[VIP] The "AFT Card" - Packed With Benefits for Art Fair Tokyo 2019 - Is Now an Even Better Deal!?

Art Fair Tokyo

“Art Fair Tokyo” is the largest art festival in Japan.
2019 marks the 14th edition of the event – a marketplace in which a wide range of galleries sell their art to the public.

The writer has ongoing relationships with a variety of galleries (through purchases), and this year too was fortunate enough to be given an AFT Card.
For last year’s article, please see below.

The 2019 AFT Card holder, designed in a red color scheme

What Is the AFT Card?

The AFT CARD is a “special ticket” that admits the holder plus one companion to all programs at Art Fair Tokyo.

Open the card holder and you'll find a single plastic card inside. — Open the card holder and you’ll find a single plastic card inside.

The AFT Card also grants access to the “Private View” and “Vernissage” the day before the fair opens, which normal tickets do not cover. Please note that there are two different types of card, as shown below.

As far as we could confirm, the AFT Card comes in at least two types. The admission times differ, so please check carefully.

There is no general admission on Thursday, March 7. Public opening begins on March 8.*The AFT Card does NOT grant access to … — There is no general admission on Thursday, March 7. Public opening begins on March 8.
*The AFT Card does NOT grant access to the “Press View”.

An ID number is printed on the back of the card. Access the official site via the URL on the QR code, and register as a “VIP Member” using your personal details. If you already registered your ID in or before 2018, log in and enter your ID number.

Please handle the ID number on the back of the card with care.

Once registered as a VIP, you can access a page category called “VIP” on the official site.
It appears to be designed so that you can obtain more information than the general public, including artwork lists and more.

AFT CARD Benefits

Here’s a summary of the AFT CARD benefits.

The card is packed with perks and is a really good deal!

Admission to all periods including the Private View (holder plus one companion, 2 people total). *Cards with “4pm-8pm” printed on the front admit you from the Vernissage onward.
Admission to “ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO 2019” (holder plus one companion, 2 people total)
View AFT CARD holder-only artworks on the official site’s “Art Work” section. Site launch: late January onward, updated as new works are added
Complimentary admission and other perks at partner art museums: Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Mori Art Museum, Suntory Museum of Art, Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Yokohama Museum of Art, and others – free admission for up to two people. *Periods are set individually. *See the next section for details.
Use of Roppongi Hills Club. *Benefit period: Friday, March 1 – Sunday, March 31
Use of the “TERRADA Premium Lounge” inside the Art Fair Tokyo venue (holder plus one companion, 2 people total)

Museums Offering Free Admission

Museum benefits have been expanded even further compared to 2018.
The list of museums offering free admission has grown from last year. Counting quickly, we get 12 museums. Add in the ones that also allow a companion, and the total value easily exceeds 10,000 yen (a straightforward tally works out to about 20,700 yen +α). During the fair, it becomes an occasion to visit many art museums – an art-soaked stretch of days.
*Each museum has its own designated period for free admission. Please check the details after logging into the VIP page.

List of Museums with Free Admission

Pola Museum of Art *Up to one companion (3,600 yen value)
The Toguri Museum of Art *Up to one companion (2,000 yen value)
Idemitsu Museum of Arts *Up to one companion (2,000 yen value)
Yokohama Museum of Art *Up to one companion (3,000 yen value)
The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma *Up to one companion (600 yen value)
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art *Up to one companion (2,200 yen value)
The National Art Center, Tokyo “Leiko Ikemura: Our Planet – Earth & Stars” *Up to one companion (2,000 yen value)
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo *Up to one companion (1,000 yen value)
Mori Art Museum “Roppongi Crossing 2019” (1,800 yen value)
Suntory Museum of Art (1,300 yen value)
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery “Naoki Ishikawa” (1,200 yen value)
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum *Eligible period: from July 2019 (TBD)

The AFT Card is not for sale. If you have connections with galleries or art-industry people, you may be able to obtain one.

Despite all these perks, the AFT Card is unfortunately not sold to the general public.
Typically, it is passed on by exhibiting galleries or others in the art industry.
Building good relationships with people in the field is the usual way to get one.

For 2019, Art Fair Tokyo raised the admission fee to 5,000 yen.
The AFT Card is essentially an invitation ticket you receive from someone else, so it’s definitely worth going after!

Our report on Art Fair Tokyo 2019 is summarized in the article below.

Overview

Art Fair Tokyo 2019 (Art Fair Tokyo 201p)
Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Hall E & Lobby Gallery
Tickets: 1DAY Passport (advance 4,000 yen / at the door 5,000 yen)
Schedule
Press View
Thursday, March 7, 13:00 – 14:00
Private View
Thursday, March 7, 14:00 – 16:00
Vernissage
Thursday, March 7, 16:00 – 20:00
Public View
Friday, March 8, 11:00-20:00
Saturday, March 9, 11:00-20:00
Sunday, March 10, 11:00-17:00