Must-Visit Museums in Tokyo

There are about 100 museums and galleries in Tokyo in various genres such as modern art, history, digital art, science and anime. In this article, I have listed must-visit museums in Tokyo by area. Don’t miss a chance to visit the world-class museums while you are in Tokyo!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

Shibuya/Harajuku Area

– Yebisu Beer Museum

The museum dedicated to one of the leading Japanese beer brands, Yebisu. Yebisu Beer Museum (ヱビスビール記念館) is a free admission museum with the gallery displaying the history of the premium beer brand. There is a paid guide tour through the museum including tasting of 2 kinds of beer.

Related article: Museum of YEBISU BEER : Tour and Beer Tasting!

– Nezu Museum

Nezu Museum (根津美術館) is an art museum located in Aoyama area, Tokyo. The museum displays the private collection of over 7400 pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art pieces by Nazu Kaichiro. Besides the impressively large collection of artworks, the museum’s architecture design by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is also highly regarded.

Related article: Nezu Museum: Feel the Beauty of Japanese Art

– Yamatane Museum of Art

Yamatane Museum of Art (山種美術館) is the first museum in the country speclaized in Nihonga (Japanese painting) and displays a collection of contemporary Japanese art and watercolour painting. The museum was founded by Taneji Yamazaki who also domated a number of artworks from his collection.

▶ Book Admission Ticket to Yamatane Museum of Art

– Meguro Parasitological Museum

Meguro Parasitological Museum (目黒寄生虫館) one of the most unique, and definitely the creepiest museum in Tokyo showcasing over 300 preserved specimens of parasites in the 2-story building as well as the educational overview about parasites. The museum is admission free.

Related article: Meguro Parasitological Museum in Tokyo

Shinjuku Area

– Yayoi Kusama Museum

Yayoi Kusama is one of the most influential female artists alive today. Her very own museum, Yayoi Kusama Museum (草間彌生美術館)  has opened in Shinjuku area in 2017 and displays some of the most impressive artworks of hers in the 5 storied building including a library, rooftop gallery and a museum shop.

Related article: Yayoi Kusama Museum in Shinjuku, Tokyo

-Fire Museum Tokyo

One of the most unique museums in Tokyo, Fire Museum Tokyo (消防博物館) exhibits the history of firefighting in Tokyo from Edo Period to modern days, and a collection of vintage fire engines worldwide.

Website: https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/eng/e_museum.html

Roppongi/Akasaka Area

-Mori Art Museum

Mori Art Museum (森美術館) is a modern contemporary art museum and its gallery is situated at the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. The museum holds temporary exhibitions through the year in various genres such as fashion, architecture, installations around the world. Some of the exhibitions can be entered with the same tickets for the Tokyo City View observation deck.

Tickets ▶ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Tokyo City View & Sky Deck

– The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo/NACT (国立新美術館) is one of the largest museums in Japan, designed by the renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa. The museum does not have collections or permanent exhibits, but only displays temporary exhibitions sponsored and curated by other organizations.

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

-Suntory Museum of Art

Suntory Museum of Art (サントリー美術館) is an art museum located in Tokyo Midtown. It’s owned by the Suntory corporation, a famous Japanese beverage company. The museum mainly focuses on the collection theme of the art works that express “Art in life”.

Website: https://www.suntory.co.jp/sma/

Related article: Roppongi Art Triangle: 3 Tokyo’s Cutting-edge Art Museums

– MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless

teamLab Borderless (チームラボ ボーダーレス), formerly located in Odaiba area, has been one of top attractions in Tokyo visited by millions of visitors from all around the world. Despite its popularity, it closed in 2022 summer, however reopened in a new location in early 2024, inside the Azabudai Hills, a new landmark of Tokyo. The digital art museum offers an immersive art experience with colourful and futuristic art installations.

▶ Book Tickets for teamLab Borderless TOKYO, Azabudai Hills

Related article: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless to Reopen

-Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Gallery

The largest publishing company, Shueisha is known for publishing a large number of legendary anime series such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen which were serialized on their manga magazines such as Weekly Shonen Jump. Shueisha’s first permanent exhibition, Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Gallery opened its door in 2023, exhibiting exclusive manga artworks that are produced by the manga artists and the publisher. It’s located inside Azabudai Hills, a brand-new multi-use complex of three skyscrapers.

More info: Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery

Central Area

– National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (東京国立近代美術館), a.k.a. MOMAT is the foremost museum featuring modern Japanese art in Tokyo and one of the lagest museums in Japan. The museum is home to over 13,000 pieces of artworks including masterpieces and National Important Cultural Properties.

▶ Buy Admission Ticket to The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Official Website: http://www.momat.go.jp/english/

– The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan

The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan (貨幣博物館) is a museum about Japanese currency. It displays currency and currency-related historical and cultural materials in the area divided by era. It’s situated in front of the Bank of Japan building.

Website: https://www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/

Asakusa/Ueno Area

– SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO With Experience

SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO With Experience is a new attraction in Tokyo. Located in Asakusa in SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO you can do several unique activities and feel like an samurai or ninja for a day, from wearing authentic samurai armor to ninja training, including a two-floor museum.

Related article: SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO With Experience

– National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art (国立西洋美術館) is a public art gallery specializing in art from the Western tradition located inside Ueno Park.  In 2016, the main building of the museum was registered to the UNESCO World Heritage site as an Important Cultural Property as one of the 17 works by the Swiss architect, Le Corbusier.

