ASOBUILD is a new entertainment facility connected directly to Yokohama Station that just recently opened on March 15, 2019. The complex offers new ways to enjoy entertainment. Prior to its opening, Chinese model Estuna attended its press conference to find out more.
ASOBUILD is a renovated building that was formerly an annex of the Yokohama Central Post Office. The entire complex from the basement floor up to the roof has been transformed into one giant play area. Each floor has its own theme which offers shopping, exciting interactive activities, workshops, the latest technology, a kid’s park and more. The various floors serve to entertain a whole range of different people.
Floor 3F is home to MONOTORY, Japan’s largest hands-on market with over 150 artists officially signed up to it. It is here that workshops to create well over 200 different handicrafts in 20 different fields take place. Get involved and make leather crafts, ceramics, candles, flower arrangements and much more. Workshops can be signed up for over on the official website.
ALE BOX – An Interactive Site Currently Home to the Poop Museum (Floor 2F)
ALE-BOX can be found on the 2nd floor. It is home to a range of permanent experience-based events and is also host to limited-time ones too, such as Unko Museum Yokohama―the world’s first amusement park themed on poop―which is running now until July 15. You really need to see it for yourself, but to give an example, there is a giant poop volcano in the center of the park which releases poop like lava.
In the interactive area there is a game where you can stand on poop, another where you can make poop by shouting, and other poop-related interactive games.
There is even cute pink and sparkly poop area made for taking Instagrammable photos.
During the press conference, an artist named 326 drew poop portraits of people. There’s plenty of things you can rest assured you’ve never experienced before happening at the Unko Museum, so don’t hold it in―get on over there.
Also on the same floor is an escape game and a VR picture book made by Akihiro Nishino of the stand-up comedy duo King Kong. The activities and events happening on this floor will continue to change so there will always be something new to enjoy whenever you visit.
Unko Museum Yokohama
Address: ALE-BOX, ASOBUILD Floor 2F, 2-14-9 Takashima, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Running: March 15, 2019 – July 15, 2019
No Fixed Holidays.
Price: Junior High School Student and Older – ¥1,700 / Elementary School Student – ¥900 / Toddler – Free
POST STREET – Enjoy Yokohama Cuisine & Entertainment (Floor 1F)
POST STREET is located on the 1st floor and is directly connected to the East Exit of Yokohama Station. This ‘gourmet street’ is lined with 18 restaurants serving up Yokohama-style food such as the popular Shi Umai BAR, the all-new Niboshi Soba created by the owner of HechiKan, popular donut chain DUMBO Doughnuts and Coffee, the cheese restaurant DAIGOMI which is always booked up, and so on.
The cheeseburgers served at DAIGOMI BURGER, a restaurant and branch of Minamiaoyama- and Ikebukuro-based cheese restaurant DAIGOMI, are different from regular cheeseburgers as cheese is made as the main ingredient.
Making the burger patty 100% beef is a key step to bringing out the full enjoyment of the cheese. The buns are made with Japanese brown rice flour. Etsuna was very satisfied with hers, saying: “The D.G.M Cheeseburger is loaded with cheese. Ir’s delicious with the BBQ sauce, it adds a little sweetness.”
DAIGOMI BURGER
Location: POST STREET, ASOBUILD Floor 1F
Menu: D.G.M Cheeseburger – Lunch ¥1,780 (Tax Included) / Grand ¥1,674 (Tax Included), and more
PITCH CLUB – An Amusement Bar, Lounge & Adult Play Area (Floor B1F)
PITCH CLUB is an amusement bar and lounge on the basement floor currently in its pre-opening period. Its grand opening is set for Friday April 5. Created as a ‘sophisticated play area for adults,’ the space is a fusion of art, technology and sophisticated décor styled in the image of a Brooklyn bar.
Games include billiards with pink tables and cues, table tennis, pinball, board games and more. Play a game while enjoying a cocktail made by some of Japan’s leading bartenders or a rich wine brewed in Yokohama.
