The Destination Art collection expands with Shinji Tsuchimochi's visions of futuristic and traditional Tokyo.
Swiss watchmaker Swatch has partnered with Tokyo-born illustrator Shinji Tsuchimochi to create two new timepieces that blend Japanese pop culture with accessible pricing.
The collaboration marks the latest expansion of Swatch's Destination Art collection, which invites artists to reimagine their hometowns on watch dials. Tsuchimochi's contributions offer contrasting perspectives on Japan—one looking ahead, one looking back.
The first design, Expressway to the Future, presents a speculative vision of Tokyo where a taxi soars toward the moon. The 41mm dial features densely packed, vividly colored skyscrapers beneath yellow lightning-bolt hands that heighten the sense of kinetic energy. The dark blue case and strap carry the artwork beyond the dial itself. This larger model runs on a quartz movement and carries a ¥18,150 price tag, approximately $115. Availability is notably limited: within Japan, only four Swatch retail locations stock this piece.
For those drawn to historical rather than speculative themes, Bridge to the Past offers an alternative. This 34mm design evokes an Edo-period summer evening, with a bridge silhouetted against fireworks bursting overhead. The transparent case and bio-sourced strap keep visual focus on the dial, while gold-colored hands provide elegant contrast. Like its counterpart, it uses quartz movement, but at ¥16,500 (about $100) it sits at a slightly lower price point.
Both watches debuted on October 16. Whether Swatch plans broader international distribution remains unconfirmed.