1.Prologue
In this article I’ll be writing about photography museums and galleries between Shinjuku—which has many camera stores—and Ebisu—which is where the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum is located.
The area has a high density of photography-related stores and facilities. Enthusiasts can make a day out of visiting these spots, all of which are creatively inspiring.
You’ll find exhibits by professional photographers and photography clubs, as well as dark rooms for rent and lectures taught by pros. And the galleries that are run by major camera makers have adjacent showrooms and service centers—meaning plenty to see and do while you’re getting your camera cleaned.
The Ginza area is also known for its many galleries—but that’s for another day.
2.TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM (Ebisu)
This public museum located inside Ebisu Garden Place has a collection of over 34,000 photographic and video works from around Japan and the world. There are separate exhibitions and moving images on display on each of the four floors, giving visitors a look at works in a variety of genres and styles. There is a library on the fourth floor, with an impressive selection of photo books that can be viewed for free. Photography fans, set a day aside for a visit.
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TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM
3.Nikon Plaza Shinjuku THE GALLERY (Shinjuku)
This facility has two galleries, which mainly display photos taken by famous photographers using Nikon equipment, as well as other themed exhibitions and talk shows. The galleries are adjacent to a Nikon showroom and a service counter for repairs and maintenance. A must-visit for Nikon fans.
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Nikon Plaza Shinjuku THE GALLERY
4.FUJIFILM SQUARE (Roppongi)
This photo salon is located on the first floor of Tokyo Midtown. Various themed exhibitions are shown across two spaces, usually providing a lesson in the history of photography and cameras. Admittance is free, so put this on your list of stops to make on your next visit to Roppongi’s art spots.
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FUJIFILM SQUARE
5.OM SYSTEM GALLERY (Shinjuku)
From Yodobashi Camera’s Shinjuku West Main Store, head west toward the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and you’ll come across Olympus Plaza Tokyo on the basement floor of the S-tec building. Inside is the Olympus showroom and adjacent gallery. The service station, ready for repairs and cleanings, is on the 17th floor of the same building.
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OM SYSTEM GALLERY
6.epSITE (CLOSED)
The exhibits on display at this gallery are mostly selected through an open application process. The adjacent rental workshop Private Lab is a printing station equipped with a large format printer and the latest new equipment –perfect if you’re trying to send in work for a contest, or if your home printer is just not good enough. The Epson showroom is an exciting space that will open your eyes to the fun of printing.
7.RICOH IMAGING SQUARE SHINJUKU (CLOSED)
Photographs from a wide range of genres are on display across two gallery spaces at Ricoh Imaging Square. Visitors can also pick up and play around with Pentax cameras and lenses in the adjacent Ricoh showroom. The One-Coin School—a series of photography lessons offered for 500 yen each—is highly recommended for beginners.
8.RAT HOLE GALLERY (CLOSED)
This gallery space is located below the Hysteric Glamour flagship “Hysterics" in the Aoyama neighborhood. Three to four one-man exhibitions are held a year, spotlighting both Japanese and overseas photographers. In most years, that includes an exhibition of the work of photographer/contemporary artist Araki Nobuyoshi.
9.PLACE M (Shinjuku)
Place M is a place for photographic experimentation. It has a main gallery and a mini gallery, both hosting a variety of one-man exhibitions. Dark rooms for developing film (for both color and black and white photography) are available for rent and are open until late—a great resource for high-level enthusiasts. The gallery also hosts a dark room workshop for beginners. Its photography night school celebrated its 18th year in 2018, and offers serious instruction every Saturday with the ultimate goal of holding your own one-man exhibit.
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Place M
10.photographer’s gallery (Shinjuku)
The stereotypical photographer is introverted and somewhat of a narcissist, but this small independent gallery is all about meeting others and communicating through the medium of photography. Most of the exhibitions are solo shows displaying the work of Photographer’s Gallery members, but you’ll also encounter themed exhibitions and workshops.
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photographer’s gallery
11.TOTEM POLE PHOTO GALLERY (Yotsuya)
This gallery is run by a group of 11 professional photographers. The exhibitions are mostly of work by the members, but you’ll also find themed exhibitions and the space is also available for rent. The charm of these smaller galleries is that they are a great, cozy place for conversing with a photographer directly as you take in their work.
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TOTEM POLE PHOTO GALLERY
12.Epilogue
Next time I’ll be writing about photography and camera-related retail stores between the Shinjuku and Ebisu areas. There are bookstores with wonderful photo book selections, major home electronics stores that can’t be beat when it comes to the sheer volume of their offerings, and camera stores that should be on every camera enthusiast’s must-visit list. Stay tuned!
