HAGISO is a tiny cultural “complex” renovated from a 60-year-old wooden apartment building home to a cafe, gallery, rental space, shop, offices - and a small guest house! Scheduled to be demolished in 2012, it was refurbished after a great response to a ceremony commemorating the demolition. At that time, it had been used as a residence and studio for students at the Tokyo University of Art for nearly 7 years. The ceremony, a one-time event to turn the structure into a temporary public space to view art, was well received, and plans to destroy the building morphed into plans to refurbish and preserve it instead.

Coffee aficionados and foodies alike will enjoy Hagi Cafe, where hand drop coffee and a select menu of dishes made from seasonal ingredients, as well as homemade sweets. Next door, the Hagi Art gallery hosts exhibitions by aspiring artists curated monthly by HAGISO.

Visitors from out of town can even take advantage of a small guest house. With five private rooms, “hanare” offers simple comfort for travelers and visitors to Taito City. Whether it’s the art and relaxation available at HAGISO, the diverse thrills of Taito City, or even the greater Tokyo area, guests are sure to find comfort and satisfaction in this unique complex.

In addition to art exhibitions, the Hagi Art gallery also hosts various events throughout the year, fostering new and continuing art culture. This month, architectural models by students at the Tokyo Metropolitan University will be exhibited from September 13th to 19th.

For most recent information on events and exhibits, please visit the HAGISO website here:
https://hagiso.jp/