There is even an in-house darts game called Flash Darts that makes use of projection mapping. There are various ways to play and the targets can be changed too.
As well as the open space there are individual rooms too with stylish artwork covering the walls. These make for a perfect place for a private party or get-together.
PITCH CLUB
Location: ASOBUILD Floor B1F
Pre-Opening Period: March 15, 2019 – April 4, 2019
Grand Opening: April 5, 2019
Opening Hours: 6:00pm to Midnight (Until 4:00am on Fridays, Saturdays & Public Holidays(
Price: Men ¥3,000 / Women ¥1,000 (comes with 1 drink)
And there’s plenty more where that came from. The rooftop is home to a multisport court with basketball and football. The kid’s park will open on the 4th floor in May. The whole building is decked out with artwork from up-and-coming visionary artists.
Etsuna summed up her thoughts of her visit: “Each floor offers different atmospheres to enjoy. There’s art in various places so there are plenty of spots to snap photos for social media! Kids and adults alike can have fun here, so be sure to pay it a visit.”
See ASOBUILD yourself and experience cutting-edge entertainment you won’t find anywhere else!
The Tokyo-based girl artists and creators' collective bala has finally launched for real! The group will release its first single barla on March 8.
bala consists of MANON, SUNNY ONLY 1, DAN, and KANO, each with their own global background. The project aims to resonate with Gen Z youth culture and to be a collective of artists that connects hybrid Japanese pop culture with audiences around the world.
The debut song barla was produced by Shinichi Osawa, who has numerous hits under the name Mondo Grosso. It was co-written by Kenmochi Hidefumi from Wednesday Campanella. With Y2K culture making a comeback around the world, the track features the house sound popular in the late 90s which is showing signs of becoming the next musical trend yet again. The groovy dance tune is a perfect theme song for these girls who will lead the next generation of pop culture.
<Comment from Shinichi Osawa>
“I’m honored to be involved in bala’s debut. The members are super unique, and collaborating with Kenmochi-san for the first time was a dream come true.”
<Comment from Kenmochi Hidefumi>
“I’m happy to be able to work with the members of bala and Shinichi Osawa. Everyone is so uniquely talented, and this song is filled with everyone's energy and excitement inspired by their long-awaited debut!”
For four days only starting in February 2023, fans of Hatsune Miku will want to take an incredible night cruise around Tokyo Bay. The virtual singer will collaborate with the popular Tokyo Bay Night Cruise which travels between Yokohama and Tokyo. The event will include special tickets, exclusive bonuses for guests, collaborative goods, and onboard decorations. Collaborative goods will be available to purchase on the ship or from the Shimapochi online store.OutlineDates: February 19, February 26, March 5, March 12Night Cruise Itinerary:Osanbashi, Yokohama / Check-in 16:00-18:00Osanbashi, Yokohama / Departure 18:10, Enjoy the night view from the shipTakeshiba Wharf, Tokyo / Arrival 19:45*Guests will be led by a special MC narrating the night scenery. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.Special Ticket Fare:Adults ¥2,000 / Children ¥1,500 (Includes consumption tax and fuel price adjusted for inflation)[Includes Hatsune Miku Collaboration Sticker and Postcard (6 varieties, random)]Special tickets featuring Hatsune Miku will only be available to those reserving their spot online. Reservations can be made two months prior to the boarding date. Space is extremely limited, so grab a spot while you can!Those not interested in bonuses can also enjoy a night cruise during this period, with adult tickets costing ¥1,000 and children’s tickets costing ¥500. More details will be released at a later date.
Information
Hatsune Miku x Tokyo Bay Night Cruise
Dates: February 19, February 26, March 5, March 12
Art collective TeamLab has redesigned two exhibitions at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. The world’s first permanent exhibition from the creators, Future World: Where Art Meets Science, was opened in 2016 at the Museum of Art and Science. Guests can now enjoy three new works along with the Digital Light Canvas, a huge, interactive space inviting guests to share their own pieces of art.
