A new art festival celebrating Tokyo’s creative industries

Tokyo Weekender is pleased to be a media partner of Artober.
Come to the Tokyo Weekender x Artober opening party on Friday, October 4th.

one A vibrant new art festival is coming to Tokyo this October. Artober is an 11-day program of exhibitions, artist showcases, events and experiences that celebrates and showcases Tokyo’s vibrant contemporary creative scene.

Organized by the team behind the scenes Artistically — Monthly meetup for Tokyo’s creative community — Taking place at Daikokuji Temple in Hibiya from October 4 to October 14, the festival will feature the work of over 40 participating artists and photographers from the Artedly community and beyond, as well as a host of exciting talks and demonstrations from industry insiders and international exhibitors.

Event highlights included an evening with Junko Ogawa, former director of Magnum Photos Tokyo; Chris Broadcreators of Abroad in Japan; and artist-led workshops and film screenings, where visitors can enjoy talks by various professionals in the Japanese art world while also participating in hands-on creative classes.

As a media partner of the festival, Tokyo Weekend will be covering highlights from the festival on our website Instagram.

Here are our picks:

Activities: Unique Artober Experiences

Friday, October 4: Artober Opening Party with Tokyo Weekender

Join us as we kick off Artober in style with a lively opening party in partnership with the Artober team. Enjoy an evening celebrating Tokyo’s creative scene and be sure to pick up a copy of Tokyo Weekend magazine while you enjoy the festival. See you there! More information and tickets available here.

Saturday, October 5: An Evening with Chris Broad (Study Abroad in Japan)

Chris Broad, founder of the popular YouTube channel Abroad in Japan, will host a retrospective evening and Q&A session about his work and travels. This special event marks the sixth anniversary of his Abroad in Japan series and will include a display of never-before-seen photographs organized by series producer Ian Rudd. More information and tickets available here.

Monday, October 7: An Evening with Junko Ogawa (Magnum Photos Tokyo)

Join former director Junko Ogawa Magnum Photos Tokyo, she will share her expertise in the field of photography. Learn about the challenges and successes of photography collection and curation from the world’s most famous photography cooperative. This conference provides valuable knowledge for photography enthusiasts and professionals. Details and ticket information here.

Thursday, October 10: Explore El Salvador

Immerse yourself in El Salvador’s vibrant culture at the Embassy of El Salvador, an evening of art, coffee and local traditions. Enjoy a coffee tasting and a special photography exhibit showcasing El Salvador’s heritage, bringing a taste of this Central American country to the heart of Tokyo. Admission is free. For more information click here.

Friday, October 11: Artedly October Meetup

Artedly’s October meetup will take place during Artober. For anyone new to the party, this monthly event provides an ideal space for creatives to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas in a relaxed, social environment. RSVP via the event page here.

Image: Participating Artists Hideography

Exhibition: Must-see Artober artists

Mr. Bingo

Welcome to Mr Bingo’s first exhibition in Japan. Mr Bingo is a British artist known for his acerbic humour and irreverent art, creating works ranging from illustrations to satirical commentary, often with a touch of black comedy and social criticism. Throughout Artober, visitors will have the opportunity to see some of his most iconic prints, all signed and numbered by the artist.

Environmental Photo Gallery

This is the first exhibition from an exciting global collective of female photographers. Founded by Lisa Knight of TW, Ambient’s ultimate mission is to increase visibility for women in photography and provide a platform to address issues of representation in the field. With so many talented members, this event is not to be missed.

Heroton

Renowned Japanese graphic artist Hirotton’s work fuses themes of environmentalism, animal rights, and social justice with the raw energy of skateboarding and hardcore punk.

Participating Artists

Artober’s exhibition space will feature work by over 40 artists, divided into two group exhibitions, each lasting five days. The exhibition space blends contemporary photography and graphic art, showcasing the best of Tokyo’s international creative scene. Open daily except October 10. View the full line-up of participating artists here.

Artober 2024: Visit and ticket information

when: Artober will take place from Friday, October 4th to Monday, October 14th.
The art and event space is open daily from 12:00–22:00 for exhibitions. Check the Artober schedule for specific event times and ticket prices.

Where: Hibiya Daikokuji Temple is a 5-minute walk from the following stations:
JR Yurakucho Station, JR Shimbashi Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Station, Toei Subway Uchisaiwaicho Station.

Tickets: Ticket prices for events vary, and some free events require reservations. Full Artober schedule Learn more details and availability.