Tokyo is home to a collection of museums with outstanding works of art and valuable materials, making it easy to enjoy history, culture, natural science, and art, as well as a quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
[Ueno] Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館)
Opened its doors to the public in 1872, Tokyo National Museum has the longest history in Japan. The museum holds approximately 120,000 works of art and archaeological artifacts from Japan and the Orient. Of these, 89 are National Treasures and 648 are Important Cultural Properties, making it the largest collection in Japan in terms of both quality and quantity.
Among the six buildings comprising the museum, Japanese art pieces including Buddhist artworks and swords are exhibited in the “Honkan”, Indian Buddhist statues and Chinese artifacts in the “Toyokan”. The "Heiseikan" exhibits clay figures and haniwa clay figurines, while the "Gallery of Horyuji Treasures" displays Buddhist treasures mainly from the Asuka period.
Address: 13-9 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Ueno
For more info, visit here.
[Ueno] The National Museum of Nature and Science（国立科学博物館）
Established in 1877, the National Museum of Nature and Science is one of the largest comprehensive science museums in Japan. The permanent exhibition consists of about 25,000 carefully selected items from its collection of over 4.9 million items including whole-body skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus and a Diptera, ammonite fossils, a celestial globe from the Edo period, a Japanese-style clock, and artificial satellites and rockets that Japan has launched.
The Japan Gallery, which is shaped like an airplane when viewed from above, is a National Important Cultural Property.
Address: 7-20 Ueno Koen, Tait-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Ueno
For more info, visit here.
[Ueno] The National Museum of Western Art（国立西洋美術館）
Based on the "Matsukata Collection" collected by industrialist Kojiro Matsukata, the museum was established in 1959. The museum's collection consists of more than 6,000 pieces of Western paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The museum's most famous works include Monet's "Waterlilies," Renoir, Miró, Picasso, Van Gogh, and many others, all of which can be viewed in the permanent exhibition.
The main building was designed by Le Corbusier, a renowned master of modern architecture, and is registered as a World Heritage site. After a 1.5-year closure for renovation works, the museum reopened in April 2022.
Address: 7 Chome-7-7 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Ueno
For more info, visit here.
[Ueno] The Ueno Royal Museum（上野の森美術館）
The Ueno Royal Museum is the only private art museum in Ueno Park. The museum does not have a permanent collection, but holds public exhibitions every year, including the "VOCA Exhibition," which introduces outstanding young artists of contemporary art, and the "Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition," which has an established reputation as a gateway to the art world.
The museum is also popular for its regular special exhibitions, such as the "Vermeer Exhibition" and the "Van Gogh Exhibition," which are held by borrowing artworks from the collections of overseas museums, as well as exhibitions in a variety of genres such as ukiyo-e, manga, and calligraphy.
Address: 1-2 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Ueno
For more info, visit here.
[Nogizaka] The National Art Center, Tokyo（国立新美術館）
Art museums can be enjoyed not only for their exhibitions but also for the building that houses the collection. The building of the National Art Center, Tokyo is a piece of art in itself. The modern, streamlined glass façade gives different impressions depending the time when you visit the museum.
The National Art Center, Tokyo specializes in holding a variety of special exhibitions instead of permanent exhibitions. The genres of the exhibitions are diverse. This museum is recommended for people of all ages and genders.
Address: 7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Nogizaka Station
For more info, visit here.
[Roppongi] Suntory Museum of Art (サントリー美術館)
The Suntory Museum of Art was opened in 1961 by Keizo Saji, president of the beverage manufacturer Suntory Limited, under the theme of "Beauty in Life” and moved into the premises of Tokyo Midtown in 2007 from its original building in Chiyoda-ku. The museum houses approximately 3,000 works of art, including 1 National Treasure, 15 Important Cultural Properties, and 21 Important Art Objects, such as paintings, ceramics, lacquerware, dyeing, and other Japanese antiques, as well as glass from the East and West.
The building was designed by Kengo Kuma, who attracted attention for his design of the stadium for the 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics. The front façade is covered with vertical louvers made of white ceramic panels, giving the building a stylish and transparent appearance.
Address: 3rd Floor, Tokyo Midtown Galleria, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Roppongi
For more info, visit here.
[Roppoingi] Mori Art Museum（森美術館）
Mori Art Museum opened under the concept of "making Roppongi a cultural metropolis”. The museum is located on the top floor (53rd) of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, offering a panoramic view of the Tokyo cityscape.
It is attracting attention as a contemporary art museum where people can experience and examine the culture of the time. Exhibitions of cutting-edge art, architecture, and design from around the world are planned for each period of the year. The museum also supervises public artworks scattered throughout Roppongi Hills.
Address: 53rd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Roppongi
For more info, visit here.
[Omotesando] Nezu Museum（根津美術館）
The museum was opened in 1940 in accordance with the will of businessman Kaichiro Nezu I (1860-1940). The museum houses approximately 7,400 items including 7 National Treasures with a wide variety of paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork. The museum is also famous for a large number of artistic tea ceremony utensils. The exhibition building and café were renovated and reopened in 2009, designed by Kengo Kuma. Visitors can also enjoy a stroll through the 17,000-square-meter Japanese garden, which retains traces of the Nezu family's private residence.
For more info, visit here.
[Ebisu] Tokyo Photography Art Museum（東京写真美術館）
Located in Yebisu Garden Place, The Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography is Japan's first public art museum dedicated to photography and video. The museum houses a collection of over 36,000 photographic and video works, including works by Nobuyoshi Araki, Shoji Ueda, and Ihei Kimura. From solo exhibitions of prominent Japanese and international artists to exhibitions of emerging artists and the "Yebisu Festival of Moving Images,", visitors can fully appreciate high-quality photographic and visual works from Japan and abroad.
The hall also has a screen on which movies are shown. In the extensive educational programs, the film developing experience in the darkroom is popular among the generation accustomed to digital cameras.
Address: Yebisu Garden Place, 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Ebisu
For more info, visit here.
[Kiba] Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo（東京現代美術館）
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) opened in March 1995, taking over the contemporary art collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Built in the lush green Kiba Park, it is one of the largest museum buildings in Japan in terms of total floor space.
The museum's collection consists mainly of works from the post-World War II period. While the museum was temporarily closed for renovation in 2016, approximately 400 new works were added to the collection before its reopening in March 2019, bringing the total collection to approximately 5,500 pieces.
Addresss: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station
For more info, visit here.
[Mitaka] Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館)
Studio Ghibli's works continue to fascinate people around the world. More than 20 years after its opening, the Ghibli Museum at Mitakanomori still attracts many fans.
Located in the West Garden of Inokashira Onshi Park, the museum opened in 2001, the same year "Spirited Away" was released. The idea was conceived by film director Hayao Miyazaki, founder of Studio Ghibli.
Tickets are available by advance booking only. On the 10th day of each month, tickets for the following month go on sale.
Address: 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo
Nearest Train Station: Mitaka
For more info, visit here.
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