"Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025" - A spectacular exhibition featuring nine Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architects

We visited the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, which took place in Hiroshima, Fukuyama, and Onomichi. Guided by Naotake Maeda, we toured famous buildings and learned about the appeal of experiencing architecture throughout the city.

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Cultural Edu-tourism Council (CEC)

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Masters of architecture gather in Hiroshima - A tour of the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025 with Chief Curator Maeda Naotake

Maeda, who has organized numerous architecture exhibitions at the Mori Art Museum, will use his "Maeda-style exhibition" to convey the appeal of architecture to all generations.

The Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, guided by Maeda Naotake, was a dream come true for architecture enthusiasts and novices alike. Maeda, who has been involved in numerous architecture exhibitions at the Mori Art Museum for many years, provided commentary that went beyond simple introductions of the works, conveying a deep and rich story that covered the architects' ideas, the historical background, and even the impact that architecture has on our lives.
The works of 23 international architects, including nine Japanese Pritzker Architecture Prize winners, shone brightly amid the beautiful scenery of Hiroshima.

Exhibition Magician - Maeda Naotake's "Maeda Style Exhibition"

Chief curator Naotake Maeda is an exhibition specialist with decades of experience curating architectural exhibitions, including "Japan in Architecture: The Genetic Impact," "Foster + Partners: Urban and Architectural Innovation," and "Modern Architecture in Kyoto" at the Mori Art Museum. The first Maeda exhibition I saw was "Japan in Architecture," and this latest exhibition is truly a "Maeda-style exhibition," designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, both architecture enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. "Architecture is not difficult. It is a familiar and rich culture that is closely intertwined with our daily lives," Maeda says. A stroll through the exhibition is captivating, conveying the architects' ideas and the appeal of their works in a natural way, even without specialized knowledge. Models, drawings, and video materials are cleverly arranged, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of architecture at their own pace.

©Tatsuya Tabii

Overview of the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025

Event Information
Dates: Saturday, October 4th, 2025 – Sunday, November 30th, 2025 (58 days)
Location: Fukuyama City and Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
List of Venues
Fukuyama City: Shinshoji Zen and Garden Museum / Fukuyama Museum of Art (Gallery)
Onomichi City: Onomichi City Museum of Art / Machinaka Cultural Exchange Center "Bank" (ends November 3rd) / LLOVE HOUSE ONOMICHI (second half: November 22nd-30th) / ONOMICHI U2 / LOG

23 international architects come together

The biggest attraction of this year's architecture festival is the gathering together of works by world-renowned architects, including winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, known as the Nobel Prize of the architectural world.

Pritzker Prize Winners and Masters
Tadao Ando - Toyo Ito, the poet of concrete architecture - Shigeru Ban, the creator of fluid spaces - Riken Yamamoto, the socially conscious architect known for his paper tube architecture - Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), pioneers of architectural theory that emphasized regionality - Fumihiko Maki (deceased), who captivated the world with his transparent architecture - Arata Isozaki (deceased), the master of modernist architecture - Kenzo Tange (deceased), the leader of postmodern architecture - The master who built the foundations of Japanese architecture

Architects of the next generation
Sou Fujimoto - Junya Ishigami, an innovative architect advocating a "primitive future" - Jo Nagasaka, pursuing architecture with the ultimate in lightness - Keisuke Maeda, exploring new possibilities in renovation - Architectural practice rooted in the community

international architectural firm
Furthermore, internationally active architectural firms such as Studio Mumbai/Bijoy Jain (India) and Clouds Architecture Office (USA) are also participating, realizing an exchange of diverse architectural cultures.

A wide variety of exhibits

Visualizing the architect's thinking

At the venue, visitors can learn about the architects' creative process and architectural philosophy through their drawings, models, and videos. Particularly impressive is the exhibition structure, which allows visitors to follow the evolution of each architect's work from their initial sketches to the finished building. In the exhibition area for Riken Yamamoto, visitors can simulate their own "home."

Special Installation

Each venue will feature special installations that take advantage of the unique characteristics of the space. Experiences unique to Hiroshima, such as the dialogue between historic temple architecture and modern architecture, and the harmony between the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and architectural works, will be available.

©Tatsuya Tabii

"Small Architecture" Project

Kiosks titled "Small Architecture" by Yasushi Horibe, Junya Ishigami, and Hideyuki Nakayama have been set up throughout the city, allowing visitors to feel closer to architecture. These works are exquisite masterpieces that express the essence of architecture on a small scale.

©Tatsuya Tabii

Various ways to enjoy

An architectural experience open to all generations

The true essence of Maeda's "Maeda-style exhibition" lies in its multi-layered structure that can be enjoyed by each visitor according to their interests and level of knowledge.

