement, as the graceful swimming of goldfish in illuminated aquariums mirrors the fluid, drifting motion of flowers in water, making the name Hanamai especially fitting.

This installation encapsulates the ephemeral beauty of Japanese culture, inviting visitors into a world where tradition, nature, and modern art intertwine.

Tenku Rium

In this breathtaking installation, transparent spherical aquariums are suspended at varying heights, creating a sense of floating in an endless expanse. Carefully designed lighting and mirrored surfaces enhance the effect of infinite space, making the fish appear as if they are swimming in weightlessness. The result is an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere that transports visitors beyond the boundaries of reality.

Inome Rium

The name of this exhibit is inspired by the “inome” (猪目) symbol, a traditional Japanese heart-shaped motif commonly found in ancient temples, castles, and artworks. This emblem is believed to offer protection from evil and attract good fortune. In Inome Rium, aquariums shaped like the inome symbol create a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow, bringing this ancient motif to life. As goldfish gracefully swim within these unique structures, the installation embodies both cultural heritage and contemporary artistry.