Top museums in Tokyo — Top 10 best museums in Tokyo you must visit

Whether you are a local resident or a traveler, let’s come to visit these incredible museums in Tokyo. Tokyo is known as the home of the world’s most impressive works of art, film, science, history, and culture. It means you’ll be able to admire both local and national museums spreading across the city. Thus, choosing the destinations for visiting may be a challenge. To save your time, we’ve just listed following top 10 places you should come to. If you are a local resident, there is no reason in order not to visit these places. To the tourists, even if you only stay at Tokyo for a few days or longer, let’s come to visit these attractions at least half of them. Are you finding some interesting museums in Tokyo and best museums in Tokyo? Let’s discover top museums in Tokyo with top 10 museums in Tokyo from art, nature to history museum with Living Nomads below. Now let’s go!

National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science is located in the northeast corner of Ueno Park in Tokyo and known as an interesting place for those who have a concern about the history, nature, and technology. The museum is very large and has an impressive collection of fossil flora and fauna, which are displayed spectacularly. The technological advances are also recorded and a variety of tools, instruments, materials, and objects are used to preserve and served for the study of our surrounding world. Why don’t you go for a walk around the Ueno Park and visit the museum to experience the surprises here? Remember to see the large and lovely blue whale statue right next to the entrance.

Open: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday and Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
From Saturday to Friday
Location: 7-20 Ueno Park, Taito-Ku
Admission: ¥ 620 (for adults), free for high school students and less older.

Tokyo National Museum

Being located at Ueno park, the Tokyo National Museum is the oldest and most famous of Japan’s top-level national museums. Having been established since 1872, the museum exhibits a variety of Japanese artwork such as antiques and artifacts from both Japan and other countries in East Asia area. The museum mainly displays the artworks, archeological objects, historical documents and preserves about 110,000 items (89 of them are national treasures). The Tokyo National Museum is the ideal place for those who have a passion for Japanese or East Asian culture and history.

Open: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday (except Monday)
Location: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-Ku
Admission: ¥620 (for adults); ¥410 (for students); free for primary students, secondary students, high school students, people who are under 18 and over 70 years old.

Suntory Museum of Art

Placed on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown, the Suntory Museum of Art has operated since 1961 with a basic concept of “Lifestyle Art.” The current collection consists of over 3000 articles. Each article attaches to a specific theme related to Japan life. Although not having regular exhibits, there are various paintings, lacquer paintings, pottery, glassware and other products – and of course special exhibitions over years. Moreover, the museum also serves the traditional tea ceremonies on Thursdays at the Genchoan Tea Room.

Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday; 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Location: 9-7-4, Akasaka, Minato-ku
Admission: variable depending on each exhibit, free for high school students and younger.

Folk Craft Museum

The Folk Craft Museum founded by Soetsu Yanagi in 1936 is known as a place displaying mingei (the folk artworks). The collection of the museum contains about 17.000 artifacts including textiles, wood furniture, paintings, and other handmade items. There are also artworks from Okinawa, the Korean Peninsula, China and Taiwan.

Open: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: 44-3-33, Komaba, Meguro-Ku
Admission: ¥1,100 (for adults), ¥600 (for students from secondary schools and universities), ¥200 (for students from primary schools and secondary schools).

Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum

Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum honors the work of pioneering painter and sculptor – Taro Okamoto. After Okamoto’s death in 1996, his house and studio were remodeled into a museum with a view to displaying works of art and sharing his creations with the public. Visitors can visit exactly where Taro Okamoto stay and work. The museum stores a range of Okamoto’s works including sculptures and paintings, as well as a shop on the first floor where visitors can buy a lot of books and products that are inspired by his works.

Open: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: 6-1-19, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
Admission: ¥620 (general price), ¥310 (for primary students)

Bunkamura Museum of Art

Taking about 12 minutes to walk from Shibuya Station, Bunkamura is a complex of museums, theaters, concert halls and cinemas. Visitors can enjoy a range of cultural and artistic experiences at the same venue. Opened in 1989, Bunkamura exists as a cultural complex that praises art, performance, music, and film. The museum attracts about 2.8 million visitors each year and is the perfect destination for art lovers and filmmakers.

Open: from 10:00 AM (Closing time is up to each the facility of the museum.
Location: 2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku
Admission: Various and depending on each exhibition.

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation – also known as Miraikan – is located in Odaiba and just takes about 15 minutes to walk from Daiba Station, Tokyo Teleport. This is the place to honor the emerging technology, innovation, and science. Opened in 2001, Miraikan was established with the aim of developing further knowledge of science and technology and supporting Japan’s goal of becoming an increasingly creative nation in term of science and technology. Those who are interested in emerging science and technology should come to visit the museum.

Open: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-Ku
Admission: ¥620 (for adults), ¥210 (under 18 years old).

Amuse Museum

It is about 500 meters from Asakusa Station to the Amuse museum. The Amuse Museum is a well-established art and culture facility that celebrates the beauty of “harmony, beauty, and technology.” Amuse claims to be a “living” museum specializing in textiles, graphics, and designs influenced by traditional Japanese culture. The museum’s regular exhibition – “BORO” – houses a collection of textiles, clothing and several costumes since the Edo period. These simple pieces of cloth are passed from generation to generation, each piece of clothing is patched from the pieces together, which creates a beauty called Yuyo no bi (the beauty of the practice).

Open: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (not open on Monday)
Location: 2-34-3, Asakusa, Taito-Ku
Admission: ¥1,080 (for adults), ¥864 (for students from high schools and universities), ¥540 (for students from secondary schools and primary schools).

Ghibli Museum

Whether you are a fan of animation, art, and movies or not, you should visit the museum at least once. Just about 15- minutes-walk from Mitaka Station, the museum is a glamorous place celebrating the history and works of Ghibli Studio which is a company producing the world’s most famous animation films such as Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, … Let’s spend a few hours researching the incredibly beautiful collection of the original paintings and concepts, watching exclusive short animation films at a lovely movie theater of the museum and exploring the rooftop garden where you can find Robot Solider character with the height of 5 meters in the movie Laputa Castle in the Sky. However, let’s keep in mind that the museum is very famous so you must book admission tickets in advance.

Open: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (close almost on Tuesday)
Location: 1-1-83 Simorenjaku, Mitaka-shi
Admission: ¥1,000 (for adults), ¥700 (for those who are from 13 to 18), ¥400 ( for those who are from 7 to 12), ¥100 (for those who are from 4 to 6). Tickets must be booked in advance.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

The museum was established in 1993 with a view to rebuilding, preserving and displaying the historic buildings for the next generations. These buildings are arranged in order from the beginning of the Edo period to after World War II. You can feel the vibe through visiting each house, building and inside. From the Meiji-style Police Department to the Showa-style studio, this museum makes you feel almost like you are on a journey exploring time. A variety of cultural events over the years, including annual summer festivals in August and new year celebrations in January, are held at this museum.

Open: on April – August: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM; on October – March: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Closed on every Monday and holidays.
Location: 3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo (inside Koganei park)
Admission: ¥400 (for adults), ¥320 (for students from universities), free for students from primary schools and younger students.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you finding more top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo travel blog — The fullest Tokyo city guide for a budget trip for the first time visiting Tokyo, Japan.