Related article: National Museum of Western Art: The World Heritage Museum in Tokyo!

– Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館) is the oldest and largest museum in Japan established in 1872. The museum houses a massive collection of over 100,000 artworks including 87 Japanese National Treasures 610 Important Cultural Properties.

Related article: Japan’s Oldest and Largest Museum: Tokyo National Museum

– National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science (国立科学博物館) is located at the northeast of Ueno Park. It was established in 1877, and it’s today’s one of the oldest museums in Japan. The museum offers comprehensive exhibition of natural history and the history of science and technology.

Related article: National Museum of Nature and Science: Meet the Dinosaurs in Tokyo!

– Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (東京都美術館) is an art museum situated within Ueno Park, Tokyo, mainly displaying temporary art exhibitions in various genres by Japanese and foreign artists.

Related article: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

-Shitamachi Museum

Shitamachi Museum (下町風俗資料館) is located on the shores of Shinobazu Pond within Ueno Park. It’s dedicated to the traditional culture and lifestyles of Tokyo’s old town (Shitamachi in Japanese) with life-size replicas of houses and a collection of a variety of documents and objects.

Website: http://www.momat.go.jp/english/

-Tokyo-Edo Museum

Edo-Tokyo Museum (江戸東京博物館) showcases the 400 years history and the culture of Tokyo during Edo Period such as the life size replica of the buildings ans the scale model of towns and buildings from Edo to Showa periods.

Related article: Edo-Tokyo Museum: Experience the Great History of Tokyo!

– Katsushika Hokusai Museum

Katsushika Hokusai Museum (すみだ北斎美術館) is a museum dedicated to the legendary Ukiyoe painter from Edo Period, Hokusai Katsushika and showcases the full-scale replica of his work such as  “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” and “Fine Wind, Clear Morning”.

Related article: Sumida Hokusai Museum: Enjoy Ukiyo-e Art in Tokyo!

-Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo

Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (東京都現代美術館)  is a contemporary art museum located in Kiba Park in Koto, Tokyo. The museum focuses on modern/contemporary art and displays a wide range of artworks from Japan and abroad.

Official Website: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en/

Odaiba Area

– National Museum of Emerging Science

National Museum of Emerging Science (日本科学未来館) a.k.a. Miraikan is a science museum created by Japan’s Science and Technology Agency. It displays the cutting edge technology and the history of innovationw with exhibitions, hands-on activities, theatres and demonstrations.

▶ Book National Museum of Nature and Science Ticket in Tokyo 

Related article: MIRAIKAN: Tokyo National Museum of Emerging Science

-Madame Tussauds Tokyo

The unique museum from London showcasing wax sculptures of celebrities and famous figures with numbers of branch museums across the world. At Madame Tussauds Tokyo (マダムタッソー 東京), there are about 70 wax sculptures of both Japanese and international superstars.

▶ Book tickets for Madame Tussauds Tokyo!

-Unko Museum

Unko Museum (うんこミュージアム) which literally means the “Poop Museum”, is an unique yet entertaining museum located in Odaiba area, Tokyo. The museum combines poop and the Kawaii culture and offers poop themed art, goods, and interactive contents in a colourful entertainment space.

▶ Book Unko Museum Admission Ticket

-Tokyo Trick Art Museum

Tokyo Trick Art Museum (東京トリックアート迷宮館) is a quirky and entertaining museum offering numbers of optical illusions and 3D paintings. Guests can interact with an unique art experience and take a lot of funny pictures.

▶ Book Tokyo Trick Art Museum Admission Ticket

Other Area

– Ghibli Museum

Ghibli Museum (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館) is a top visited tourist site in Tokyo, dedicated to Studio Ghibli, the world’s famous animation production founded by Hayao Miyazaki. The museum showcases the art and works of Studio Ghibli animations including temporary exhibitions, cafe, museum shop, play room and garden.

Related article: Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo

-teamLab Planets TOKYO

teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM (チームラボプラネッツ TOKYO DMM) is another digital art museum produced by teamLab, which is situated in Toyosu area, only a short walk from Toyosu Market.  It opened shortly after the teamLab Borderless in Odaiba area in 2018. The museum is based on the concept of body immersive, which visitors can feel and enjoy the art works by using not only mind but also several senses through the body.

▶ Book teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu Now!!

More info: TeamLab Planets Tokyo in Toyosu

-Doraemon Museum

Fujiko F Fujio Museum (藤子・F・不二雄ミュージアム), known as the Doraemon Museum is the museum dedicated to the work of Fujiko F Fujio, one of the most famous manga/anime creators from Japan, whose notable work is Doraemon. The museum is located in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which can be accessed within 20 mins from the central Tokyo.

▶︎Book your tickets in advance to Fujiko F Fujio Museum!

-Snoopy Museum

Snoopy Museum (スヌーピーミュージアム) once opened in Roppingi area, Tokyo from 2016 to 2018, then reopened in Machida City in late 2019. The museum display the art of Peanuts through original comic materials and other exhibits as well as special exhibitions. The museum also has a merchandise store and a cafe.

Related article: Snoopy Museum Tokyo Newly Opened in Machida

-Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

Shunkaen Bonsai Museum (春花園BONSAI美術館) showcases the extensive collection of artistic Bonsai trees in a gallery and a traditional Japanese garden with pond. Some cultural activities are also available at the museum such as wearing Kimono and tea ceremony.

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▽Check the list of the best museums around Japan including trendy art museums and classic spots!▽

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