Hidden Wonders | Moon Art Festival Unfolds in Trendy Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, is hosting a unique art festival with a moon theme, transforming parking lots and vacant spaces into unconventional art venues. 

The festival takes place along the Shimokita Senrogai Open Space near Shimokitazawa Station on the Odakyu Line. It invites visitors to explore art as they stroll through the streets of Shimokitazawa on crisp autumn nights.

Event Details

The Moon Art Night Shimokita festival runs daily from 3 PM to 9 PM until September 29. Now in its third year, the event creatively utilizes spaces in the still-developing area around Shimokitazawa Station.

The 2024 festival exhibits artworks by five artists, with local restaurants offering special menus in support of the event. In 2023, it attracted approximately 400,000 visitors.

Interactive Installations

Museum of the Moon, a large moon balloon created by British artist Luke Jerram, has been a central piece since the event began. This realistic replica, based on NASA lunar photographs, remains a favorite even among celebrities. Visitors are encouraged to touch and explore the moon up close.

New this year is Intrude by Australian artist Amanda Parer, featuring rabbits. (In Japanese tradition, the dark patches on the moon are said to resemble a rabbit.) One of the rabbits in this installation has been given paw pads, inviting gentle interaction.

Playful Light and Shadow

Australian artist group Atelier Sisu is making its Japanese debut with Elysian Arcs. This installation includes arches reminiscent of moonbows and changes in appearance through light refraction. Visitors are encouraged to touch and walk through these arches.

German-based Japanese artist Toshihiko Mitsuka presents The Aluminum Garden — Structural Studies of Plants. Using detailed research, Mitsuka has recreated plant structures from aluminum sheets. The garden's appearance shifts with different lighting conditions, offering a dynamic viewing experience.

The event also includes a stamp rally and ticket system using NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which are secure and tamper-proof digital assets. Outdoor activities will continue in light rain but will be canceled if it rains heavily.

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Author: Hidemitsu Kaito

Hidemitsu Kaito is a staff writer at JAPAN Forward.