Attraction
Senso-ji
Tokyo's oldest and most visited Buddhist temple, reached through the Kaminarimon gate and the shop-lined Nakamise approach in historic Asakusa.
Tokyo National Museum
Japan's oldest national museum, founded in 1872, with a vast collection of Japanese and Asian art and archaeology across several galleries in Ueno Park.
At a glance
- Type
- Art and history museum
- Area
- Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- tnm.jp
Good to know
- Late opening Fri and Sat
- Free for under-18s and over-70s
- Free for disabled visitors and one companion
Why we recommend it
The Tokyo National Museum is the oldest museum in Japan, founded in 1872, and the best single place in the city to get a grip on Japanese art history. Its collection covers Japanese and wider Asian art and archaeology, and it is shown across several buildings set around a courtyard at the northern end of Ueno Park. Displays in the main galleries rotate regularly so that fragile works on paper and silk are rested, which means repeat visits rarely look the same.
Start in the Honkan, the Japanese Gallery, where a chronological route runs from early Buddhist sculpture through samurai armour, swords, lacquerware, ceramics, calligraphy and painted screens. The Toyokan, or Asian Gallery, covers China, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Egypt. The Heiseikan holds Japanese archaeology on its ground floor and the big special exhibitions upstairs, while the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, a calm modern building by Yoshio Taniguchi, displays objects from the ancient temple of Horyuji in Nara. The Hyokeikan and the Kuroda Memorial Hall complete the site.
Opening hours are 9:30 to 17:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The museum is closed on Mondays, except when Monday is a public holiday, in which case it closes the following day, and it stays open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Collection galleries cost 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for university students; visitors under 18 or over 70 get in free with proof of age, as do disabled visitors and one companion. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately. One room of the Honkan is closed for maintenance from late October 2026 until spring 2027.
It suits anyone with an interest in art, history or craft, and even a short visit gives a good overview. Allow at least three hours, or half a day if you add a special exhibition. The late evenings on Fridays and Saturdays are usually quieter. There is no parking at the museum, so come by train.
The Main Gate is about ten minutes' walk from JR Ueno or Uguisudani stations and around fifteen minutes from Ueno Station on the Ginza and Hibiya lines, Nezu Station on the Chiyoda Line or Keisei Ueno. The rest of Ueno Park, with its other museums, zoo and Shinobazu Pond, is on the doorstep.
Tokyo National Museum FAQs
Is the museum closed on Mondays?
Yes, except when Monday is a public holiday, in which case it closes the next day instead.
What are the opening hours?
9:30 to 17:00, with late opening until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
How much is entry?
Collection galleries cost 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for university students; under-18s and over-70s are free with proof of age.
Are special exhibitions included?
No, special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
How long should I allow?
At least three hours, or half a day with a special exhibition.
How do I get there?
It is about ten minutes' walk from JR Ueno or Uguisudani stations.
Is there parking?
No, the museum has no parking, so public transport is the way to arrive.
Which building should I see first?
The Honkan, the Japanese Gallery, gives a chronological overview of Japanese art.