TONES OSAKA Joins DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA 2026

In addition to the exhibition and sale of works by installation artist Mutsushi Asai, hotel guests can bring the works into their rooms and experience them during their stay.

TONES OSAKA will participate in DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA 2026, taking place at various locations across Osaka from October 8 (Thu) to 11 (Sun), 2026.

As part of the event, TONES SALON will host a special exhibition and sales event by artist Asai, titled “Record Salon: Picking Up the Bends.”

Connecting People with the TONE of the City

At TONES OSAKA, we value experiences that allow guests to discover the unique character and atmosphere of a place.The city, architecture, music, art, food, and the people who bring them to life each have their own “TONE.” By encountering these different TONES, we hope to create stays that gradually deepen guests’ connection with Osaka.For four days during DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA 2026, TONES SALON—normally enjoyed by hotel guests—will open its doors to the local community.Through Asai’s works and the sound of records, we invite local residents and travelers to share the same space and spend time at their own pace.The soft sound of records and the organic curves of plants create an atmosphere of light and shadow. Located in a building whose exterior was designed by Italian architect Aldo Rossi, TONES OSAKA offers a setting where guests can experience music, light, and design together.Hotel guests will also have the opportunity to bring one of the lighting works into their room and experience its light and functionality throughout their stay.

A Hotel That Connects the City’s TONE with People

DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA is an annual design event that began in 2024 and takes place at various locations throughout Osaka.The event is open to everyone, with no participation fees or selection process. Each participant independently creates and hosts their own project in their chosen location.This open approach to creating opportunities to encounter design throughout the city closely reflects TONES OSAKA’s philosophy of connecting the character of a place with the experience of staying there.For this event, TONES SALON will become a cultural meeting point where sound, light, space, and people come together.We hope that discovering Asai’s works at the hotel will inspire visitors to explore other exhibitions and design events taking place throughout Osaka.From the Hotel to the City We want encounters at the hotel to become an invitation to explore the city.During their stay, guests will receive information about DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA 2026, encouraging them to discover exhibitions and creative spaces throughout Osaka.At TONES SALON, we also hope to create a relaxed environment where local residents, creators, and travelers from Japan and around the world can naturally connect through art and music.

TONES SALON

Our Salon, Now Open to the City TONES SALON is usually a space for hotel guests. During these four days, however, it will also be open to the local community.TONES OSAKA is located in a building whose exterior was designed by Italian architect Aldo Rossi. Visitors are invited to take a moment to appreciate the architecture before enjoying Asai’s works and the sound of records inside the salon.We hope this exhibition will provide an opportunity for people in the neighborhood to discover and feel closer to TONES OSAKA.

“Record Salon: Picking Up the Bends”

One year after Asai’s 2025 product exhibition “Cafe: Picking Up the Bends,” which explored products in darkness, this new exhibition presents the concept in a different setting as “Record Salon: Picking Up the Bends.”

1. Light, Shadows, Plants, and the Sound of Records

During the exhibition, the normally guest-only TONES SALON will open as “Record Salon: Picking Up the Bends.”
Enjoy TONES OSAKA’s record collection and the warm, gentle sound produced by its vacuum tube amplifier.Seasonal plants are freely combined with the natural bends and curves of their branches, creating an atmosphere where music, light, and organic forms come together.

2. Lighting Inspired by the Natural Curves of Plants

“Picking Up the Bends” is a desk lamp that uses the natural curves of plants as part of its structure.As the plant gradually dries and changes over time, it can be replaced with another plant. The lamp provides a gentle level of light suitable for activities such as nighttime reading.Designed for use in spaces such as bedrooms and dining areas, the lighting work has been updated with minor improvements for this exhibition, one year after its original release in 2025.

3. Experience the Work in Your Hotel Room

Hotel guests can bring one of the exhibited lighting works into their room and use it during their stay.Read a book, relax, or simply spend time in the room surrounded by its gentle light.This is a hotel experience that allows you to appreciate both the sculptural character of the piece as a design object and its functionality as a lighting product in an everyday setting.

Event Details

POP-UP EXHIBITION

“Record Salon: Picking Up the Bends”

Dates:
October 8 (Thu) – 11 (Sun), 2026

Hours:
1:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Venue:
TONES SALON, TONES OSAKA

Artist:
Mutsushi Asai / Metalium LLC
⁠Metalium LLC
https://scrapbox.io/metalium/

Program:

Exhibition and sales of lighting works
TONES SALON will be open to the public for a limited time during the exhibition
Hotel guests can experience the lighting works in their guest rooms during their stay

Participating Event:
DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA 2026
⁠DESIGN WEEKEND OSAKA
https://weekend.osaka