Mori Art Museum

The Mori opened in 2003 on the top floors of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower and has no permanent collection on display - it runs a programme of large temporary exhibitions, weighted towards contemporary Asian art, architecture and design, with several major shows a year. Two things distinguish it practically. It is at 53 storeys, so the galleries are entered by lift and the Tokyo City View observation deck on the floor below is usually included in the ticket, which means the exhibition and a panorama of the city come together. And it stays open until ten most nights, later than almost any museum anywhere, which makes it the one you can go to after everything else has closed. Roppongi Hills below holds the Maman spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois and a scattering of public art through the complex.

History

The museum was founded in 2003 as part of Roppongi Hills, a complex joining work, leisure and housing that the developer Minoru Mori had worked on for 17 years before it opened, and he placed the museum at the top of Mori Tower as a reflection of his vision; in 2015 it was renovated and revised its mission (Wikipedia, Mori Art Museum).

What to look for

• Temporary shows only - no permanent display, several large exhibitions a year.
• The 53rd floor - galleries at the top of the tower, entered by lift.
• A late closing - open until about ten most nights.
• Tokyo City View - the observation deck usually included in the ticket.

When to go

All year; evenings, when it is one of the few things still open. Two to three hours.

Things to know

There is nothing on permanent display - what is showing depends entirely on the calendar. Tickets are not cheap and the sky deck is a further charge at times. Popular shows are timed and queue. Photography rules vary by exhibition.

Nearby

The National Art Center and Suntory Museum complete the Roppongi triangle.

Key facts