The fifth edition of LUMINE ART FAIR –My 1st Collection Vol.5– opens at LUMINE ZERO on the fifth floor of NEWoMan Shinjuku in Tokyo from 30 October to 1 November. The fair, part of the LUMINE meets ART PROJECT, gathers around 30 artists working in Japan and abroad under the banner of bringing art casually into everyday life.

The concept is aimed squarely at first-time buyers: the fair wants to make collecting feel approachable rather than intimidating. Admission is free, and the station-connected venue is designed so that anyone can drop in, look around, buy a work, join a workshop or vote for the fair's awards.

A team of art concierges with knowledge of domestic and international art will be stationed throughout the venue to answer questions about choosing, displaying and caring for works. Free guided art tours, each around 30 minutes, run on 31 October and 1 November, explaining the stories behind the participating artists and their pieces.

The fair also offers workshops in which visitors combine motifs drawn from the exhibiting artists' works to create their own one-of-a-kind item, available to take home the same day. The programme is rounded out by merchandise and the award voting, all designed to turn a casual visit into a first step toward collecting.

As Tokyo's autumn art season reaches full swing, the fair's pitch is that living with art should not be the preserve of seasoned collectors. By removing the price barrier at the door and adding advice on everything from framing to storage, it hopes to convert the curious into collectors.