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Museums and galleries in Tokyo

40 museums and galleries in Tokyo, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Museums and galleries in Tokyo

  1. SeeTaito

    Asakura Museum of Sculpture

    朝倉彫塑館

    Sculptor Asakura Fumio (Artist name Kōso 1883-1964) designed this atmospheric house himself. It combined his original Japanese home and garden with a large studio that incorporated vaulted ceilings, a 'sunrise room' and a rooftop garden with wonderful neighbourhood views. It's now a reverential museum with many artist's signature realist works, mostly of people and cats, on display. This is a wonderful place to stroll and contemplate the meaning of life. You must remove footwear before entering the museum, but cannot go barefoot, so you must wear socks.

    Tue Wed Fri-Sun 09:30-16:30Adult ¥500, student ¥250

  2. SeeShibuya

    Bunkamura

    Bunkamura-dori. A complex featuring an excellent art museum, in addition to theaters for film and stage plays. On the basement floor there's an art and design bookstore as well as a branch of Paris' famous Les Deux Magots café.

  3. SeeSumida

    Edo-Tokyo Museum

    江戸東京博物館 Edo-Tōkyō-hakubutsukan

    This bizarre multi-story edifice suspended in midair and bearing not a small resemblance to a Star Wars Imperial Walker (meant to be a replica of an old raised warehouse) covers the history of the metropolis, starting from 1590 when it was selected as Japan's new capital Edo, all the way through the Kanto earthquake and firebombings of World War II. The museum is built with the latest technology including life-size replicas of entire buildings and the Nihombashi Bridge. Free informative tours are available in several languages, depending on which volunteers are around; audio guides in several languages always available. Pair it up with a visit to the more intimately sized Fukagawa Edo Museum in nearby Kōtō ward, just a couple of stops away on the Toei Ōedo subway line.

    Tue-Sun 09:30 - 17:30, Sat 09:30 - 19:30; last admission 30 minutes before closing timeAdult ¥1,300, age 65 and over ¥650, university student with ID ¥1,040, younger students with ID free; ¥100 discount for advance purchase

  4. SeeShinjuku

    Fire Museum

    消防博物館

    Three fire-fighting helicopters, ten trucks, and 3 floors of exhibitions. Very popular with kids, who can wear fire-fighting clothes and ride some of the helicopters and trucks.

    09:30-17:00, closed on MondaysFree

  5. SeeAkasaka

    Fujifilm Square

    Fujifilm's exhibition space for the latest and greatest in photography. Exhibits are usually free and well worth a visit.

    Daily 10:00–19:00Free

  6. SeeShinagawa

    Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

    原美術館, hara-bijutsukan

    This small museum hosts a variety of interesting exhibitions in a 1930s house which is a great example of modern architecture in pre-war Japan. There is a very nice indoor/outdoor cafe. (2026: closed/moved to Gunma prefecture, see Wikipedia)

    Closed Mon; Tue Thu-Sun 11:00-17:00, Wed 11:00-20:00¥1000 adults, ¥700 students

  7. SeeShibuya

    Hikarie

    渋谷ヒカリエ

    Hikarie is a massive building on the east side of Shibuya Station with many restaurants, galleries, and theaters. Opened in 2012.

  8. SeeChiyoda

    Idemitsu Museum of Arts

    出光美術館, Idemitsu Bijutsukan

    Has a noteworthy collection centering on Japanese traditional arts.

    Daily 10:00-17:00 (until 19:00 on Fridays)¥1000 for adults

  9. SeeSumida

    Japanese Sword Museum

    刀剣博物館

    Display of all types of Japanese art swords and fittings, some of them centuries old. Beautiful view from balcony on 3rd floor over Kyū Yasuda Garden. Quite hefty entrance fee, but a must see for anyone interested in Japanese swords.

    Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00¥1,500

  10. SeeChiyoda

    Kitanomaru Park

    北の丸公園, kita-no-maru kōen

    Connected to the East Gardens on the north side is this park. Offering much of the same, it is a convenient way to get to Yasukuni Shrine. The park also houses the Nippon Budōkan (日本武道館), which regularly stages martial arts competitions and live concerts, as well as the Kagaku Gijyutsukan (科学技術館, Science museum).

  11. SeeMeguro

    Meguro Parasitological Museum

    目黒寄生虫館

    One of a kind and oddly popular with couples on dates, although you might want to skip lunch before (or after) your visit here as the exhibits and pictures can be rather graphic. A compact two-story building, the most famous exhibit inside is an 8.8-meter-long tapeworm, with a matching string for you to take the measurement.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; closed around New YearsFree; donations appreciated

  12. SeeChuo

    Mitsui Memorial Museum

    三井記念美術館, Mitsui Kinen Bijutsukan

    Art museum, the collection includes items used in the Japanese tea ceremony as well as Eastern antiques. Housed in an historic building dating back to 1926.

