The Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), founded in 1872 and set in Ueno Park, is Japan’s oldest and largest museum, and home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Japanese art and archaeology. Its vast holdings — over 110,000 items including scores of designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties — span the whole sweep of Japanese culture: samurai swords and armour, exquisite Buddhist sculpture, painted screens and scrolls, ceramics, lacquerware, ukiyo-e woodblock prints, kimono and textiles, and archaeological finds. The complex comprises several buildings, with the Honkan (Japanese Gallery) presenting a chronological journey through Japanese art, the Toyokan showing Asian art, and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures displaying ancient Buddhist objects. There’s far too much to see in one visit, so focus on the Honkan highlights. For anyone interested in Japanese history, art or samurai culture, it’s an essential and rewarding Tokyo museum.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo |
| Hours | ~9:30–17:00 (closed Mon) |
| Admission | Paid (extra for specials) |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time | Year-round |
What to See
- The Honkan gallery’s journey through Japanese art.
- Samurai swords and armour, and Buddhist sculpture.
- Painted screens, ceramics, lacquerware and ukiyo-e.
- National Treasures and the Horyuji Treasures gallery.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Ueno Park around it.
- Pair with Ueno Zoo nearby.
- Read our Tokyo overview .
Getting There
- By train: to Ueno Station, then through Ueno Park.
- On foot: at the north end of Ueno Park.
Tips
Don’t try to see everything — focus on the Honkan (Japanese Gallery) for the essential highlights of samurai, Buddhist and classical art. Allow at least a couple of hours, note it’s closed on Mondays, check for special exhibitions (which cost extra), and combine it easily with the rest of Ueno Park.
