For a late-October design itinerary in Tokyo, the useful question about alter. 2026 is not simply whether it belongs on a must-see list. It is how viewing, using and buying objects differ. Open to the public at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall from October 29 to November 1, 2026, the event adds CIRCUIT and LOUNGE this year, extending the life of a prototype beyond its display stand. This preview uses organizer information available on October 27 to clarify decisions travelers from Taiwan need to make.
Check Japanese dates and the earlier closing time on the final day
Public hours are 12:00–20:00 Japan time, with an earlier 19:00 close on November 1. The venue is on the fifth floor of COREDO Muromachi 1, 2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; enter on the fourth floor. Plan against local Japanese time while in Tokyo. Taipei is one hour behind Japan; this is not a separate Taiwan edition. Source: organizer announcement.
Official visual for alter. 2026, Tokyo, with event name and dates preserved. | Image: alter. 実行委員会 / PR TIMES
¥2,000 for a day, ¥3,000 for four days; free entry still needs registration
The announced options are a ¥2,000 one-day ticket, a ¥3,000 four-day pass and a ¥0 student ticket. Students must still register for a ticket and show student identification; children of elementary-school age and younger are also listed as free. The announcement does not enumerate which Taiwanese student documents are accepted, so overseas students should confirm rather than assume any document guarantees admission. One day costs less with the day ticket. For two planned visits, the pass is ¥1,000 less than two separate day tickets. This compares admission only, not drinks, transport or purchases. Use the official Peatix link and check current availability, cancellation and re-entry terms there; this article does not guarantee a place.
Read materials through Bole, not just a list of names
The current EXHIBITION announcement lists nine projects. Bole brings together Junpei Asano, Tatsuro Morimoto and PAN-PROJECTS. According to the design team, one Yoshino cedar log is sectioned, formed into modules and assembled into stools, linking forestry, timber processing and design. Our suggested viewing method is to ask what remains of the material and what processing changes its function, then inspect joints, proportions and points of bodily contact. These questions offer more than a photograph alone, but they are not a hands-on review and do not imply every object may be touched. Source: PAN-PROJECTS.
Bole project image: Yoshino cedar sections and modules; Junpei Asano, Tatsuro Morimoto and PAN-PROJECTS. | Image: alter. 実行委員会 / PR TIMES
CIRCUIT opens a buying route—not a promise of international delivery
CIRCUIT brings current selections, developments of previous prototypes, company–artist collaborations and curated objects into a selling context. The organizer says exhibits are, in principle, available to buy, with price lists at the venue. Transposition by Nodoka Maruyama with Karimoku is included. If you hope to bring an object to Taiwan, make four extra columns in your notes: dimensions, delivery date, transport and after-sales contact. This is an editorial purchase checklist, not a verified service offering. Available to buy does not necessarily mean in stock, suitcase-sized or deliverable to Taiwan. Confirm each condition with the seller before paying. Source: CIRCUIT.
Transposition, Nodoka Maruyama with Karimoku; organizer-supplied project illustration, not an installation photograph. | Image: alter. 実行委員会 / PR TIMES
Use LOUNGE without treating it as permission to handle everything
LOUNGE lets visitors use some furniture and objects in a designated setting, with a STUDIO for publicly recorded conversations. The current official page plans YouTube broadcasts and archives, followed by podcasts after the event; detailed schedules are expected on Instagram on event days. We suggest visiting after the exhibition, with questions already formed about materials and making. Touching permissions, drink charges and talk arrangements remain subject to on-site rules and updates. Do not assume all exhibits can be tried or drinks are included with admission. Source: LOUNGE.
What this visit can help you decide
For a usable Tokyo design itinerary, settle your date and ticket first, then spend time with one material-led project instead of trying to memorize every creator. If choosing objects for a home, keep aesthetic preferences separate from delivery conditions. This is an advance guide based on official information, not an on-site review. Images are identified as project material, an illustration and the event visual—not photographs of an already-open exhibition. TIDEZINE does not currently sell these works or offer purchasing or delivery services.
FAQ
Can students arrive without registration?
No such assumption should be made. The organizer requires registration for a free student ticket and student ID. Overseas-document eligibility should be checked in advance.
Is the four-day pass useful for only one day?
The advertised day ticket is ¥2,000 and the pass ¥3,000, so one day costs less with a day ticket. Compare the pass for two or more visits, subject to actual ticket conditions.
Can purchased furniture be shipped directly to Taiwan?
The checked official information does not confirm Taiwan delivery. Ask about price, stock, lead time and shipping for each item; CIRCUIT is not a cross-border delivery guarantee.
