Tokyo National Museum
ℹ️ Information
The Tokyo National Museum is the oldest and largest museum in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, the museum was established in 1872 and is one of the most important and visited museums in the world. The museum houses a vast collection of over 110,000 artworks, artifacts, and cultural treasures from Japan and other parts of Asia. The museum is divided into several sections, including the Japanese Gallery, the Asian Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, the Ceramics Gallery, and the Special Exhibition Gallery.
The Japanese Gallery is the largest section of the museum and features a variety of artworks from the Edo period (1603-1868). It includes paintings, sculptures, lacquerware, textiles, and other artifacts from the period. The Asian Gallery features artworks from China, Korea, India, and other parts of Asia, while the Sculpture Gallery houses a collection of Buddhist and Shinto sculptures. The Ceramics Gallery displays a variety of pottery and porcelain from Japan and other parts of Asia, while the Special Exhibition Gallery features temporary exhibitions of artworks from around the world.
The Tokyo National Museum also houses a library and a museum shop, where visitors can purchase books and souvenirs. The museum also offers educational programs and lectures for visitors of all ages. The museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5:00pm and admission is free. The museum is easily accessible by public transportation and is a great place to explore the history and culture of Japan.
🕒 Opening hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
🎟️ Buy your ticket
🗣️ Tokyo National Museum: Reviews
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday …
Good enough to get an idea of Japan, however isn’t rich enough. It’s an introduction. Salon 6 and 7 were very oddly set up and it jumped from period to topic but I assume is because they added pieces later on and grouped them quick- randomly. Other than that it’s ok, informative. Tickets are $1000 yen’s per person and $500 extra for exhibits. Closes at 5. Make sure you go around to the beautiful garden through the main terrace. Lockers available.
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
Visited on Weekend Wait time 10–30 min Reservation recommended Yes …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
One of the best museums I’ve been to. Every exhibit is extremely intriguing and well documented. There are also exhibits of historical artefacts of other Asian countries. The architecture of the museum itself is breathtaking. It looks like it’s from a movie. The museum itself is massive, one could easily spend a day here. Staff were friendly, and the tickets were very affordable. It is also located in close proximity to the subway. Would highly recommend.
Visited on Weekday Wait time Up to 10 min Reservation recommended Yes …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait …
Visited on Weekend …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
The wing devoted to Japanese art is superb. Great variety of objects and works of art. A must-see!
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekend …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Nice place. A lot of artefacts. If you enjoy to know more about Japan history, than it is a place to go.
Visited on Weekend Wait time 10–30 min …
Visited on Public holiday Wait time No wait …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Public holiday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekend Wait time Up to 10 min Reservation recommended No …
Amazing! Lots of beautiful Japanese art, an impressive collection of sculptures, and very good explanations in English as well.
Visited on Weekday …
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Wait time No wait …
The Tokyo National Museum is an outstanding destination for anyone who is interested in Japanese history, art, and culture. As one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in Japan, it offers an unparalleled collection of artifacts and artworks that span thousands of years of history. One of the highlights of the museum is the extensive collection of Japanese art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and calligraphy. The collection is curated in a way that offers visitors a glimpse into the evolution of Japanese art, from ancient Jomon pottery to contemporary works. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts a variety of special exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing different aspects of Japanese art and culture. These exhibitions are always well-curated and provide fascinating insights into the history and traditions of Japan. Visitors can also enjoy a range of activities and events at the museum. The museum offers guided tours and lectures, as well as workshops on traditional Japanese crafts such as pottery, calligraphy, and paper-making. There are also regular cultural events, such as tea ceremonies and traditional music performances. For those who want to take a break from the art and culture, the museum has a lovely garden that is perfect for a peaceful stroll. The garden is designed in the traditional Japanese style and features a pond, a tea house, and a variety of seasonal flowers and plants. Overall, the Tokyo National Museum is an excellent destination for anyone interested in Japanese art, culture, and history. With its comprehensive collection, well-curated exhibitions, and range of activities and events, it is sure to be a highlight of any trip to Tokyo. Highly recommended
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
The National museum is a must to visit in your trip to Tokyo, is a good way to know and understand the history of Japan through the art.
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
Hige place, there are several museums to visit once you bought your entrance ticket, including a garden, which is quite awesome during the cherry blossom season 1000 yen entrance fee for an adult without the special exhibition ticket If you go to Tokyo, you should definitely give it a try !
A visit to the Tokyo national museum had been a great experience for us. We visited on 5 February, 2023. We learned so much about Japanese culture. It's one of the biggest museums in the world. The exhibits are so interesting and full of surprises including a stunning collection of contemporary Japanese art. Even for those who are not a great fan of museums, it can be a great place to explore on a winter day. We walked through three main buildings Japanese Gallery (Honkan), Japanese Archeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) and Asian Gallery (Toyokan). This place is huge so needs 4/5 hours to go through all exhibition. If you want to go through all, it is better to start from opening time. There were many places to sit down and take rest. Drinking and eating is not allowed inside the museum but there are resting areas with vending machines.
Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No …
I really loved my first visit ever to the Tokyo National Museum. Of course, I regretted not visiting before when I lived in Tokyo, but I finally made the time to visit one of the most famous museums in all of Japan! Although I spent several hours in the museum, I feel like I only viewed a tiny portion of what was available to enjoy. Some of the ancient artifacts were especially interesting with so much time having passed. When I looked at the ancient scrolls, I was amazed that they could survived so much time! I hope to go back one day and explore deeper into the areas I only viewed briefly!
An amazing experience! The museum is filled with lots of historical items as well as some ancient Japanese art and a section with samurai swords and armor! It was great! I loved it.
Wonderful museum in the heart of Ueno. The park surrounding it is also large and perfect for a morning walk. Entrance to the museum grounds only costs 1000yen, which is totally worth it! The museum is full of Japanese artifacts and all exhibits have English to help tourists. There are multiple large buildings to explore meaning you'll have a lot of things to look at and spend a great afternoon or morning doing so.
Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure …
I gained entry with a university student discount. My entire experience within this massive complex was most definitely worth it. Being a history nerd such as myself, I was marvelled by the age of many items on display here, truly, even if you've got absolutely no interest in Buddhism, the sculptures showcased here would still make you wonder how they had survived for so long. I highly recommend a trip to this museum where you could learn to appreciate exquisitely detailed works of art of religious, historical, national, and even personal significance.
This was a great way to spend an afternoon in Tokyo. I learned quite a bit. During my visit, they had the Pompeii special exhibition. I chose to opt out of the extra exhibition, but I've seen the Pompeii exhibition in Canada and would highly recommend it. The staff were very friendly and most of the people I interacted with had great English. A big thank you to the kind woman working the door on the backside of the Pompeii exhibition. She gave me directions and was super nice! As for the general admission exhibitions. There were 3 buildings that I went into to see exhibits. A Japanese National Treasures exhibit, an exhibit about Japan in general and an Asia exhibit, which was more focused on China, India and Korea, whom have had a moderate amount of influence on Japan's rise. I really enjoyed learning about the indigenous history of the Ryokyuan and Ainu people. This is a piece of history that is not often spoken of to the West. I'm glad that I was able to learn a little bit about their daily life in a previous time. I was a bit caught off guard when I turned a corner and there was a mummy sitting in front of me. Very fun day that I will speak kindly of for time to come.