Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025

The Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition is a festival held in Hiroshima Prefecture every three years with the missions of: advocating for an architecture-led vision of town planning, nurturing the sensibilities of future generations, revitalizing local communities, and preserving examples of exceptional architecture in the regions.

Featuring a wide range of works—from drawings and models to video pieces and special installations—the exhibition brings together contributions from internationally acclaimed architects to the young architects of the future . It offers a platform to consider the future of society through the lens of the art of architecture. The program includes lectures, guided tours of historically significant or normally inaccessible buildings, architecture appreciation sessions, and educational workshops for elementary and junior high school students in the region.

The Seto Inland Sea region is home to a large number of architectural masterpieces that have been built in response to the regionʼs unique climate, landscape, and traditions. This is because the inland sea, which Hiroshima Prefect ure faces, has served as a major artery of culture and logistics throughout Japanʼs history from the time when the nation first sent envoys to the Sui and Tang courts of China, to the time of the Joseon missions from Korea, and the Kitamaebune merchant ships of the Edo Period. Across this sea, Japan has invited people and cultures from abroad, while also transmitting its culture to the world. In addition to ancient architecture, contemporary architects such as Kenzo Tange, Fumihiko Maki, Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, SANAA, and Shigeru Ban have created challenging and experimental masterpieces here, attracted by the unique magnetism of the Seto Inland Sea region, forged by both nature and civilization. As a result, the region is now a trove of architectural treasures, dating from ancient times to the present. Under the theme of “Architecture: A New Stance for Tomorrow,” the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025 will present opportunities to experience, think about, and interact with architecture from various perspectives, including history, climate, landscape, technology, and thought. Visitors are invited to experience firsthand the art of architecture here in the Seto Inland Sea region and join us in seeking out a “new stance for tomorrow.”

The Theme of the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025

Architecture: A New Stance for Tomorrow

Natural disasters on a global scale, wars, humanitarian crises, and environmental degradation: One quarter of the way through the 21st century, we find ourselves faced with a range of problems and a lingering sense of anxiety. Here in Japan, the birthrate is declining, the population is aging, the economy is stagnant, and unregulated urban development is transforming our cities and choking them of vitality. How should we make sense of so many problems? How should we solve them? We believe that “architecture” is not just about making buildings and towns. What it represents is a body of wisdom for creating and nurturing culture, enriching lives, and building a future. In this festival, we will think about “a new stance for tomorrow” through the prism of architecture.