Tokyo · Permanent cultural facility
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Beyond the white walls and stone boundary: notice the building as well as its crafts.
Building exterior · access reference
An exterior reference, not a photograph of the collection or an activity.

Reading notes checked: 2026-11-01 · not a recheck of individual collection display dates.
A way to look
In the entrance hall, notice the Oya-stone floor, white plaster and central staircase. With pots or textiles, ask how their form relates to use rather than focusing only on names—a way into mingei’s attention to everyday objects. Look without touching the exhibits.
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About this museum
Discover Yanagi Soetsu's mingei movement through the beauty of everyday ceramics, textiles and woodwork. Exhibitions change, and his former home opens only on selected days.
What to see
- Exhibitions of ceramics, textiles, woodwork and lacquer from Japan and other regions
- Works by mingei artists such as Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai; display varies by exhibition
- West Hall, Yanagi Soetsu's former home, on selected opening days
The 2026 New Crafts Exhibition Upcoming
Upcoming · dated information
The New Crafts Exhibition, 22 November–17 December 2026, offers contemporary handmade work to view and buy; it is not a craft-making workshop. Advance timed reservations are required on 22–23 November. Check the exhibition page for closures and the West Hall’s separate opening dates.
Applies only to: 2026-11-22–2026-12-17. After this period, this is historical information, not a schedule for another year.
An optional detour
For a reading break after the museum, consider BUNDAN inside the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature. The café allows visitors to browse its books. Its opening days differ from the Folk Crafts Museum’s, and hours can change; check the café’s latest notices before going.
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Shibuya Station → your visit
- From Shibuya, take a local Keio Inokashira Line train toward Kichijoji to Komaba-Todaimae. Walk about seven minutes from the west exit.
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Official access information ↗Closures & important conditions
Main Hall closed Mondays, or the day after holiday Mondays. Closed Nov 4–21, Dec 18, 2026–Jan 5, 2027 and Mar 11–19 for changeovers/holidays. West Hall normally opens only on second/third Wednesdays and Saturdays, subject to exhibition-specific dates.
- Not all collection works are on display at all times. Also check exhibition-specific West Hall dates.
- Photography is prohibited outside designated areas.
- Closed 4–21 November 2026 for exhibition changeover; normal opening hours do not apply during this period.
Closure information reviewed: 2026-11-06. Check last-minute changes.
Plan your visit
Checked: 2026-10-31 · a facility guide, not a dated festival listing
Hours & admission arrangements
Main Hall 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:30. West Hall 10:00–16:30, last admission 16:00.
Groups must reserve in advance.
What still needs checking
- Individual works on display on the visit date
- Future event booking rules and availability
Official sources & photographs
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Access to individual areas, exhibits and activities can vary by day.
Announced exhibitions
Periods can include closed days. Open each exhibition for its own conditions.
- 2026 Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition: New Crafts Open Call · 2026-11-22 – 2026-12-17
- 90th Anniversary: Yanagi Soetsu’s Collecting Stories · 2027-01-06 – 2027-03-10
- Beautiful Writing Implements: A Focus on Korean Crafts · 2027-03-20 – 2027-05-30
- Lotus Motifs in East Asian Painting and Crafts · 2027-06-10 – 2027-08-15
- Celebrating a Gift: The Work of Samiro Yunoki · 2027-08-26 – 2027-11-03
- 2027 Japan Folk Crafts Museum Exhibition: New Crafts Open Call · 2027-11-23 – 2027-12-16
- Seto and Mino Ceramics: Forms and Uses · 2028-01-06 – 2028-03-09