The enigmatic title of this exhibition promises a unique trip to Buddhist hell: "Wonderland of Buddhist Hell Scenes" gathers a collection of art about Buddhist "Hell and Paradise," promising a fantastic journey.
One of the highlights is the original picture book of Shigeru Mizuki, a master of Japanese manga who specialized in Japanese ghosts and monsters. Look forward to exploring his vision of hell in a total of four chapters. He is only one of the many artists showcased in this exhibition, however, and through amazing and unique depictions of both hell and paradise, you can get a glimpse into the Japanese view on life, death, and what may come after.

Date: July 15 (Sat) - September 3 (Sun 2017
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (until 7:00 p.m. on Fridays)
Admission: 1,300 yen (regular)
Closed: Mondays
※Open on August 14.

The Yokohama Triennale is an international exhibition that focuses on contemporary art - as its name suggests, it is held every three years in Yokohama. The motto of this year is "Islands, Constellations & Galapagos," seeking to make a strong statement about the state of our world with the two conflicting keywords of "isolation" and "connectivity."
The main venue is the Yokohama Museum of Art, and its outer walls and pillars have become a large-scale installation by Ai Weiwei. The main subject of this impactful work is the refugee crisis - Life boats that have actually been used by refugees adorn the building's exterior.
On top of that, a large number of events take place that will surely pique your interest. Theatrical performances, documentary screenings, city tours of Yokohama, and talks with participating and guest artists.

Date: August 4 (Fri) - November 5 (Sun) 2017
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.)
※open until 8:30 p.m. on October 27 (Fri), 28 (Sat), 29 (Sun); November 2 (Thu), 3 (Fri, national holiday), 4 (Sat). Last entry at 8:00 p.m.
Admission: 1,800 yen (regular)
Closed: every 2nd and 4th Thursday (8/10, 8/24, 9/14, 9/28, 10/12, 10/26)

Tokyo's beautiful art aquarium is held for the 11th time this year, having attracted a total of 7.3 million people so far! This year's concept of Art Aquarium is Ryugu Castle, the mystical Palace of the Dragon King. Look forward to creative motifs revolving around this fantastical place - one of them is the "Tamaterium," a fish tank designed in the fashion of a treasure box.
Around 8,000 ornamental fish, mainly goldfish will populate the Art Aquarium and perform their aquatic dance in colorful, fantastic spaces decorated with art and flowers. Every day from 7:00 p.m., the "Night Aquarium," starts, letting you gaze upon the many fishes with a nice drink in your hand.

Date: July 7 (Fri) - September 24 (Sun) 2017
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. (last entry at 11:00 p.m.
Art Aquarium: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Night Aquarium: 7:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Admission 1,000 yen (regular; from junior high); 600 yen for children (from 4 years old to elementary school)
Closed: always open
※Hours may differ for certain events, so please be sure to check the official homepage.

As the name suggests, this exhibition is all about Shunji Dodo, one of Japan's most prominent photography artists. He made his breakthrough in 1968 when he traveled to a city called Sasebo to document the locals' protest against the port visit of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The result of this was his first work: Sasebo.
Shunji Dodo: A Life 1968-2017 showcases about 300 works spanning over 50 years of his life as a photographer. We invite you to step into Shunji Dodo's world behind the lens - every masterpiece has its very own intriguing story to tell.

Date: July 7 (Fri) - September 10 (Sun) 2017
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on weekdays
11:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on weekends & national holidays
Closed: Mondays
Admission: 800 yen (regular), 500 yen for college students and seniors (60 years and older), 300 yen for high school students, free for anyone younger

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts isn't just one of the largest museums in the United States, it is also said to me among the most popular. It is famous for its sizeable collection of Buddhist artworks and ukiyo-e, thus having a deep connection to Japanese culture.
"Great Collectors: Masterpieces from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts" showcases the museum's 80 most fascinating masterpieces. Among them is "The Death of the Historical Buddha," a colossal painting by one of early Edo's most prominent painters, Hanabusa Itcho. After 170 years abroad, it's the first time that this work returns to Japan - why not go and greet it?

Date: July 20 (Thu) - October 9 (Mon, national holiday) 2017
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays; last admission is 30 minutes before closing)
※Open until 9:00 p.m. on July 21 (Fri), 28 (Fri), August 4 (Fri), 11 (Fri, national holiday), 25 (Fri)
Admission: 1,600 yen (regular)

Hiroshi Sugito is an internationally renowned artist who has held numerous solo exhibitions all over the world. "Hiroshi Sugito: Module or Lacuna" will be his first solo exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and will transform the venue into the artist's own living room, so to speak.
The tiles of the exhibition rooms of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum themselves served as an inspiration for Sugito's latest works. Drawings and paintings will fill the space with color and light, and we promise that you'll be fascinated by the unique space that his art creates.

Date: July 25 (Tue) - October 9 (Mon, national holiday) 2017
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
(until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays; last admission is 30 minutes before closing)
※Open until 9:00 p.m. on July 21 (Fri), 28 (Fri), August 4 (Fri), 11 (Fri, national holiday), 25 (Fri)
Closed: Mondays (except August 15, September 18, October 9), September 19 (Tue)
Admission: 800 yen (regular)

Main Image Credit:

Artist: Maurizio Cattelan
Work: Unnamed, 2000
Photo: Zeno Zotti
Courtesy: Maurizio Cattelan's Archive and Perrotin gallery

Writer: Takamasa Yamashita