Drawing Flight
Visitors can immerse themselves in these impressive new works while experiencing a complex, three-dimensional world. They can also create new worlds with others!
Future World
The Drawing Flight, part of the Amusement Park of the Future series, is based on the concept of co-creation, allowing visitors to not only draw an airplane that will fly but also allowing them to operate it from a pilot's point of view using a tablet. Whether visitors draw a butterfly or a hawk, they’ll see the world from the perspective of each creature and enter a world constructed by the creature's unique perceptions.
Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds
In Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds, guests are asked to perceive the world with their entire bodies. Visitors cross a space with sticks floating three-dimensionally in the air.
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self offers a new and abstract concept. As people touch the dots, the rhythm of the dots flickers and their hue changes and disintegrates. The picture will then change dramatically, and despite these changes, the beauty remains.
Digital Light Canvas
Graffiti Nature - Red List Digital Light Canvas
Digital Light Canvas is a space consisting of a 15-meter-diameter circular link of light and a 20-meter-high cylinder of light made up of a collection of light dots. Team Lab's interactive artwork, which changes depending on how many people are around, is on permanent display.
Yoshitaka Amano, known by international fans as the artist behind the legendary Final Fantasy video game series, is celebrating his 70th birthday with a unique art project from November 23 until December 8 at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto. On the first day of the event, the venue, decorated with autumn leaves, was crowded with visitors including foreign tourists, who marveled at the fantastic space filled harmoniously with gold and blue. The exhibition will be held at Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. This collection of works was designed to question visitors’ sensibilities and provide a new kind of art exhibition for fans to enjoy.After the exhibition, the main art piece by Yoshitaka himself will be converted to 3DCG, and a Virtual Golden World will be developed in collaboration with the Yoshitaka Amano VR Museum. By integrating traditional and modern art methods, guests will be able to engage more deeply in the art by enjoying digital works, the metaverse, and NFTs.Don't miss this curious exhibition!
The historic Nagoya Castle will hold a special nighttime viewing event for 14 days only, from November 25 until December 8, 2022. During this period, Honmaru Palace will be open to the public at night, and the Chrysanthemum Corridor inside will be open to visitors for the first time. The Ninomaru Garden will also be illuminated and will transport guests to a different place and time by showing a space only possible during dark hours.Inspired by the relationship between light and shadow, this event focuses on changes that occur over time and the creation and emergence of new ideas and things.Honmaru Palace, Typically Closed to the Public, to be Open at NightNagoya Castle’s Honmaru Palace was completed in 1615 and served as the primary residence of the Lord of the Owari Domain and as the Domain’s government office. The interior of the palace was lavishly decorated with paintings and other art pieces and was praised as a masterpiece. Sadly, it was destroyed by an air raid in 1945. Restoration work began in 2009 and was completed in 2018 with unparalleled accuracy. The Honmaru Palace gives off a completely different aura at night.
First Public Viewing of the Jodan-no-ma in the Joraku-den
The Joraku-den was added to Nagoya Castle to accommodate the third Shogun, Iemitsu, on his way to Kyoto. It is the most luxurious of all the Honmaru Palace buildings, and this event marks the first time that the Chrysanthemum Corridor on the north side will be open to the public. Visitors are welcome to admire the golden-blue paintings as they stroll through the historic site.
See Spectacular Paintings when Entering the Tsugi-no-ma Room
During this period, visitors can enter the Tsugi-no-ma room to view classical period paintings, giving a more clear idea of how people acted and dressed during this time in history.
[Ninomaru Garden Special Viewing]
~Witness a Never-Before-Seen Feudal Lord's Garden through a Spacial Presentation~Scenography for this unique show was provided by the creative label PERIMETRON. In order to show another side of the Ninomaru Garden at night, the company focused on light’s characteristics, from reflection and transmission to refraction and absorption. Light and shadow intertwine in various ways, and guests will be transfixed by this curious showing.