  13. SeeMinato

    Nezu Museum

    Showcases the private art collection of Nezu Kaichirō with many pieces from the Edo period.

  14. SeeGinza

    San-ai Building

    Closed in 2023 for rebuilding, reopen due 2027. The heart of Ginza is the intersection of Chuo-dori and Harumi-dori, dominated by the glass cylinder of this building. With its huge neon sign, it's been the image of Ginza on postcards and travel books for decades now. The other corners are occupied by Wako and Mitsukoshi, two of the most prestigious department stores (the former being a cut above), and the Nissan Gallery, which shows off new and classic automobiles.

  15. SeeMinato

    Sengaku-ji

    泉岳寺

    A temple most famous as the resting place of the 47 Rōnin, a famous group of samurai who banded together to avenge their unfairly slain master. Having obtained the head of the offender, they brought it to this very temple and then were condemned to commit ritual suicide, like their master. The story is told in Chūshingura, the best-known of all Kabuki plays. History aside, the temple isn't much to look at, but the small museum has artifacts from the event and after, including wooden statues of all the ronin, the banner that the ronin posted during their raid, original letters, and the receipt that the priests wrote out for the head. The graves are a popular site of pilgrimage to this day.

  16. SeeShinagawa

    Showa Neon Takamura Kanban Museum

    昭和ネオン高村看板ミュージアム

    The sign company Showa Neon has a museum with shop signs from the Edo and early Meiji periods. Reportedly all descriptions in this museum are in Japanese. Closed in June 2023 for renovation; reopen due in March 2025.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00Free

  17. SeeSumida

    Sumo Museum

    相撲博物館, sumō hakubutsukan

    A small, quirky museum tucked inside the arena's first floor, dedicated to the history of sumo, particularly artifacts and ceremonial clothing, almost entirely in Japanese only. The collection rotates several times a year. During sumo tournaments, it is open daily, but only to tournament ticket holders.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-16:30; closed Sat Sun & holidaysFree

  18. SeeMinato

    TEPIA

    Science museum showcasing new technologies, robots, home automation. Explanations are in Japanese but playing with the objects is still fun for kids and adults.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on holidaysFree

  19. SeeMinato

    Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum

    Former studio and house of Okamoto Taro. Unfinished works and paintings are shown. He made numerous masterpieces such as "Tower of the Sun" at the Expo 1970 and "Myth of the Future" mural now exhibited in Shibuya.

  20. SeeSumida

    Tobacco and Salt Museum

    たばこと塩の博物館 Tabako to Shio no Hakubutsukan

    This peculiar institution owes its existence to Japan's government monopoly on these two substances. The website advises that "dangerous substances are not permitted within the museum". They have map-guides of the museum in English and most exhibits have English translations. There is a free mobile-app based auto tour as well.

    Tue–Sun 10:00-17:00¥100

  21. SeeSumida

    Tobu Museum

    東武博物館

    A museum of railways and buses, operated by Tobu Railway. At the museum, visitors can also see trains running through Higashi Mukojima Station, which is located directly above the museum.

    Thu-Sun 10:00-16:30¥210

  22. SeeChiyoda

    Tokyo International Forum

    東京国際フォーラム, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu

    A massive, modern exhibition centre used for concerts, conventions and the like. On weekdays there are usually several food wagons selling boxed lunches, but aside from this there may not be much of interest to the casual tourist — except, of course, the impressive design. The atrium may be the most well-known symbol of the building, and one is able to stroll up the long, spiral walkway that runs along its glass-and-steel walls. The Tokyo Tourist Info Center, which used to be here, has been relocated to Shinjuku.

  23. SeeMinato

    Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

    東京都庭園美術館

    Art museum housed in a classic Art Deco style structure, connected to a small park with Japanese and Western gardens and outdoor sculptures.

  24. SeeAkasaka

    Tokyo Midtown

    Opened in April 2007, this competitor to Roppongi Hills boasts Tokyo's second tallest office building, a Ritz-Carlton and yet more endless acres of shopping and eating. Still, Midtown favors wood paneling and greenery over raw concrete and feels a little more human than Hills do. The main gallery (and the floor under) always have open Japanese art exhibits.

