The Yokohama Museum of Art will hold its reopening exhibition, “Welcome Back, Yokohama”, from February 8 (Saturday) to June 2 (Monday), 2025.
The museum had been closed for extensive renovations since March 2021. After the 8th Yokohama Triennale in March 2024, the museum temporarily closed again to return around 14,000 pieces of its collection, which had been stored in an external warehouse during the renovation period. However, as of November 1 (Friday), the museum has reopened its “Free Area,” which includes galleries and a café, with free admission.


The exhibition, held to celebrate the full reopening of the museum in February 2025, carries a message of welcoming various people with “Yokohama” as its central theme. This will be the first exhibition curated by Mika Kuraya, who became the director of the Yokohama Museum of Art in 2020, after her tenure as curator for the Japan Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale. In her message for the exhibition, Kuraya speaks about the hope and significance embedded in both the exhibition’s content and title.
In this exhibition, we will present masterpieces from our collection from a fresh perspective, marking a new beginning for the museum. Additionally, we will showcase works and materials from other local institutions, including the Yokohama City Museum, the Yokohama Archives of History, the Yokohama Urban Development Memorial Museum, and the Yokohama Citizen’s Gallery, which enrich the understanding of our collection. New works commissioned specifically for this exhibition will also be displayed in the Grand Gallery and other areas.
The key to interpreting the works is “Yokohama” and “diversity,” which is the core of the museum’s renewed activities. With a focus on “diversity,” we will shed new light on figures related to Yokohama who have not received much attention in the past—such as people who lived in Yokohama before the opening of the port, women, children, and individuals with various roots. This will bring many new discoveries to familiar works and the history of Yokohama. By delving into local history, we believe that global history will also appear in a new light.
A “Children’s Gallery” (tentative name) will be set up for families to enjoy together. Additionally, educational and outreach programs, one of the museum’s key initiatives, will also be held.
The title carries two meanings: “Yokohama Museum of Art is back after three years,” and “We want to say ‘welcome back’ to the diverse people who have lived in Yokohama (or currently live here) from various regions and different times.”
Message from Museum Director, Mika Kuraya
The exhibition will feature iconic masterpieces from the museum’s collection, including works by Cézanne, Picasso, Magritte, and Yoshitomo Nara, alongside a diverse selection of paintings, photographs, crafts, and videos that explore the theme of “diversity.” These works and materials will offer new insights into the history of Yokohama. Additionally, a “Children’s Gallery” (tentative title) will be set up within the venue, where families can engage in conversations while enjoying the artwork. The selected pieces for children will be displayed in a way that makes them easy to appreciate.

Yokohama Museum of Art Reopening Inaugural Season Welcome back, Yokohama
Exhibition Dates: February 8 (Saturday) – June 2 (Monday), 2025
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry by 5:30 PM)
Closed: Thursdays (except for March 20, Thursday, a national holiday) and March 21 (Friday)
Organized by: Yokohama Museum of Art, Kanagawa Shimbun, tvk
Collaborator: Minatomirai Line
Special Cooperation: Yokohama City History Museum, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of History
Admission Fees:
- General: ¥1,800 (¥1,700 for groups of 20 or more)
- University Students: ¥1,500 (¥1,400 for groups of 20 or more)
- High School and Junior High Students: ¥900 (¥800 for groups of 20 or more)
- Free for Elementary School Students and below
*Group rates apply for 20 or more people with prior reservation (tickets available at the museum’s ticket counter)
*Free admission for people with disabilities and one accompanying caregiver
Admission to the concurrent Yokohama Museum of Art Collection exhibition is included with the “Okaeri, Yokohama” exhibition ticket on the same day.
For Inquiries: Yokohama Museum of Art, TEL: 045-221-0300 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Closed on Thursdays)