SCAI The Bathhouse is a contemporary art gallery in Yanaka, housed in a former public bathhouse more than 200 years old. Its compact, bright exhibition room brings Japanese and international artists’ work into a building that still preserves details of its earlier use, including wooden shoe lockers. Exhibitions change, so check the gallery’s website before you go to see what is on display. Entry is free, making it an easy art stop to add to a walk around Yanaka or a visit to the Ueno area.
A bathhouse turned gallery
SCAI The Bathhouse occupies a former public bathhouse in Yanaka, a Tokyo neighborhood known for traditional wooden houses and temples. The building is more than 200 years old. Its conversion brought a contemporary art gallery into a structure with a very different past, and the old and new remain visible together.
Look for the wooden lockers near the entrance, where bathers once stored their shoes. The exterior and parts of the original architecture, including the tiled roof, have also been preserved. Inside, the gallery is a bright, white-walled space.
Contemporary art in a compact space
The gallery presents changing exhibitions by Japanese and international artists. The works and artists on view depend on the exhibition, so check the website before setting out. Past displays have included sculpture and installations, as well as work by artists such as Kohei Nawa, Anish Kapoor, Tadanori Yokoo and Tatsuo Miyajima.
The exhibition room is small, with only a handful of works on display at a time. That makes this a focused stop rather than a large museum visit. Admission is free, and visitors can buy artwork they are interested in.
Planning a visit in Yanaka
SCAI The Bathhouse is in Yanaka, north of Ueno Park, and can be paired with a neighborhood walk or a visit to Ueno’s park and museums. The gallery is easy to miss, so check the address before you go. Its website is also the best place to confirm what is showing and whether the gallery is open during your visit; exhibitions are not always on display between shows.
Häufige Fragen
Is admission to SCAI The Bathhouse free?
Yes. Entry to the gallery is free.
What kind of art is on display?
The gallery presents changing contemporary art exhibitions by Japanese and international artists. Check the website for the current show.
How long does a visit take?
The gallery is compact, with a handful of works on display at a time. The available information does not give a typical visit length.
Where is SCAI The Bathhouse?
It is in Yanaka, in Tokyo’s Taito City, north of Ueno Park.
