Tokyo high-tech new creative complex

One of the most anticipated additions to Takanawa Gateway City, a large mixed-use complex near Shinagawa that is expected to be fully open in spring 2026, is MoN Takanawa: Museum of Narrative. Located next to Takanawa Gate Station, this new cultural complex is conceived as a gathering place for exhibitions, performances and creative experimentation.

Built on a historic site where Japan’s first railway once operated, MoN Takanawa capitalizes on Takanawa’s long-standing role as a link between Tokyo and the rest of Japan, and between the past and the future. With extensive exhibition space, its own theatre, restaurant and café, and outdoor spaces with ample greenery, it will host programs centered on specific themes twice a year.

Brand concept: telling culture with narrative

MoN Takanawa is organized around narrative themes. The name “MoN” has a double meaning: a “door” to new perspectives, and a “question” about where culture is headed.

MoN Takanawa’s programming will be organized around the twice-yearly theme, with the launch theme being “Life as Culture”. Exhibitions, live performances, workshops and lectures are interconnected through these themes, creating a sense of continuity throughout the space. Traditional performing arts, music, comics, food culture and digital media are presented together, allowing different forms of Japanese culture to inform and respond to each other.

The museum’s visual identity, developed by international design studio Pentagram, features a spiral pattern that reflects continuity and change over time. It is also closely integrated with the surrounding natural environment, with a terrace where guests can enjoy foot baths, view the moon and cherry blossoms.

MoN Takanawa Highlights

multi-layered cultural complex

Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, MoN Takanawa has six floors above ground and three floors underground. The building consists of adaptable spaces designed to support a variety of cultural events, from exhibitions and lectures to live performances and workshops.

Main performance and exhibition space

The complex includes BOX1000, a live performance venue equipped with a large LED stage panel; it has a seating capacity of 1,048 and a standing capacity of 2,000. BOX1500 is a 1,500 square meter exhibition space designed for large-scale installations and events, while BOX300 provides a smaller environment for DJ events, screenings and experimental projects.

Contemporary use of traditional space

TATAMI is a 200 square meter tatami space that can be used for performances, events and social spaces. The space is designed to support traditional performing arts and contemporary use of tatami flooring.

Experience-led programming and archives

MoN Takanawa does not focus on physical collections but on performances and digital archives. Through digital programming, the works on display at MoN Takanawa can be revisited and re-presented over time. Visitor experiences and reactions are also considered as part of the museum’s evolving record.

Outdoor areas and public spaces

The building includes a roof garden, a terrace designed for seasonal landscaping, a library and a semi-outdoor footbath. Cafes, restaurants and open seating areas are integrated, making the complex a place to while away time between activities.

Connecting Tokyo and regional culture

MoN Takanawa works with cultural institutions and creative communities across Japan, supported by the JR East rail network. Touring exhibition programs, regional collaborations, and partnerships with international organizations aim to expand the museum’s reach beyond Tokyo.

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