10 must-see sculptures and statues

Tokyo is an incredible city for enjoying art in public spaces. The Japanese capital’s parks, state-of-the-art office buildings and street galleries are filled with public works that seamlessly integrate art into the daily lives of Tokyoites. From feudal heroes immortalized in bronze to surreal installations by contemporary masters, here are some of the works worth visiting in Tokyo and the stories behind them.

Maman by Louise Bourgeois (Roppongi Hills)

Louise Bourgeois’ Maman (1999) stands at the foot of the Roppongi Mori Tower, 9 meters high and 10 meters wide, its slender legs arched to protect passers-by. “Mama” is one of six giant spiders from around the world that honor Bourgeois’ mother, a weaver, and explore themes of creation, vulnerability and maternal power. Installed in 2003 with the opening of the Mori Art Museum, it has become a sentinel for Roppongi Hills’ global artistic profile. Fortunately for us, tokyo weekend The team admires this powerful sculpture every time we visit the office.

“Star” by Naruhito Yoshioka (Tokyo Yaesu Nakatown)

Launched in 2023, designer Tokuhito Yoshioka’s “Star” sparkles at the entrance to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. Composed of more than 2,000 pieces of mirrored stainless steel, the geometric sculpture refracts light throughout the day to create hourly changing constellations. Known for his works that blend light, transparency and emotion, Yoshioka sees the “stars” as symbols of peace and hope that the world will be united in our shared reverence for the universe.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Ni-Tele Clock (Shiodome)

Every Ghibli fan should visit Nippon Television’s headquarters in Shiodome at least once. Conceived by Hayao Miyazaki, built by long-time collaborator Shachimaru Kunio, and completed in 2006, the Ni-Tele clock turns multiple times a day (noon, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm, and 8pm on weekdays, with an additional performance at 10am on weekends), with gears spinning and whimsical robot figures spinning around the clock. This steampunk watch looks like something straight out of the steampunk world howl’s moving castleand an interesting imprint of Miyazaki’s vision in Tokyo.

Double statue of Kusumasa (Outside Garden of the Imperial Palace)

Kusu Masashige’s equestrian bronze statue has guarded the Imperial Palace’s outer gardens since 1897 and is one of Japan’s most famous statues. The samurai who rose to prominence in the early 14th century is best known for fighting for Emperor Go-Daigo in the Motoyuki War and restoring power to Japan’s imperial family, becoming a symbol of loyalty and patriotism during the Meiji era. Sculpted in a Western academic style, the statue symbolizes Japan’s modernization while respecting traditional values ​​- a fusion of form and philosophy that still resonates today.

Saigo Takamori Statue (Ueno Park)

Another Meiji monument is Takamura Koun’s “Statue of Saigo Takamori” (1898), which depicts the “last true samurai” – yes, the very inspiration for the Hollywood blockbuster – dressed in a simple yukata and sandals, walking his loyal dog Tsun. Unlike the grandiose military depictions of the era, this humble image softens Saigo’s complex legacy, portraying him as a man of principle rather than power. Among the cherry blossom trees in Ueno Park, it remains one of Tokyo’s most popular bronze historical figures.

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Goddess Sun Yu Sato Genmoto (Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store)

Nihombashi Mitsukoshi store, Goddess Sun (“Sincere Goddess”) rises from the department store’s central hall – a gleaming wooden goddess created in 1960 by sculptor Genmoto Sato. Carved 500 years ago Hinoki cypress Made of cypress wood, decorated with more than 100,000 jewels and weighing nearly seven tons, this statuesque goddess embodies Mitsukoshi’s founding philosophy of sincerity and elegance. Blending religious imagery with modern commercial art, she became a symbol of Japan’s postwar optimism and aesthetic craftsmanship.

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I am Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin (Marunouchi Gallery)

The Marunouchi Gallery is well worth a visit, with 19 famous works on the open-air sculpture route. One of the famous sculptures is Yayoi Kusama’s “I am a Pumpkin,” which glows with Kusama’s signature metallic polka dot pattern. Pumpkins are a recurring theme throughout her six-decade career, representing both self-portraits and cosmic continuity—a meditation on repetition and infinity. Established in 1972, the Marunouchi Gallery transforms this commercial corridor into a living exhibition, with Kusama’s works inviting moments of quiet reflection within its mirrored surfaces.

Nihonbashi Kirin Statue (Nihonbashi)

The original wooden Nihonbashi Bridge was built in 1603 and was the busiest location during the Edo period. It has since burned down and been rebuilt 10 times, with the current bridge built in 1911 as a double bronze structure. Kirin The statue stands guard. These statues are a perfect example He Yangguan Art that combines Eastern mythology with Western neoclassical design. The bridge itself was once considered the center of Japan and remains a nexus of travel and commerce, while its winged mythical sentinels encouraged Japan’s meteoric success.

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Cloud by Leandro Erlich (Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda City)

In Kasumigaseki’s Ino Tower Plaza, Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich captured a surreal scene: a cloud suspended in glass. Created in 2019, the cube achieves mist through a delicate balance of temperature and light, appearing to float in mid-air. Erlich is known for works that distort perception, turning the ephemeral into something tangible. Amidst the steel and order of the corporate building, the “cloud” offers a whimsical escape.

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White deer (big deer), Kohei Nawa (Garden Terrace Kioi-cho)

“White Deer” by Kohei Nawa (big deer) Standing majestically in Garden Terrace Kioi-cho, a picturesque residential and commercial complex. Inspired by Shinto mythology, where deer are seen as messengers of the gods, the sculpture is made from cast aluminum with a stunning white enamel finish. The work originated from the Rebirth Art Festival in Ishinomaki, a coastal city recovering from the 2011 disaster, and Nawa’s masterpiece can also be seen in Tokyo, where it retains its ethereal purity.

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Updated on November 18, 2025