About the Museum
- Museum type
- Art museum
- Hours
- 10:30–18:00 (Last admission is at 5:40 p.m.)
- Closed
- Tuesdays and during the year-end and New Year holidays.
If Tuesday falls on a national holiday, the museum is open that day and closed the following day. - Admission
- Around ¥500 (varies depending on the exhibition)
Free admission for high school students and younger (student ID required). - Payment
- Cash only
- Suggested visit time
- Quick: ~5 min / Unhurried: ~15 min
- Website&SNS
- Official website
- Address
- 3-26-13, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
- Phone
- +81 3-5362-7508
- Nearest station
- Shinjuku Station; Shinjuku-sanchome Station
What Is the Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art?
The Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art is a small museum located in the heart of Shinjuku, one of Japan’s most famous and vibrant entertainment districts.
The museum traces its origins to the cultural activities of the long-established company Nakamuraya, founded in 1901. Nakamuraya is widely known for products such as curry bread and cream buns. Its founders, Aizo Soma and Kokko Soma, had a deep appreciation for art and culture and devoted considerable effort to supporting and nurturing young Japanese artists.
At that time, many artists and cultural figures gathered around the Soma couple, forming a cultural meeting place known as the Nakamuraya Salon. The Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art opened in 2014 as an institution that carries forward the spirit of this cultural salon.
The museum does not maintain a permanent exhibition; all displays are temporary exhibitions. These exhibitions often introduce works by artists who gathered at the Nakamuraya Salon from the late Meiji period to the early Showa period. In addition, the museum occasionally hosts thematic exhibitions related to the local area as well as solo exhibitions by emerging artists.
Although the museum itself is small in scale, its location in Shinjuku—an area visited by large numbers of people—makes it easy for anyone to stop by casually. It is a place where visitors can encounter art within the rhythm of everyday city life.
Temporary exhibitions frequently feature works by young and emerging Japanese artists, offering opportunities to discover artworks that are rarely seen elsewhere. It is one of the places in Tokyo where visitors can quietly enjoy art during a break from sightseeing.
The photographs included in this article were taken during a special exhibition by the young Japanese artist Momoko Yamada, held from February to April 2025.
Who is Nakamuraya Salon?
The Nakamuraya Salon was an artistic salon that emerged from Nakamuraya, which was founded in 1901 as a bakery.
The founders of Nakamuraya, Aizo Soma and Kokko Soma, had a deep appreciation for art and culture. The couple supported young artists, including the sculptor Moroe Ogihara, who had studied in the United States and France, as well as many emerging artists who gathered around him.
These artists came together at Nakamuraya, continuing their creative activities while inspiring one another. Their gatherings came to be compared to the artistic salons of Europe and were eventually known as the Nakamuraya Salon. Over time, the Nakamuraya Salon became one of the important cultural hubs in the history of modern Japanese art.
Today, that spirit is carried on by the Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art, which continues to introduce and support emerging artists through special exhibitions and related programs.
Visitor Information
The museum is divided into two exhibition spaces: Exhibition Room 1 and Exhibition Room 2.
In front of the entrance, there is also a small museum shop area where visitors can purchase items such as postcards and stationery.
In front of the entrance, there is also a small museum shop area where visitors can purchase items such as postcards and stationery.
Around the Museum
The museum is located in the heart of Shinjuku’s bustling entertainment district and is within easy walking distance of Shinjuku Station.
The surrounding area is home to well-known department stores such as Isetan Shinjuku and Marui, as well as major electronics retailers like Bic Camera, making it an area where visitors can enjoy shopping and dining.
In addition, Yotsuya-Sanchome, located about 10 minutes away from Shinjuku by subway, is home to several museums, including the Fire Museum, Tokyo Toy Museum, and Shinjuku Historical Museum, which can easily be visited together as part of the same outing.
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