Matsuya (department store)
松屋 (百貨店)
Art you look at slowly, in a building that is part of the exhibit.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Matsuya Co., Ltd.(株式会社松屋) TYO: 8237 is a Japanese department store in Tokyo.Founded in 1869, it has stores in Ginza (est. 1925) and Asakusa (est. 1930s).The Ginza branch is the company's headquarters.Arising from the Meiji Restoration, the company was founded in 1869 in Yokohama as Tsuruya, a store selling cotton for kimono.In 1889, it bought Imagawa Matsuya, a Tokyo kimono fabric store founded in 1776, and adopted the latter's name because of its historic lineage.It opened a three-story Western-style store in 1907, and a modern department store in 1925 in Ginza.In the 1960s, the Ginza branch held two well-regarded art exhibitions: "From Space to Environment" and "Good Design".In 1971, Matsuya began a loose partnership / cooperation agreement with Isetan, another Japanese department store.In 2002, Matsuya purchased Isetan stock in an attempt to cement the relationship.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- A collection strong enough to draw visitors from outside the region, shown in generous, quiet space.
- Architecture treated as artwork — light, concrete, water and landscape used deliberately.
- Installations and outdoor works you can walk around, photograph, and sometimes step inside.
What you can do here
- Start with the permanent collection, then decide how much time the special exhibition deserves.
- Walk the outdoor sculpture area — often free and open longer than the galleries.
- Sit in the museum café or library; both are usually designed as part of the visit.
- Check the shop for artist editions and design goods you will not find elsewhere.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Photography is often allowed for the collection but banned for loaned special exhibitions.
- Advance timed tickets are common for headline shows — book online before travelling.
- Large bags go in the free lockers at the entrance.
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