Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25
Musashino Art University Festival 芸術祭
Musashino Art University
Japan's designers, illustrators and animators start out at schools like this one, and for three days their studios are open. Every stall is decorated as if it were graded, the courtyards fill with sculpture, and the library, a building made of bookshelves by Sou Fujimoto, is worth the trip by itself.
✅ Open to everyone🚶 No reservation💴 Bring cash
Key facts
- Dates
- Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25
- Hours
- 10:00-18:00 (last day until 18:30)
- Where
- Takanodai Campus
Open in Google Maps ↗ - Nearest station
- Takanodai Station (Seibu Kokubunji Line), about 18 min / bus from Kokubunji
- Entry
- Free
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Payment
- Bring cash: most stalls don't take cards
- English
- Mostly Japanese (Google Lens helps)
- Official site
- Visit official site ↗
Last updated: Sep 15, 2026
What it is
- An art school festival: student work on show in every building, and stalls decorated like installations.
- Three days, Friday to Sunday.
- Students sell their own prints, ceramics and zines.
Highlights
- One of Tokyo's big art-school festivals: Tama Art University's follows a week later, and Geidai's is in September.
- Takanodai is also the station for Tsuda University, whose festival is the weekend before.
Best time to go
General tips that apply to most Tokyo university festivals.
- Right at opening, usually 10:00: stalls are ready and lines are short.
- On multi-day festivals, weekdays are the quietest days.
- Saturday early afternoon is the busiest time almost everywhere.
- Eat before 11:30 or after 13:30 to skip the lunch rush.
Suggested plan
- 10:00 Pick up a map at the gate. Do the popular indoor events (exhibitions, workshops, cafes) before the lines grow.
- 11:30 Lunch from the food stalls, ahead of the noon rush.
- 13:00 Watch bands, dance and theatre on the outdoor stages.
- 15:00 Walk the campus sights, then sort your trash at an eco-station on the way out.
Rules at the festival
- Ask before photographing students up close.
- No photos where signs say so.
- Sort trash at the eco-stations: burnable, plastic, cans, PET bottles.
- Don't bring your own alcohol. Many festivals ban it; where it is sold, buy only from the official stalls.
- No smoking and no drones on campus.
- Only enter rooms that are part of the festival.
Point-and-show phrases
No Japanese needed. Show this screen to a student at the stall.
| これください | This one, please Kore kudasai |
| いくらですか？ | How much is it? Ikura desu ka? |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか？ | May I take a photo? Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? |
| カードは使えますか？ | Can I pay by card? Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? |
| ゴミ箱はどこですか？ | Where is the trash bin? Gomibako wa doko desu ka? |
| 入口はどこですか？ | Where is the entrance? Iriguchi wa doko desu ka? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Where is the restroom? Toire wa doko desu ka? |
| おいしい！ | Delicious! Oishii! |
| ありがとうございます | Thank you Arigatou gozaimasu |
Cash & ATMs
Most 7-Eleven stores have ATMs that accept foreign cards, and many are open 24 hours.
Stay & tours
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