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Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksArt MuseumsHistory Museums
About
This famous museum houses the largest collection of Japanese artifacts and artworks in the world. With over 100,000 pieces and room to display only 4,000, exhibits are rotated constantly
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Ueno, Asakusa
Traces of the history and culture of the Edo (old Tokyo) era remain vividly in Ueno and Asakusa. Spacious Ueno Park is a great place to relax and visit a variety of different museums and galleries. At Ameyoko which starts in front of Ueno station, the grocery stores and clothing shops are crammed alongside fishmongers. It gets particularly busy at the end of the year, when many people go on shopping sprees. The town of Asakusa, developed around Sensoji temple, has many shops selling goods and clothing from old Japan, making it a great place for souvenir hunting. It's also known for various annual festivals, and the whole district gets involved with the huge Sanja Festival in May.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Rodman100
    Wellington, New Zealand754 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    National musuem
    Well worth a visit, the entrance fee is 1,000 yen (free to under 18 and over 60). The museum covers 3 buildings, where the main one covers Japanese history with kimono's, paintings and folding screens,lacquerware, arms and armour including samurai swords from the 12th and 13th century which are in pristine condition. The other 2 buildings are the Asian gallery which includes artifacts from around the world and the Japanese archaeology exhibits
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 27 October 2023
  • Emi
    Auckland, New Zealand13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great visit, informative museum.
    I had a lot of fun at this museum. Very informative and well laid out museum with display explanations in different languages which makes it helpful for visitors of different countries. Excellent and helpful staff. The special exhibitions were also very interesting.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 6 November 2023
  • Anne S
    Leeds, United Kingdom600 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Interesting Museum
    Went here on a rainy day. Plenty of exhibits which had descriptions in English. We felt there was not much variety and were basically pottery, sculptures or armoury. We skimmed the surface and were there for a couple of hours. We saw some fascinating objects and would definitely recommend it for a rainy day.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 November 2023
  • Kelsey P
    San Rafael, California117 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cool museum with a lot of history
    This is a really cool museum inside a beautiful park. We only went to the Honkan building - it has a lot of art and artifacts starting from the earliest signs of civilization to the present day. The highlights were the swords, samurai effects, kimonos, and woodblocks. They also have some fun interactive exhibits where you can make your own postcards with stamps. The signs say that they rotate some of the art and clothes to match the seasons, so it seems like you could go again and see different works!
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 March 2024
  • Jeff K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,364 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Museum
    I liked this museum a lot. It has 20 rooms on two floors with each room dedicated to a specific topic. The museum is very well laid out and it’s easy to breeze through the rooms you’re not interested while spending more time in others. English signage was common. They had a special exhibit for Edo Castle while we were there. We didn’t visit but the lines were extremely long. A great place to visit along the other sights of Ueno Park.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 March 2024
  • berend
    San Diego, California420 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Love it or Leave it
    You'll either love it or hate it depending on your preferences. If you like art (calligraphy, drawings), swords, samurai and kimono dress, laquerware, porcelain...then you'll like this museum. If that doesn't appeal to you, skip it. Tickets, you can purchase from a kiosk/vending machine OR go to a ticket counter for personalized service. Seniors, ask about discounts.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 March 2024
  • Shannon
    Suva, Fiji1,160 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Educational
    Excellent museum large exhibition halls with great content and sufficient resting benches. Easily could spend an entire day here if you had enough time. It's made up of just two floors but as mentioned earlier spaces are huge. The ordinary ticket didn't have a queue only the special exhibition had a 30 metre queue when visited on a Sunday. Museum grounds are impressive also with sakuras and food trucks. Recommended.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 April 2024
  • Olga B
    London, United Kingdom60 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Museum
    Great place to visit. Not overcrowded. This is the oldest and largest museum. I could be wrong. It is not far from the art museum, the Ueno park, Ueno Zoo and also a science museum. It is a stop shop. When the weather is great you can sit around the fountain and relax. I will recommend this place as you get options. I did not take a lot of pics. But enjoyed my experience there.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 April 2024
  • chowso
    Gloucester, United Kingdom1,745 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A vast collection of really interesting Japanese artifacts
    We tried to go here on a Saturday which was a mistake as the queue was huge to get in. We went back on a rainy day, first thing, and the queue was already substantial. I think it makes sense to book tickets in advance if you know when you are visiting. This is one of those museums that you could spend a good half or full day in. The collections are pretty vast and interesting if you like relics and artifacts from foreign cultures. We spend a few hours here while it poured down outside. If if hadn't been raining we would have spent even longer as the gardens looked very nice. There are some private collection pieces that you can't photograph - the guards will stop you and ask you to delete the photos. You also can't take any water around the gallery. The sword collection here was good and better than the sword museum in Ryugoku in our opinion. The archaeological wing was really fascinating and I also loved the pottery. As time went on the museum got busier and busier so I'm glad we got there early and saw the bits that we really wanted to see before the crowds. When we left the queue had probably tripled.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 April 2024
  • Ralph Wilhelm
    Carmel, Indiana799 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful, multiple buildings of Japan history with fabulous artifacts
    The Tokyo National Museum was a totally pleasant and informative surprise. Suggest reserving tickets ahead of time due to interest; we went on last day of Golden Week and the crowd was quite low early in the day. Breath-taking view of Japan's history, the shogun period, the various emperors, outstanding shogun "outfits" and swords, terrific art. Well laid out and all artifacts labeled in English, Japanese, and Korean. We only spent three hours, but could have spent three days. Will have to make time to revisit and do more. If you are in the Tokyo area and have at least half a day, recommend highly. Please can take pictures of much of the collection...except a few artifacts that are clearly labelled as photography prohibited. Recommend this highly. But also suggest that good shoes and ability to walk a few miles is a huge help, but also a number of seats and benches around so that you can take a break when needed. P.S. wonderful museum store with very classy pictures, artifacts, screens and other things. Truly classy.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 6 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Melissa B
Saint Louis, MO1,268 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Lots to look at. You have the option of buying a ticket for general admission or adding the special exhibition, but we opted out of the exhibition. We had abundant time in Tokyo so we visited the museum, but we wouldn’t call it a “must-see” as a recommendation to travelers trying to pack the most important sites into a short trip.

