The verdict in three sentences
For an art gallery and art advisory in Tokyo, a website has to win over collectors who often arrive through an artist's name or an art fair, and who judge the gallery on the quality of its exhibitions before any contact. A Tokyo agency charges in 2026 around 2 to 5 million JPY for a polished site, about 13,000 to 33,000 USD, while Kolonell's fixed grid runs from 2,900 USD (Starter) to 8,900 USD (Premium). The gap narrows once Japanese translation, artwork photography and maintenance are added, so these need honest pricing over three years.
What a Tokyo gallery website must prove
A collector in Minato or an adviser to a foreign foundation searches "[artist name] gallery Tokyo", "contemporary art exhibition Roppongi", "corporate art collection advisory Japan" or "gallery at Art Basel Hong Kong". They want to understand the gallery's program, the artists it genuinely represents, past exhibitions and how to ask for a price, often "on request".
| Page | What it must show | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Represented artists | Biography, works, exhibitions | Only artists with written consent, image rights checked |
| Current and past exhibitions | Dates, installation views, texts | Photo credits and artist permissions |
| Fairs and events | Calendar, booths, appointments | No list of sales or collectors |
| Art advisory | Services, process, fees shown or on request | No promise of an artwork's return |
| Artwork enquiry | Short form, response time | Minimal data under the APPI |
| About and team | Founders' background, address, hours | Verifiable information |
On regulation, Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), overseen by the Personal Information Protection Commission, governs how collectors' details are collected. Anti-money-laundering rules also apply to art market participants in several jurisdictions, which matters if you sell to European or British clients. This is not legal advice: have your obligations confirmed by local counsel.
Real cost: Tokyo agencies vs the Kolonell grid
Local amounts are 2026 ballpark ranges from typical agency quotes, converted approximately to USD (1 USD is about 150 JPY).
| Provider | Local budget (JPY) | Approximate equivalent (USD) | What is usually included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | 500,000 to 1,500,000 | 3,300 to 10,000 | Adapted theme, little copywriting |
| Local agency | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | 13,000 to 33,000 | Custom design, Japanese, CMS |
| Premium culture-specialist agency | 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 | 40,000 to 100,000 | Art direction, bilingual, archives |
| Kolonell Starter | fixed price | 2,900 | Core site, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | fixed price | 4,900 | Richer artist and exhibition pages |
| Kolonell Premium | fixed price | 8,900 | Multilingual tier, here in Japanese and English |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Premium is the multilingual tier: for a Tokyo gallery, Japanese and English, with languages set in the quote. A private collectors' viewing room for available works, a link to inventory management software or ticketing are on quote. Details are on the international offer page.
Hidden costs and the three-year total
The costs that blow a gallery budget rarely sit in development. The table below uses clearly labeled market assumptions.
| Item | Local agency (USD, approx.) | Kolonell Growth (USD) | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | 20,000 | 4,900 | Fixed price for Kolonell |
| Artwork photography and installation views | 2,000 | 2,000 | Market assumption, third-party provider |
| Proofread Japanese translation | included | 1,500 | Market assumption, third-party translator |
| Hosting and maintenance year 1 | 1,200 | included 3 months, then on quote | Market assumption for the agency |
| Maintenance years 2 and 3 | 2,400 | 2,400 | Market assumption, to confirm on quote |
| Three-year total | 25,600 | 10,800 | Ballpark |
When a local agency is the better choice
A Tokyo agency wins if your site must reflect a visual identity built with a Japanese studio, if Japanese is your main sales language and calls for native copywriting on site, or if you want regular filming in the gallery. It also suits an online sales platform with complex local payment. For a gallery and advisory showcase site with a clear scope, the fixed grid and a responsive project manager are often enough.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Questions to ask: who manages image rights for each work? Is the translation done by a native translator and reviewed by you? What does adding an exhibition cost after delivery? Where is collectors' data hosted?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Kenji Mori runs "Aoyama Line Gallery", a fictional contemporary art gallery with an advisory arm for corporate collections. A local agency quotes 3,600,000 JPY, about 24,000 USD. He chooses Premium at 8,900 USD, in Japanese and English, and adds a proofread Japanese translation at about 1,800 USD (market assumption) and artwork photography at about 2,000 USD (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 1,800 + 2,000 = 12,700 USD, which is 11,300 USD less than the local quote. This calculation is illustrative and assumes no sales.
FAQ
How much does an art gallery website cost in Tokyo in 2026?
Expect about 3,300 to 10,000 USD with a freelancer, 13,000 to 33,000 USD at a local agency and up to 100,000 USD at a premium agency. Kolonell's grid runs from 2,900 to 8,900 USD.
Can we show artwork prices?
Many galleries state "price on request", which remains common for works above 10,000 USD. If you do display prices, they must be accurate and kept current.
Can the site be in Japanese and English?
Yes, with Premium, the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote. A Japanese translation proofread by a native speaker is a third-party cost of about 1,500 to 2,000 USD (market assumption).
What data should we collect from collectors?
The minimum: name, contact details, the work or artist concerned. The APPI requires you to state the purpose of collection, and identity checks linked to anti-money-laundering belong in your sales process, not the form.
How long does it take to launch?
3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once copy and images are ready. The first 3 months of support cover post-launch adjustments.
Let's scope your project. A gallery and art advisory site in Tokyo on the Growth tier at 4,900 USD or Premium at 8,900 USD in Japanese and English, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
