Tokyo National Museum

东京国立博物馆 · Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo

Photo: Dale Cruse from San Francisco, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0

Japan's oldest and largest museum — fourteen centuries of Japanese art in a single building

Know before you go

As a rule, photography is prohibited in special-exhibition galleries — do not try your luck with surreptitious photos
do not touch display cases, and do not make phone calls or eat and drink in the galleries
do not linger taking photos in the galleries after the closing announcement

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Stories & people

History

Stories of Tokyo National Museum

The story of the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures begins in 1878, when Horyu-ji Temple in Nara presented more than three hundred treasures it had preserved since the Asuka period to the Imperial Household, including the Tamamushi Shrine and the Kanjōban banners — source-level masterpieces of Japanese art history. In the Meiji Restoration's wave of separating Shinto and Buddhism, many old temples struggled to survive, and the presentation became an expedient way to preserve national treasures; the treasures eventually passed into state custody, and a dedicated gallery was built for them in the Tokyo National Museum grounds. Inside, the light is dim, and rows of Asuka-period gilt-bronze Buddhas sit in silence — a footnote to the turbulence behind the presentation: that visitors today can survey the very origins of Japanese Buddhist art under one roof is the direct result of that nineteenth-century act of cultural rescue (the account above follows the documented historical record). The treasures are now shown in rotation in the dedicated gallery, and whether you happen upon a particular famous piece depends on the luck of matching your trip to the exhibition schedule.

Source: Tokyo National Museum official website; Wikipedia: Tokyo National Museum

History

History of Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum was founded in 1872 and is Japan's oldest and largest museum; its origins trace back to the exposition bureau of the Ministry of Education in the early Meiji period, and it moved to its present Ueno site in 1882. The grounds today comprise the Honkan (Japanese Gallery), the Toyokan (Asian Gallery), the Heiseikan, the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, the Hyokeikan and the Kuroda Memorial Hall, holding more than 120,000 objects, with a number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties among the highest in Japan. The present Honkan building was completed in 1938 in the Imperial Crown Style, blending Japanese and Western architecture. The permanent exhibition presents a chronological survey, from Jomon dogu figurines and haniwa to samurai armour, ukiyo-e and tea utensils, systematically laying out the full lineage of Japanese art, while special exhibitions are often co-organised with major museums overseas.

Source: Tokyo National Museum official website; Wikipedia: Tokyo National Museum

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

Ueno is Tokyo's cultural high ground, where museums, art galleries, the zoo and Tokyo University of the Arts sit side by side; within it, the Tokyo National Museum plays the role of a general storehouse of Japanese cultural memory, and its permanent exhibition is a walkable history of Japanese art.

Local customs

Tokyo families have a tradition of spending weekends in Ueno
visitor numbers surge during special-exhibition openings and cherry-blossom season. The museum garden is open in all four seasons — cherry blossoms in spring, red maples in autumn — and locals often sit for a while on its benches after viewing an exhibition.

Religion & beliefs

No particular religious affiliation
the collection includes many Buddhist and Shinto artworks displayed as cultural properties, some of them sacred objects in the eyes of believers, so view them respectfully, without pointing at them through the glass or making a noise.

Etiquette & taboos

Don’t DON'T

As a rule, photography is prohibited in special-exhibition galleries — do not try your luck with surreptitious photos
do not touch display cases, and do not make phone calls or eat and drink in the galleries
do not linger taking photos in the galleries after the closing announcement

Locals appreciate DO

Lock onto the rotation list of National-Treasure-grade pieces in the Honkan permanent exhibition in advance, and book popular special exhibitions online early
in areas where photography is allowed, turn off the flash and do not use tripods or selfie sticks
make use of the rest areas and the garden to pace yourself and avoid exhibition fatigue

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

The permanent exhibition and special exhibitions are ticketed separately
popular special-exhibition sessions require advance booking and may use timed entry, so check exhibition dates on the official website first
The museum is normally closed on Mondays (moved to the next day when Monday is a public holiday), with temporary closures at year-end and during exhibition changeovers
avoiding Mondays is the safest plan
The collection rotates frequently, so a particular National Treasure is not guaranteed to be on display year-round
if you want to see a specific piece, check the current exhibition list on the official website first
The museum is usually open 9:30—17:00, extended to 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and some holidays (last admission 30 minutes before closing), and closed on Mondays and at year-end
permanent-exhibition admission is on the order of ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for university students, with special exhibitions priced separately — see the official website. JR Ueno or Uguisudani stations and the subway are about a 10-minute walk away. The grounds are large, so allow 3–4 hours: take the Honkan's chronological survey as the main thread, add the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures if time is short, and visit the Toyokan's Chinese and Asian collections if you still have energy.

Eat nearby

What to eat nearby

Must-try

Sushi
tempura
unagi eel rice
ramen
dango dumplings and dorayaki

Sushi (the old establishments and station shops around Ueno are consistently good); tempura (famous shops in the Asakusa direction, prawns and seasonal vegetables); unagi eel rice (the Kanto style, split down the back and steamed before grilling); ramen (several queuing shops around Ueno Station); dango dumplings and dorayaki (wagashi sweets from Ameyoko and Ueno's old shops)

Where to eat	Around Ueno Station and in Ameyoko is the first choice, all within walking distance; the Honkan restaurant and the café beside the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures can handle a simple meal on site
Dining etiquette	Most Ameyoko snacks are eaten standing; return the rubbish to the shop or take it away when you finish; at a sushi counter, signal your party size to the chef, and avoid heavy perfume, which spoils the tasting
Typical price per person	¥1,500–3,000 per person, roughly RMB 68–135 (reference prices); sushi sets ¥3,000–6,000 per person
Tips	Ueno is packed at meal times during cherry-blossom season and special exhibitions, so eating in the museum restaurant or the station building is the safer bet; seafood rice bowls in Ameyoko vary widely in price — compare before you sit down

Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.

Photos

Tokyo National Museum
Dale Cruse from San Francisco, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0

Sources & verification notes

Tokyo National Museum official website

Wikipedia: Tokyo National Museum

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