    Daily 11:00–24:00

  25. SeeChiyoda

    Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art

    東京国立近代美術館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Kindai Bijutsukan

    With a modest permanent collection on display and regularly changing exhibitions, MOMAT is a nice place to kill a couple of hours after you've seen the Imperial Palace across the road. Entry to the nearby Crafts Gallery is included in the price.

    Tue-Thu Sat-Sun 10:30-17:00, Fri 10:30-20:00, closed Mon¥420 for adults, ¥130 for students and children under 15 free. Admission is also free on May 18, November 3 and the first Sunday of every month. Special exhibits extra

  26. SeeChuo

    Tokyo Stock Exchange

    東京証券取引所 Tokyo shoken torihikijo

    Tokyo's stock exchange, while one of the largest in the world by capitalization, is now entirely automated, and the tiny building it resides in is mostly for show, featuring a small museum, exhibition hall, and broadcasting facilities. English tours can be booked in advance.

  27. SeeShinjuku

    Tokyo Toy Museum

    東京おもちゃ美術館 Tokyo omocha bijutsukan

    An old school filled with toys and fun small houses. Accompanying adults won't get bored, thanks to the variety of toys.

    10:00-16:00, closed on Thursdays¥500 per child, ¥700 per adult

  28. SeeShibuya

    Yamatane Museum of Art

    山種美術館, Yamatane bijutsukan

    Specializes in modern Japanese-style paintings and has a notable collection, though only a handful are on display at one time due to preservation issues.

    Daily 10:00-17:00¥600 per adult

  29. SeeChiyoda

    Yūshūkan War Memorial Museum

    遊就館

    An odd collection of military paraphernalia (including human torpedoes and letters from kamikaze pilots) and one-sided (allegedly revisionist according to the Chinese, Koreans and other Asian countries except Taiwan) descriptions of Imperial Japan and World War II, but it can be pretty confronting at times. The museum includes a small military history book and model shop.

    Daily 09:00-16:30Adult ¥1000, post-secondary student ¥500, high school student ¥300, child free

  30. SeeMinato Not mapped

    Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square

    伝統工芸 青山スクエア

    Gallery and shop for handicraft products from all over Japan.

    Closed · opens 11 amFree

  31. SeeTaito Not mapped

    SCAI The Bathhouse

    A small gallery showing the work of contemporary artists, the building is a former sento, or bathhouse.

    Closed Sun, Mon, holidays

  32. SeeTaito Not mapped

    Shitamachi Museum Annex

    下町風俗資料館付設展示場, shitamachifū-shiryōkan-fusetsu-tenjijō

    Many buildings scattered around the Yanaka district survived the bombings of World War II, including this former sake store built in 1910. Characteristic of Meiji-era architecture, the building now houses a small museum of sake and beer equipment.

    Tue-Sun 09:30-16:30, closed Mon, also Tue following a holiday. Closed until March 2025 for renovationsFree

  33. DoBunkyo

    Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

    野球殿堂博物館

    1-3-61, Kōraku

    Mar-Sep: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Oct-Feb: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Dec 29-Jan 1Adults ¥500, seniors ¥300, children ¥200; discounts for groups of 20 or more

  34. SeeSumida

    Ryogoku Fireworks Museum

    両国花火資料館 ryōgoku hanabi shiryōkan

    2-10-8 Ryogoku

    Thu-Sat 12:00-16:00, open daily Jul-AugFree

  35. SeeAkasaka

    Suntory Museum of Art

    Hosts changing art exhibitions.

    Sun–Thu 10:00–18:00, Fri,Sat 10:00–20:00c. ¥1300

  36. SeeMeguro Not mapped

    Japan Folk Crafts Museum

    日本民藝館

    Founded in 1936. Must see for Japanese handicraft lovers.

  37. SeeMinato Not mapped

    Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless

    森ビル デジタルアート ミュージアム：エプソン チームラボボーダレス (チームラボボーダレス, 麻布台ヒルズ, 東京)

    Art museum with immersive art exhibits.

    Daily 08:30-21:00¥3600-5600, depending on how far in advance you buy

  38. SeeSumida Not mapped

    Paulownia Wood Furniture Museum

    桐の博物館 kiri no hakubutsukan

    4-1-3 Ryogoku

    Thu-Tue 10:00-18:00

  39. SeeSumida Not mapped

    Sumo Photo Museum

    相撲写真資料館

    3-13-2 Ryogoku

    Open Tue only, but every day during sumo tournaments

  40. SeeSumida Not mapped

    Tabi Museum

    足袋資料館 / tabi shiryōkan / Japanese socks

    1-9-3 Midori

    Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tokyo (CC BY-SA 4.0).