Opening up in 1959, the National Museum of Western Art is Japan’s only national institution devoted to western art. It started off with the Matsukata Collection which focused on impressionist art and Auguste Rodin's sculptures previously owned by the French. Since it’s opening, the museum has been collecting works ranging from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Every year, it has bought and collected art from around the world in order to expand and educate people in Western Art. The museum features arts by artists such as Money, Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir and much more. It also has a nice garden to take a stroll in.

Entrance fee: 500 Yen for adults, 200 yen for University, Free for 65&over/18&under

Photo credit: Japan Visitor

Address: 7-7 Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007, JAPAN (Located in Ueno Park)

Hours: Closed Mondays and New Years holiday, 9:30am - 5:30pm (8pm Fridays and Saturdays)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: (03)5777-8600

Website: https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/index.html

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Ueno Station, Park Exit on the JR Lines.

 

The Edo Tokyo Museum is the first museum built dedicated to Tokyo’s history. It’s a place to reflect on the past and culture of Edo (Tokyo was named Edo until 1868) and also envision what Tokyo could become in the future. The museum features many interesting exhibitions such as the life size replica of Nihonbashi - which used to be the area around the famous bridge (still exists) that marked the zero marker for all roads leading out from Japan - model towns and villages across the different eras and replicas of kabuki theaters. The museums architecture is a unique building that’s modeled after a traditional rice storehouse and is the same height as the Edo Castle. This building is a landmark and tourist attraction in Tokyo.

Entrance fee: 600 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for 65&over, 480 Yen for University Students, 300 Yen for Junior High and High School Students, Free for under Junior High

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address: Koganei Park, 3 Chome-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-0005

Hours: Closed Mondays and New years holiday, 9:00am - 5:30pm (7:30 on Saturdays)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 042-388-3300

Website: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/

How to get there: A 6 minute walk from Ryogoku Station, East Exit on the JR Line.

 

Established in 1871, this is one of Japan’s biggest science museums with over 25,000 artifacts in possession. This museum features exhibits about outer space, nature, history, science and climate, possesses a 360 degree theater and many hands-on activities to learn about science which is great for kids. The mission statement for this museum is to be able to allow people to appreciate the earth, life, nature and science and how they can co-exist together.

Entrance fee: 630 Yen General admission, Free for High School students and under

Photo credit: Time Out Tokyo

Address: 7-20 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8718

Hours: Closed Mondays and New years holiday, 9:00am - 5:00pm (8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 03-5777-8600

Website: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ueno Station, park Exit on the JR Line. A 10 min. walk from Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza/Hibiya Lines.

 

Miraikan means the place for the future - a name that fits it’s experience. At Miraikan, you are able to view the world of today from a scientific point of view and explore the future of science. You can enjoy hands on activities, witness cool exhibitions like their dome theater show and their performance from ASIMO the robot and learn about the innovative sciences from Japan. It’s definitely one of the most unique science museums around!

Entrance fee:

630 Yen for adults, 210 yen for 18&under

Dome Theater entrance: 10 yen for Adults, 100 Yen for 18&under

Photo credit: Miraikan website

Address: 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, New years holiday, 10:00am - 5:00pm

*If Tuesday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: +81-3-3570-9151

Website: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Tokyo International Cruise Station or a 4 minute walk from the Telecom Center Station on the Yurikamome Line

 

A one of a kind museum, the Baseball Hall of Fame museum opened in 1959 right next to the Korakuen Stadium - a mecca for baseball. The stadium gave way to the Tokyo Dome where the museum currently sits, which is a true professional baseball symbol throughout Japan. This museum is dedicated to baseball greats such as players, executives, umpires etc by having an extensive collection and exhibitions of all things baseball including baseball literature.

Entrance fee:

600 Yen for adults, 400 Yen for 65&over, 400 Yen for University and High School Students, 200 Yen for elementary and Junior High students

Photo credit: Japan Visitor

Address: 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0004 (Located in Tokyo Dome)

Hours: Closed Mondays and holidays. *If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Macrh-September: 10am - 6pm

October-February: 10am - 5pm

Tel: N/A

Website: http://english.baseball-museum.or.jp/

How to get there: A 6 minute walk from Korakuen Station, Exit 5 on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. Or a 4 minute walk from Korakuen Station, Exit 2 on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. The museum is located inside the Tokyo Dome.

