Tokyo National Museum

Welcome, friend, to a place of tranquility and timeless wonder. You are standing at the entrance to the Tokyo National Museum, Japan’s oldest and most treasured cultural sanctuary. Nestled within the green embrace of Ueno Park, this is not just a single building, but a sprawling campus of galleries, each holding a different key to the soul of Japan and the artistic spirit of Asia. We are so delighted to share this journey with you.

Prepare to walk through time itself. Your voyage begins at the Honkan, or Japanese Gallery, the grand, iconic building that welcomes you. As you step inside, you are stepping into the very heart of Japanese history. The galleries flow like a river, carrying you from the earliest Jomon pottery, molded by hands over 10,000 years ago, to the serene, powerful expressions of Buddhist sculpture. You will find yourself in rooms dedicated to the art of the tea ceremony, surrounded by the quiet beauty of ceramic bowls, and in others, you will be dazzled by the shimmering gold of folding screens.

Feel the powerful spirit of the samurai as you stand before the immaculate armor and perfectly forged swords. Then, let your imagination drift into the “floating world” of ukiyo-e, where vibrant woodblock prints reveal the actors, landscapes, and daily life of old Edo. Each of the multiple buildings on these grounds tells its own story—from the modern, contemplative quiet of the Gallery of Horyu-ji Treasures, holding some of Japan’s earliest Buddhist artifacts, to the Toyokan, which invites you on a grand tour of Asian art, from China to Egypt.

This is more than a collection of objects; it is a collection of moments, ideas, and prayers, lovingly preserved. We invite you to take your time, to look closely, and to feel the stories held within each piece. Enjoy your passage through the magnificent history of Japanese art.