A yellow exterior gives Niigata City Niitsu Art Museum a distinctive architectural identity.
Tatsuya Tanaka’s The Assembly of Mitate reinterprets everyday objects through around 160 photographic and three-dimensional works, on show from 18 September to 8 November 2026.
Featured image: Agakambara / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/; Photo 2019-05-03. Resized and converted to WebP; original composition retained. Image source · CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Why visit
The building is part of the attraction: its yellow exterior was designed by the museum’s first director, Tadashi Yokoyama, and ARSED Architectural Laboratory. Opened in 1997 as Niitsu City Art Museum, it took its present name after the 2005 municipal merger. Consider giving the architecture a moment of attention rather than treating it simply as the entrance to the galleries.
Plan your visit
The museum is at 109-1 Gawakesawa in Niigata’s Akiha Ward. The official local walking approach is from Furutsu Station, about 25 minutes away on foot. Use that walk as a concrete starting point for planning your arrival, rather than assuming the museum is immediately beside the station.
Make the most of your visit
For The Assembly of Mitate, running from 18 September to 8 November 2026, try looking first at the scene each work suggests, then at the everyday objects used to create it. The exhibition’s mix of photographic and three-dimensional works offers two ways to explore Tanaka’s reinterpretations. Consider comparing how the visual idea changes between a photograph and a physical construction.
Planning notes
The exhibition ending 8 November 2026 opens 10:00–17:00, with ticket sales ending at 16:30, according to the official information checked on 18 October 2026.
The remaining published October 2026 closure is 26 October; the museum does not close every Monday.
For this exhibition through 8 November 2026, individual weekday admission is ¥1,600 for adults and ¥1,400 for university and high-school students. Weekend and holiday prices are ¥1,800 and ¥1,600 respectively. Junior-high students and younger enter free with same-day reception. For weekends and holidays, dated/time tickets bought by the day before are recommended; same-day museum tickets are sold only if capacity remains.
Check the official access page for current bus services and plan your return transport separately.
Practical information
History
Opened in 1997 as Niitsu City Art Museum and renamed after the 2005 municipal merger. Its yellow exterior was designed by first director Tadashi Yokoyama and ARSED Architectural Laboratory.
Information as of .
Event dates
Tatsuya Tanaka: The Assembly of Mitate runs 18 September to 8 November 2026, showing around 160 photographic and three-dimensional works that reinterpret everyday objects.
Information as of .
Published period: Start not specified – .
Opening hours
For the current exhibition: 10:00–17:00, ticket sales until 16:30. The remaining published October 2026 closure is 26 October; do not assume every Monday is closed.
Information as of .
Published period: Start not specified – .
Price
Current exhibition individual adult weekday ticket 1600 yen; university/high-school 1400 yen; junior-high and younger free with same-day reception. Weekend/holiday adult 1800 yen, student 1600 yen; dated/time tickets are recommended by the day before a weekend/holiday visit; same-day weekend/holiday museum tickets are sold only if capacity remains.
Information as of .
Published period: Start not specified – .
Access
109-1 Gawakesawa, Akiha Ward, Niigata. Official local access is Furutsu Station about 25 minutes on foot; published bus approaches require checking current services. Check current bus services on the museum’s official access page.
Information as of .
Useful links
Niitsu Art Museum current exhibition
Information based on checks dated 18–19 October 2026.
Explore nearby cultural ideas in our guides to Niitsu Railway Museum and the Northern Culture Museum in Soumi. Check each destination’s visiting conditions before combining stops.