Towada Art Center

What to know

The Towada Art Center (十和田市現代美術館, Towadashi Gendai Bijutsukan) is a contemporary art museum in Towada City, roughly halfway between Hachinohe and Lake Towada. Opened in 2008, it is the centerpiece of Towada's transformation into a "City of Art," where visitors can experience artworks that harmonize with the surrounding nature and urban landscape. The museum's distinctive architecture consists of a cluster of small, individual buildings connected by glass corridors.

The permanent collection features over twenty modern art installations by artists from around the world, including Ron Mueck, Jeong Hwa Choi, and Yoko Ono. Each piece was created exclusively for the Towada Art Center and is housed in its own specially designed room. These rooms feature various windowed openings that allow the art to interact with the city outside.

In keeping with the museum's concept of offering new experiences, art is not always where you expect it. Part of the fun comes from turning a corner to discover a beautifully painted stairwell or looking down to realize you are walking on art covering the floor. In addition to indoor spaces, several large outdoor artworks are installed on the grounds, along the street, and in a public park across from the museum, available for visitors to enjoy anytime.

The Towada Art Center provides an excellent free English audio guide for a self-guided tour of the interior spaces. The museum also hosts regular special exhibitions. In the evenings until 21:00, the buildings are illuminated as part of Takahashi Kyota's "Fragments of Color Cubes" piece.

JR buses between Hachinohe and Lake Towada stop at the Towada Art Center. The trip takes about 40 minutes and costs 1330 yen from Hachinohe, or about one hour and 2160 yen from Lake Towada. There are only two departures per day in each direction, and services do not operate in winter from mid-November through March. Seat reservations are required for buses heading toward Lake Towadako. JR buses are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass, but not by the JR East South Hokkaido Pass or JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass.

Alternatively, buses run between Shichinohe-Towada Station and Towada City every 1-2 hours year-round. About half the buses stop in front of the museum (十和田市現代美術館), while the rest stop at Towada-shi Chuo (十和田市中央) bus stop, about a ten-minute walk east of the museum. The one-way trip takes about 40 minutes and costs 760 yen. It is not covered by any JR pass.