Art isn’t really our thing, but we still enjoyed an afternoon doing a quiet, indoor activity.
Written 13 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MomRocco
Chicago, IL546 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
Once more bad traffic and problems parking our tour bus gave us only 45 minutes to visit this museum which is a shame. Our tour guide rushed us through some of the exhibits of textiles and gear worn by the Samurai and then told us that the museum had one of the best gift shops on the tour and sent us on our way. It was exceedingly hot and stuffy in the museum and the gift shop, while equally uncomfortable at least had some fans. There were only 3 cashiers on duty and when I got in line with my purchases there were at least 15 people ahead of me. I thought I'd go back to the museum on the extra days we had scheduled in Tokyo, but we just never got to it.
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

k_matsu132
Kushiro, Japan23,243 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Tokyo National Museum is Japan's largest museum, if not the most representative one. The museum buildings alone include the Main Building, Heiseikan, Toyokan, Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, and others, so just casually walking around can take up a huge amount of time.
We spent about half a day visiting part of the Main Building and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, and the next day toured part of the Toyokan. The museum grounds are vast, so we recommend stopping by several cafes and restaurants and narrowing down what you want to see before you go.
Google
Written 25 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gustavo Woltmann
London, UK41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
During our visit to the Tokyo National Museum with my family, we were captivated by both the beauty of the museum itself and the rich history it housed. Nestled in Ueno Park, the museum's architecture gave an immediate sense of grandeur, blending traditional and modern design.

As a family, we appreciated how well the museum was organized. With young children, it can sometimes be challenging to maintain focus in such a large space, but the museum’s layout made it easy to navigate. We started with the Honkan (Japanese Gallery), which showcased an impressive collection of Japanese art and artifacts, spanning from ancient to modern times. The variety was incredible—from stunning samurai armor to elegant ceramics and delicate kimonos. It was fascinating to see how Japanese culture and artistry evolved over the centuries, and the children were particularly drawn to the armor and swords.

One of the highlights for us was the Heiseikan, where we explored the exhibitions on Japanese archaeology and ancient history. The displays of pottery, tools, and ancient art helped paint a vivid picture of early Japanese life, and it was enriching to witness the deep roots of Japanese civilization. My children found the Jomon-era pottery and clay figurines intriguing, which opened up opportunities to talk about how people lived thousands of years ago.

The museum also offers interactive exhibits that engaged the whole family. We particularly enjoyed the Hyokeikan, which focused on Asian art, offering a broader cultural context that went beyond Japan. It was fascinating to see art and artifacts from neighboring countries and how they influenced each other throughout history.

The museum was well-prepared for family visits, with plenty of seating areas to rest and spacious, well-maintained facilities. The gift shop was a treat as well, offering a range of unique souvenirs, from replicas of ancient art to modern takes on traditional designs.

Our visit to the Tokyo National Museum was not only educational but also a fun and enriching family experience. The museum's ability to present history in an engaging and accessible way made it a memorable day for all of us. I highly recommend it for families looking to explore the cultural depths of Japan.
Written 15 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rodman100
Wellington, New Zealand754 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
Well worth a visit, the entrance fee is 1,000 yen (free to under 18 and over 60). The museum covers 3 buildings, where the main one covers Japanese history with kimono's, paintings and folding screens,lacquerware, arms and armour including samurai swords from the 12th and 13th century which are in pristine condition. The other 2 buildings are the Asian gallery which includes artifacts from around the world and the Japanese archaeology exhibits
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chowso
Gloucester, UK1,745 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
We tried to go here on a Saturday which was a mistake as the queue was huge to get in. We went back on a rainy day, first thing, and the queue was already substantial. I think it makes sense to book tickets in advance if you know when you are visiting.

