Are you a photography buff? Located in the Hanzomon area just west of the Imperial Palace, the JCII Camera Museum is a small but interesting destination for serious fans of cameras.
JCII Camera Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
The history of cameras is relatively short, but it bears documentation. The Japan Camera Industry Institute, or JCII for short, began its work of preserving specimens and information about specific cameras it considered historical in 1969. This eventually led to them opening the JCII Camera Museum in 1989, which aims to expose visitors - pun unintended - to camera culture and the history of photography.
JCII Camera Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
It’s impressively comprehensive for such a small space. The core exhibit alone features around 300 cameras, forming a narrative of Japan’s camera history from its inception to the present day. The 1839 Giroux, the world’s first commercially available camera, takes center stage here.
JCII Camera Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
Many of the cameras are grouped by manufacturer and by generations of camera models. It’s fun looking at the way cameras by manufacturers like Nikon, Pentax, Leica, Sony, Canon, and Kodak have evolved through the years.
JCII Camera Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
Ironically enough, photography is not permitted in most parts of the museum - except at the short-term special exhibition section. This is also one of the few museums where the lack of English captions doesn’t really deter from understanding the objects on display: camera buffs will probably love the museum anyway.
English name:
JCII Camera Museum
Japanese name:
日本カメラ博物館
English address:
B1 JCII Ichibancho bldg., 25 Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0082
Japanese address:
〒102-0082 東京都千代田区一番町25 JCII一番町ビルB1
Opening hours:
10am-5pm
Closed Monday or the following Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday
Admission:
Adults: 300
Junior high school students and younger: free
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 1-minute walk from exit 4 of Hanzomon Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line.
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near JCII Camera Museum on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
+81-3-3263-7100
Website:
Official Website (English)
Near To Here:
JCII Camera Museum is located in Tokyo's Imperial Palace district. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo's Imperial Palace district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals.
- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a Japan Rail Pass – here's why it's worth it
- A prepaid Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- Get esssential travel insurance for Tokyo – World Nomads is well-regarded (and here's why)