Parent-child workshops - programs that allow children to experience the joys of architecture

An efficient tour - for those who want to see the highlights in a limited amount of time

Considering the future society from the perspective of architectural culture - For those who want to learn more about the relationship between architecture and society

"We have prepared a variety of approaches so that you can fully enjoy the autumn of art and architecture," says Maeda.

Visitor Information

Admission fee

Viewing Passport (3-day pass valid for both Fukuyama and Onomichi)

Venue sales: 3,000 yen (tax included) Online sales: 2,500 yen (tax included) High school students and younger and people with disabilities (+ 1 caregiver): Free

*Single-museum tickets are also available for the Onomichi City Museum of Art only.

Organizer/Inquiries

Organized by: Kambara Tsuneishi Cultural Foundation

More Information

Official website: https://hiroshima-architecture-exhibition.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiroshima_arch_exhibition/

For workshop and event information, click here

A story of the future woven through architecture

The Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, which I toured with Maeda Naotake, was a valuable opportunity that went beyond simply displaying architectural works; it also allowed me to think deeply about the impact architecture has on our lives, society, and the future.

Maeda's words, "Architecture is a mirror that reflects the times, and at the same time, it is the power to create the future," still resonate in my mind even now, even after leaving the venue. The way in which the works of architects of diverse generations and backgrounds, from Pritzker Prize winners to up-and-coming architects, are generating new dialogue in the historic city of Hiroshima, truly speaks to the richness of architectural culture.

This architecture festival, which will run until November 30, 2025, is a rare cultural experience that is open to architecture enthusiasts, those who have just become interested in architecture, and children alike. Through an architectural exhibition, the charm of architecture can be passed down through generations - we hope that many people will experience this hopeful sight.

About the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025

The Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, a major architectural event, is being held until Sunday, November 30th, focusing on 23 groups of artists, ranging from world-renowned architects to up-and-coming artists, set in famous architectural buildings such as art museums, temples, and hotels in Fukuyama City, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
From masters such as Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, Shigeru Ban, and Riken Yamamoto, winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, known as the Nobel Prize of the architecture world, to architects of the next generation such as Sou Fujimoto, this is an opportunity to think together about our future society through the lens of architectural culture, through their drawings, models, video exhibits, and special installations.
Throughout the city, you can also see kiosks displaying small architecture by Yasushi Horibe, Junya Ishigami, and Hideyuki Nakayama, allowing you to experience architecture up close and enjoy the autumn season of art and architecture.
This architecture festival offers a variety of ways to enjoy itself, from workshops for parents and children to efficient tours.
[Dates]
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - Sunday, November 30, 2025 (58 days)
[Exhibiting architect/writer]
Tadao Ando, Junya Ishigami, Arata Isozaki*, Toyo Ito, Norihisa Kawashima, Yurika Takano, Kazuyo Sejima (SANAA), Kenzo Tange*, Jo Nagasaka, Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), Shigeru Ban, Koji Fujii*, Sou Fujimoto, Keisuke Maeda, Fumihiko Maki*, Riken Yamamoto, VUILD / Hiroki Akiyoshi, Clouds Architecture Office, Architectural Center CoAK, Studio Mumbai / Bijoy Jain, UMA / design farm (all listed in alphabetical order, *deceased)
Venue: Fukuyama City and Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture Fukuyama / Shinshoji Zen and Garden Museum, Fukuyama Museum of Art (Gallery) Onomichi / Onomichi City Museum of Art, Machinaka Cultural Exchange Center "Bank" *1, LLOVE HOUSE ONOMICHI *2, ONOMICHI U2, LOG *1: Machinaka Cultural Exchange Center "Bank" The exhibition ends on Monday, November 3 *2: LLOVE HOUSE ONMICHI Second half: Saturday, November 22, 2025 - Sunday, November 30
Admission fee: Viewing Passport (valid for 3 days for both Fukuyama and Onomichi) - 3,000 yen (tax included) sold at the venue - 2,500 yen (tax included) online [High school students and younger and people with disabilities (plus one caregiver)] Free *Single museum tickets are available for purchase only at the Onomichi City Museum of Art.
Organized by: Kambara Tsuneishi Cultural Foundation
For more information on the exhibition, please visit: https://hiroshima-architecture-exhibition.jp
For more information on Instagram workshops and events, please see here: https://www.instagram.com/hiroshima_arch_exhibition/

Near the venue of the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival, you can also see works by famous architects and artists.

I'm already looking forward to the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival in three years!

May your trip be filled with wonderful experiences.

For inquiries about guided tours in Kyoto, please contact us at https://www.cec-kyoto.jp/ .

Written by

Cultural Edu-tourism Council (CEC)

Kyoto

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