 

Tokyo has been prone to floods, earthquakes, disasters and warfare for the past couple hundred years making it hard to place to preserve and keep old, historical buildings alive. In 1993, the Tokyo Government created this massive 7 hectare museum to relocate, reconstruct and keep old buildings to ensure future generations will keep learning about the values of the past. This includes old farmhouses, temples, bars, resident homes, shops and more. It’s a great place to experience

Entrance fee: 400 Yen for adults, 200 Yen for 65&over, 320 Yen for University Students, 200 Yen for High School students, Free for Junior High and under

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address:  3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo (inside Koganei Park) 184-0005

Hours: Closed Mondays and holidays. *If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

April-September: 9:30am - 5:30pm

October-March: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Tel: 042-388-3300

Website: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the North exit of Musashi-Koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line.

 

Katsuki Hokusai is a world renowned Japanese artist who is famous for his 36 views of Mt. Fuji ukiyo-e paintings. You might recognize some of his paintings such as the Great Wave of Kanagawa which is arguably one of his most popular works. He was born in present day Sumida Ward, Tokyo where he spent much of his life. To honor him and his work, this museum was built in 2016 where you can learn about his life and his relationship to Sumida through high definition, life size replicas of his art.

Entrance fee: 400 Yen for adults, 300 yen for University, High School students, seniors, free for middle school and under

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 2-7-2 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0014

Hours: Closed Mondays and New Years holiday, 9:30am - 5:30pm

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: N/A

Website: https://hokusai-museum.jp/?lang=en

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ryogoku Station Exit A3 on the Toei Oedo Line

 

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The National Art Center Tokyo is one of the five institutions organized under the  Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art. This museum is unique in that it doesn’t keep a permanent collection like most museums do, but rather utilizes it’s massive 14,000 square meter facility as one giant exhibition hall. The exhibitions are changing every month featuring different artists, themes and various art exhibitions.

Entrance fee: Depends on the exhibition

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address:  7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-8558

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, 10am - 6pm (8:00pm on Friday and Saturday)

*If Tuesday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 03-5777-8600

Website: https://www.nact.jp/english/

How to get there: The museum is directly connected to Nogizaka Stations Exit 6 on the Chiyoda Line. It is a 4 minute walk from exit 7 of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo metro Hibiya Line and Toei Oedo Subway.

 

The Tokyo National Museum is an art museum and is one of four museums run by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. It is also the oldest national museum in Japan, largest art museum in Japan and one of the largest in the world. With over 100,000 items in possession including 89 national treasures of Japan, this museum focuses on artwork and cultural objects from all over Asia with a primary focus on ancient and medieval Japan.

Entrance fee: 1000 Yen for adults, 500 yen for University students, free for 18&un and 70&ov

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address: 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8712

Hours: Closed Mondays and New Years holiday, 9:30am - 5pm (9:00pm on Friday and Saturday)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: +81-(50)-5541-8600

Website: https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from the JR Ueno Station on the JR Line or a 10 minute walk from the JR Uguisudani Station

 

Studio Ghibli is Japan’s world renowned animation studio that equals that of Disney’s impact and caliber. This unique museum doesn’t display the past works and history of the museum but rather an immersive experience into the world of Ghibli with some of it’s friendliest characters such as Totoro! The leading director of the Studio, Hayao Miyazaki, wrote a poem of how he wants the museum to be. He describes how he wants it to be welcomed by all people - not just Ghibli fans - and how he wants to inspire people through this unique museum. Here’s the first stanza of the poem by him:

A museum that is interesting and which relaxes the soul
A museum where much can be discovered
A museum based on a clear and consistent philosophy
A museum where those seeking enjoyment can enjoy,
those seeking to ponder can ponder, and those seeking to feel can feel
A museum that makes you feel more enriched
when you leave than when you entered!

You can read more on it’s website which is linked below.

Entrance fee:

*TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED AND RESERVED IN ADVANCED. It may take up to a month to reserve tickets at time.

1000 Yen for 19&over, 700 yen 13-18 years old, 400 yen 7-12 years old, 100 yen 4-6 years old, free for 3 and under.

Photo Credit: Itinari

Address: 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013

Hours: Closed Tuesdays and New Years holiday, 10am - 6pm

*If Tuesday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: N/A

Website: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/

How to get there: A 15 minute walk from the South Exit of the JR Mitaka Station on the Chuo Line. You can purchase a community bus ticket that runs from the station to the museum as well.