Museum · Ueno

Tokyo National Museum 東京国立博物館

Japan's oldest and largest museum, holding the world's finest collection of Japanese art: samurai armour, national-treasure scrolls, Buddhist sculpture and ceramics across six buildings in Ueno Park.

Hours9:30–17:00 (Fri & Sat often to 20:00; last entry 30 min before)

ClosedMondays (Tue if Mon is a holiday), year-end

PriceAdult (collection galleries): ¥1,000
University student: ¥500
Under 18 / over 70: Free
Special exhibitions: ¥1,500

Getting thereUeno Station (JR, Park Exit), 10 min; Uguisudani Station, 10 min

Time needed2.5–4 hours

Best timeWeekday mornings or Friday evenings

Address13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo

Websitetnm.jp

About

Founded in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum (Tohaku) is the place to understand Japanese art in a single visit. The 1938 Honkan main building, with its imperial-crown-style tiled roof, walks you chronologically from Jomon pottery to Edo-period ukiyo-e, with displays rotated constantly so fragile screens and kimono get rest. Behind it, the Toyokan covers Asian art from Gandhara Buddhas to Korean celadon, while the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, a serene Yoshio Taniguchi box fronted by a reflecting pool, displays 7th-century gilt-bronze figures from Nara in near darkness. The Heiseikan hosts blockbuster special exhibitions (separately ticketed) and an archaeology gallery with haniwa clay figures. In spring and autumn the back garden, with five relocated teahouses around a pond, opens to the public.

Highlights

Honkan galleries rotating national treasures such as samurai armour, katana and painted folding screens
Gallery of Horyuji Treasures: rows of 7th-century gilt-bronze Buddhas in a minimalist Taniguchi building
Toyokan Asian galleries with Gandhara sculpture and an Egyptian mummy
Haniwa terracotta warriors in the Heiseikan archaeology hall
Seasonal opening of the rear Japanese garden with five historic teahouses

Tips

Under-18s and over-70s get free entry to the collection galleries with ID; the collection ticket is separate from special exhibitions.
Fridays and Saturdays often run late to 20:00, the Honkan is nearly empty after 17:00.
Enter from Ueno Station Park Exit and walk 10 minutes; Uguisudani Station is closer and far less crowded.
Buy special-exhibition tickets online: on weekends the gate queue can exceed 30 minutes.
Check the "highlights this month" list on the website, national treasures are often only shown for a few weeks a year.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Tokyo National Museum 東京国立博物館

About

Highlights

Tips

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