Research Residencies in Japan

Arts Initiative Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT) is a residency program in Tokyo that hosts artists, curators, writers, educators, and practitioners for 1-3 month research-focused stays, emphasizing interdisciplinary work, international exchange, and connections to the Japanese art scene rather than production or studio work. It operates on a partnership model with international organizations, providing housing in a converted Japanese storehouse in Yukigaya or central apartments, and encourages participation in AIT's educational and dialogue activities. Recent themes include holism, well-being, climate crisis, art brut, spirituality, and alternative education.

KAB Library and Residency

Tokyo, Japan

KAB Library and Residency is a membership library and artist residency program located in an old renovated folk house in Kyojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, operating as a guesthouse for international artists and curators to immerse in research and creation. Established in January by a private organization, it combines a mysterious library with lodging facilities in the heart of old Tokyo. Visitors are welcome by appointment only, with easy access from nearby stations like Keisei-Hikifune.

Kyoto Art Center

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto Art Center's Artist-in-Residence Program supports emerging artists and researchers in pursuing creative activities in Kyoto, alternating annually between visual arts and performing arts, with focused on visual arts, literature, and cross-genre works. Participants must plan and implement public exchange projects and communicate in English or Japanese, with stays up to three months between April and March . The program provides accommodation, a studio, round-trip economy airfare, a 200,000 JPY production subsidy, and coordinator assistance.

MA UMI RESIDENCIES is a self-funded, not-for-profit international hub for artists and researchers located on the northern peninsula of Ishigaki Island, Japan, fostering experimentation with land, ocean, and local communities amid climate change concerns. It hosts one resident at a time for short-term stays of about 14 days, emphasizing fieldwork, interdisciplinary practices, and public presentations without being results-driven. Founded by artist and architect Valérie Portefaix, it includes sites like Green Rabbit, Pink Turtle, and Blue Seahorse, promoting sustainable ecological and economic models.

NPO ANEWAL GALLERY

Kyoto, Japan

NPO ANEWAL GALLERY in Kyoto, Japan, runs non-profit international artist residency programs such as Kyoto Kinugasa Art Residence for Community (KKARC) and AN AIR, welcoming artists, writers, curators, researchers, and educators worldwide for personal exploration, professional development, co-living, and community collaboration. These programs provide accommodation, workspaces or studios (including garage studio for visual artists), and facilitate connections with local culture, historical sites, galleries, and artists, often in partnership with Kyoto Art Center. Residencies emphasize interaction with the Kinugasa area community, urban planning insights, and broadening artistic viewpoints beyond disciplines.

PARADISE AIR is an artist-in-residence program in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, housed in the vacant floors of a former hotel above a pachinko parlor, launched in to support artists, curators, and researchers. It offers three main programs: SHORTSTAY (about 3 weeks, open year-round), LONGSTAY (3 months with comprehensive support including travel and accommodation), and LEARN (fostering city interactions). The program aims to enrich Matsudo's culture through artist-resident collaborations.

Sapporo Artist in Residence

Sapporo, Japan

S-AIR (Sapporo Artist-in-Residence) was established in 1999 with partial funding by the Agency for Cultural Affairs to run an artist-in-residence programme in Hokkaido. Since , S-AIR has hosted 3 artists and one curator/researcher each year, mostly on an exchange basis, fostering unique arts and culture at an international level by inviting leading contemporary artists and promoting exchange with local artists and communities.

Space Department Nara

Nara, Japan

SPACE DEPARTMENT Nara is a design hub and artist-in-residence facility in the World Heritage city of Nara, Japan, welcoming artists, architects, designers, researchers, and students focused on spatial design, architecture, and creative activities related to 'space.' It supports residents in conducting research, creating works inspired by Japanese culture and philosophy, and presenting results through workshops, events, exhibitions, or talks to connect with local communities. Residencies typically last 1-6 months, with private accommodation and workspace provided for a fee, and no stipend offered.

Villa Kujoyama

Kyoto, Japan

Villa Kujoyama is a pluridisciplinary research residency located in Kyoto, Japan that has welcomed established and emerging artists, artisans, and creators since 1992. The residency provides time and space for residents to dedicate themselves fully to their practice and research while engaging with artistic, cultural, academic, and economic communities across Japan. It is operated by Institut français du Japon and supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation.

Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media

Yamaguchi, Japan

The Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM) in Yamaguchi City, Japan, hosts artist-in-residence programs focused on creating innovative artworks that integrate media technology, often in collaboration with local residents, experts, and the center's InterLab research team. Artists utilize the center's facilities, including studios and exhibition spaces, for production, workshops, lectures, and research aimed at advancing media art and exploring its social role. Opened in and designed by Arata Isozaki, YCAM emphasizes interdisciplinary projects from prototyping to presentation without on-site housing.

Youkobo Art Space

Tokyo, Japan

Youkobo Art Space is a Tokyo-based artist residency program providing studios, accommodation, and exhibition spaces for domestic and international artists to create new work, engage in research, and foster cultural exchange. Established in a former clinic, it offers flexible residency options prioritizing artists' goals across various disciplines, with opportunities for community involvement and networking. The program operates on a self-funded rental basis without financial support.