Tokyo’s MoN Takanawa Named Among World’s Most Beautiful Museums 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives, a new cultural hub within Takanawa Gateway City, has been selected by the Prix Versailles, hosted at UNESCO, as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Museums 2026.

According to a statement, this marks the second nomination for a Japanese museum, following the Simose Art Museum in 2024.

Established in 2015, the Prix Versailles honours global excellence in architecture by promoting "intelligent sustainability", where culture serves and transcends the environment. Selected projects are recognised for innovation, creativity, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency, and values of social interaction and participation highly regarded by the United Nations.

MoN Takanawa's verdant, spiralling form—from facade to interior—redefines the museum’s role in contemporary cities.

Architect Kengo Kuma said: “I envisioned a green hill within the city. Its slopes weave seamlessly between inside and outside, wandering between art, performance, and information, attaining a level of 'freedom' unprecedented in any museum.”

He added that the design is not only about restoring greenery but also about restoring freedom to the city itself.

Meanwhile, Prix Versailles Secretary General, Jérôme Gouadain said the museum illuminates the panoramic frame of newly established museums with its architectural concept, highlighting its sustainable urban integration.

The other laureates eligible for the World Titles to be announced at the end of the year include the Zayed National Museum (Abu Dhabi), Science & Technology Museum (Shenzhen), Xuelei Fragrance Museum (Guangzhou), Lost Shtetl Museum (Šeduva), National Medal of Honor Museum (Arlington), and Islamic Civilization Center (Tashkent).

-- BERNAMA