This is one of those museums that you could spend a good half or full day in. The collections are pretty vast and interesting if you like relics and artifacts from foreign cultures. We spend a few hours here while it poured down outside. If if hadn't been raining we would have spent even longer as the gardens looked very nice.

There are some private collection pieces that you can't photograph - the guards will stop you and ask you to delete the photos. You also can't take any water around the gallery.

The sword collection here was good and better than the sword museum in Ryugoku in our opinion. The archaeological wing was really fascinating and I also loved the pottery. As time went on the museum got busier and busier so I'm glad we got there early and saw the bits that we really wanted to see before the crowds. When we left the queue had probably tripled.
Written 27 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OnAir803420
Tokyo, Japan27,549 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
There are various guided tours at the Tokyo National Museum, and in the past I have participated in the Garden Teahouse Tour and the Tree Tour, and this time I participated in the Building Walk Tour. Each tour focuses on appreciating three buildings, and this time the tour included the Main Building, Hyokeikan, and Toyokan. Whenever I visit the Tokyo National Museum, the focus is always on appreciating the exhibits, but this time I participated in the Building Walk Tour, and realized that the buildings themselves are the subject of appreciation. I recommend this tour to anyone interested in appreciating buildings. As an example of the Main Building, the current building (a National Important Cultural Property) is the second generation, and design proposals based on the style regulations of "Oriental style based on Japanese tastes" were publicly solicited, and the proposal by Watanabe Jin was selected. Examples of things I learned for the first time when I participated in the "Architecture Walking Tour" were: A "The ridgepole tiles on the roof of the front driveway are Vermilion Bird at the front, Blue Dragon on the right (east) and White Tiger on the left (west) (apparently there is no Black Tortoise)." B "The large clock on the main staircase leading to the second floor is installed with a beautiful relief, but when you look at the clock itself from below, it has a hemispherical bulge, which is technically very difficult and rare, as explained by the explanation." C "The wall in the lounge facing the garden on the first floor is decorated with a "Hosoge" pattern (a decorative pattern used in the Tang Dynasty in China and the Nara and Heian periods in Japan) and the lighting is in an Art Deco style." The tour is held on the first (Tuesday) and third (Saturday) of every month, from 11:30 to 12:10 (about 40 minutes). In the evening, the Main Building, Hyokeikan, and Toyokan are beautifully reflected in the pond in front of the Main Building, making for a wonderful sight (see attached photo).
Google
Written 7 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ralph Wilhelm
Carmel, IN799 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
The Tokyo National Museum was a totally pleasant and informative surprise. Suggest reserving tickets ahead of time due to interest; we went on last day of Golden Week and the crowd was quite low early in the day. Breath-taking view of Japan's history, the shogun period, the various emperors, outstanding shogun "outfits" and swords, terrific art. Well laid out and all artifacts labeled in English, Japanese, and Korean. We only spent three hours, but could have spent three days. Will have to make time to revisit and do more. If you are in the Tokyo area and have at least half a day, recommend highly. Please can take pictures of much of the collection...except a few artifacts that are clearly labelled as photography prohibited. Recommend this highly. But also suggest that good shoes and ability to walk a few miles is a huge help, but also a number of seats and benches around so that you can take a break when needed. P.S. wonderful museum store with very classy pictures, artifacts, screens and other things. Truly classy.
Written 6 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NottawaChelle
Collingwood, Canada39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Friends
With admission to the museum grounds being only approx $10 CDN, we found there was so much to see on these beautiful grounds and in the stately buildings that we ran out of time! The displays inside the Honkan Japanese Gallery were well curated with helpful explanation cards in English. The tea garden and pond with footpaths behind was a lovely break halfway through our perusal of the collections inside.
As one other reviewer write, it is quite warm inside so make sure to dress lightly your you’ll be uncomfortable.
Make sure to visit the children’s centre on the main floor even if you’re only with adults. Really good displays here of how artisans of old created their pieces.
Written 16 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ORTravelMom
Eugene, OR289 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
We arrived on a very rainy day. We were delighted to be pulled out of the line by staff since we were with a minor child, and moved to the front of the line! After paying for our entrance fee, we checked out a few buildings. The main building had an impressive collection of Buddhist statues, swords and other armament, as well as a large lounge area with drink vending machines. Many families brought their own snacks or lunches. There are also small lockers for backpacks/purses.
The building past the main one and to the left contains rotating exhibits on the second floor and the first floor has items from a much older period such as pottery and jewelry.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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