Image: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design
Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design will extend its opening hours on August 15, 2026, for a night museum event that keeps the venue open until 8 pm instead of its usual 6 pm closing time. The museum says the special evening is intended as a quieter, cooler way to experience the galleries during the summer, with limited-time activities tied to the exhibition 'Theo Jansen Exhibition'.
According to the museum’s event page, the night opening runs on Saturday, August 15, with final admission at 7:30 pm. The museum is offering several one-day-only programmes inside the second-floor 'Theo Jansen Exhibition' space, combining guided interpretation, photography, and visitor giveaways. The event is part of the museum’s broader exhibition and programming schedule in Toyama.
One highlighted activity is 'Re-Animation' with commentary from a museum curator. The museum says the Strandbeests will be set in motion, and visitors can experience their movement with special explanation from the curator on duty. The sessions are scheduled for 6 pm and 7 pm, each lasting about 15 minutes, in the exhibition area. Admission is free for the activity, though a ticket valid for the exhibition on the day is required.
Another limited programme gives visitors a chance to take commemorative photographs with the Strandbeests. The museum will use an instant camera, and participants can take the printed photo home. This session begins at 5:30 pm in the same exhibition area and is limited to the first 30 groups, with one photo provided per group. It is also free, subject to possession of a valid same-day exhibition ticket.
For visitors entering the 'Theo Jansen Exhibition' after 6 pm, the museum will also give out an original Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design novelty item. The giveaway is limited to the first 100 new entrants and will be distributed at the exhibition entrance on the second floor. The museum notes that this offer applies only to first-time entries after the specified time.
The night museum sits alongside a wider run of related programming connected to 'Theo Jansen Exhibition', including workshops, a lecture, and additional re-animation events listed on the museum’s event page. Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, located at 3-20 Kibamachi in Toyama, says the August 15 opening is meant to let visitors enjoy the museum’s calm interior after dark.
