Tokyo 2026 Guide: Azabudai Hills, Roppongi & Tokyo Tower

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT

Basic Information

Address: Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Official website: www.2121designsight.jp

Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (last entry 18:30). Hours may change for exhibitions or events — check ahead.

Closed: Tuesdays, New Year holidays, and during exhibition changeovers

Admission:

• General: ¥1,600
• University students: ¥800 (valid student ID required)
• High school students: ¥500 (valid student ID required)
• Junior high school and under: Free (elementary and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
• Visitors with disability certification and one companion: Free
• Tokyo Midtown or Mitsui Shopping Park card holders: ¥100 off; Tokyo Midtown app workers and &BIZ users: ¥200 off

Getting there:

• Subway: About a 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station (Toei Oedo Line or Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line); about a 5-minute walk from Nogizaka Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
• Bus: About 4 minutes on foot from “Akasaka Rokuchome” or “Akasaka” bus stops; about 5 minutes from FUJI EXPRESS stops “Nogizaka Station Entrance” or “Sakuramachi Park”
• Note: The venue has no parking; use Tokyo Midtown parking or bicycle parking

What to expect

Located in the Tokyo Midtown gardens in Roppongi, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT is a unique design-focused cultural landmark. Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando and founded by designer Issey Miyake, the museum opened in 2007 and centers on the theme of “everyday” — using exhibitions, talks, and workshops to make visitors re-see ordinary things. There is no permanent collection; rotating thematic shows range from ramen bowls to building materials, so every visit feels fresh. The building’s distinctive steel-plate roof was inspired by Miyake’s “A-POC” (A Piece Of Cloth) idea; about 80% of the structure is underground, blending with Sakuracho Park and the Midtown gardens to showcase a simple, modern Japanese aesthetic.

The on-site shop “21_21 NANJA MONJA” sells clever design items to take home, and the attached café — run by a well-known chef — is a perfect spot to relax and reflect. Whether you’re a design fan or just hunting inspiration, this place will make everyday life look a bit more interesting (and more Instagrammable).

History

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT was born from Issey Miyake’s long-held wish (since the 1980s) for a center to promote design culture in Japan. Together with creators like Tadao Ando, Isamu Noguchi, Ikko Tanaka, and Shiro Kuramata, he discussed the need for a public design hub. In 2003 Miyake published an article titled “Creating a Design Museum” in the Asahi Shimbun, which sparked public support and corporate backing (including Mitsui Fudosan). The museum finally opened in Tokyo Midtown in 2007. The name “21_21” alludes to seeing beyond perfect (20/20) vision — a sharper view toward the future and design’s possibilities. Current curators include Taku Satoh (Director), Naoto Fukasawa (product designer), and Noriko Kawakami (Alliance Director), who continue to explore design’s ties to society. In 2014 the museum won a special prize at the Mainichi Design Awards for “showing design’s multiple perspectives,” and in 2017 it added a “Third Exhibition Room” to expand its influence.

Cultural meaning

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT is more than a museum — it’s a cultural platform redefining “design.” It emphasizes that design isn’t just visual beauty but a bridge between people and things, and between people themselves, sparking thought and action. Exhibitions focus on the everyday, from ramen bowls to natural materials, exploring how design affects life’s small details and conveying Japan’s respect for aesthetics, responsibility, and nature. Ando’s architecture — simple steel and glass — echoes traditional Japanese modesty while embracing modern tech. The museum’s “Product Logo” (inspired by house nameplates) reminds visitors to notice small beauties in daily life — the spirit of Japanese design: “finding the extraordinary in the ordinary,” bringing inspiration and energy into everyday life.