There is no city more diverse and vivacious than Tokyo. It’s a place where historic shrines and ancient temples mix with modernity, showcasing how this forward-thinking city embraces its traditions as it moves into the future. There are so many things to do in Tokyo that give travellers a chance to connect with the culture, learn about Japan’s lengthy history, and admire its long-standing traditions. But if you’re short on time, the best place to start is one of these world-class Tokyo museums.
1. Tokyo National Museum
If you only have time for one museum, then the Tokyo National Museum is it for a well-rounded blend of art, history, and culture. As Japan’s largest museum, it contains over 120,000 items (though not all on display at once), and boasts the largest collection of Japanese art in the world.
The highlight of the museum is the Main Hall (Honkan), which is the first gallery you enter. It contains a huge collection of Japanese art, from sculptures to calligraphy to authentic kimonos to historic Samurai swords.
Another inspiring stop is the Asian Gallery (Toyokan), featuring ancient artefacts and archaeological findings from across Asia, east of Egypt.
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2. The National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAT Tokyo)
The National Museum of Modern Art is a well-curated art museum known for its huge collection of Japanese art from the Meiji period (1868-1912) to today. The museum celebrates a range of different styles and mediums, from Western-style artwork and oil paintings to traditional Sumi-e style (ink brush) artwork. It’s particularly noted for its collection of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints — 8,000 of them in total, coming from all around the world.
What sets MOMAT apart is that it only shows 200 pieces from its 13,000-strong collection at one time, showcased in a series of 12 themed rooms. Because most of the museum is made of temporary exhibits, every time you visit there is something unique to experience.
3. teamLab Planets
teamLab Planets is probably the most mind-bending art installation in Japan. It’s the best example of the nation’s pioneering position in the digital space and leadership in cutting-edge technology.
As an immersive experience, teamLab Planets invites guests to remove their shoes and walk barefoot through its four large exhibit spaces and engage with digital installations that blur the lines between art and nature.
Walk on water, pick up the light, and become one with the flowers — you are as much part of the installation as the sounds, lights, and special effects. As you walk through, the art changes as your body moves and interacts with it.
teamLab is a collective effort, created by a group of artists, engineers, programmers, and CG animators who call themselves “ultra-technologists." teamLab Planets began in 2018, after the team’s debut teamLab Borderless was a huge success, and will exhibit until 2027.
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4. Yayoi Kusama Museum
Yayoi Kusama is one of the most influential modern artists in Japan, known for her eccentric style and avante-garde pieces. She’s famously known for using vibrant colours and repeating patterns. She also holds the nickname ‘Princess of Dots’ for her enthusiastic use of polka dots in her pieces.
The Yayoi Kusama Museum is the only museum dedicated to the artist, though you need a plan as only 200 timed-entry tickets are sold each day. This allows visitors a more intimate experience and avoids overcrowding in the tiny museum.
The museum presents Kusama’s most famous pieces, from her earlier years up until the present day, and was curated by the artist herself. There’s also a special space where she showcases her brand-new work, as well as hosting special exhibits that change twice yearly.
5. Mori Art Museum
Opening in 2003 on the 53rd and 54th floor of Mori Tower, the Mori Art Museum is a contemporary art museum founded by property tycoon Minoru Mori, featuring high-calibre multi-media installations.
The best way to describe the pieces on display in Mori Art Museum is large-scale, mind-boggling pieces. Everything about MAM feels dystopian and futuristic; from the minute you walk through the door and are guided into a high-speed elevator to the elliptical-shaped exhibition space.
Its private collection is only around 460 pieces, with a particular focus on avant-garde pieces from East Asia, but it’s well known for showcasing temporary exhibitions from internationally acclaimed artists such as Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, and Yoko Ono.
6. Ghibli Museum
Paying homage to the beloved animation studio, Studio Ghibli, the Ghibli Museum is part museum, part playground, and all lovingly inspired by the studio’s greatest characters and stories.
Located in Mitaka's Inokashira Park, the Ghibli Museum is hard to miss — just look for the life-size Totoro statue peeking through the entrance window.
As you walk through whimsical room after room, climbing spiral staircases and peeping through portholes, you’ll learn about the life and legacy of Studio Ghibli and its founder, Hayao Miyazaki. A highlight of the museum is the Cat Bus, which you can climb aboard and sit inside.
While some exhibits are interactive, they’re mostly designed for children. Naturally, even adults can get in on the fun and watch short animations in the Saturn Theater. The impressive ‘Where a Film is Born’ exhibit shows the storyboarding process and how ideas turn from thought to paper to reality.
The Ghibli movies are a quintessential part of Japanese culture and introduced anime culture to the wider world. In fact, The Boy and the Heron, released by Studio Ghibli in 2023, is the only Japanese animation to win an Oscar to date.
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7. National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
It’s no secret that Japan’s technology industry is a far cry ahead of anywhere else in the world, it’s what makes Japan… Japan.
One of the best places to learn about Japan’s technological advancements is at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, also known as Miraikan, which means ‘Future Museum’ in English.
A notable exhibit is the ‘Hello! Robots’ exhibit where you can see Asimo, a humanoid robot created by Honda in 2000. Asimo was the first of its kind and created to help humans. It can dance, run, hop, climb stairs, and even play soccer!
Another cool exhibit, featured in the ‘Create Your Future’ section, is called ‘Park of Aging’, where you learn about the ways technology will support, or even replace, the human aging process.
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8. 21_21 Design Sight
21_21 Design Sight features all things design. It was created by architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake. The building itself is one of Ando’s greatest works and made up of two large galleries, aptly named Gallery 1 and 2, featuring temporary exhibits dedicated to all things design.
From experimental to innovative, from practical products to elaborate 3D printed spectacles, this museum proves there are no limits to what can be achieved with a bit of imagination and engineering.
9. The Sumida Hokusai Museum
No doubt you’ve seen Katsushika Hokusai’s works before without even realising it. His most famous piece, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, is one of the most reproduced images in the history of art.
Finished in 1831, it was created using a woodblock printing style called Ukiyo-e, which Hokusai is considered to have invented. His work has been influential to many great Western artists such as Claude Debussy, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude Monet.
The Sumida Hokusai Museum is the only museum dedicated to Hokusai. It’s small with only one room, but it has been well curated with bilingual information.
The exhibit tells the story of Hokusai’s life, legacy, and what makes him the most celebrated artist from the Edo period.
10. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Although the Metropolitan Teien Art Tokyo is an art museum, most people come to admire the building itself rather than the pieces it contains. It was once home to Prince Asaka Yasuhiko and his family, and constructed in 1933 in an Art Deco style. The items on display are mostly artwork, furnishings, and antiques owned by the prince and his family.
A highlight of the museum is the garden surrounding the entire building. The word Teien translates to ‘Japanese garden’ in English, and arguably TMTAM’s garden is one of the finest examples. This green oasis is split into three sections, featuring carefully manicured lawns, bonsais, and koi fish ponds, and changes with the seasons.
