The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno holds fabulous exhibitions featuring Japanese and non-Japanese art. Just make sure you know which gallery you’re heading to.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is recognizable to most park visitors who venture to the northeast side - it’s the large, metallic mirror globe sitting placidly in the square that gives it away. It’s a fitting objet d’art for the entrance to a museum specializing mainly in modern and contemporary art.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
5 of the 6 galleries at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno are dedicated mainly to contemporary Japanese art, but one gallery is always reserved for special exhibitions. Past themes have included French landscape art, a retrospective on Edward Munch, Brueghel, and Van Gogh’s connections with Japan.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum - image © Florentyna Leow
The downside with this museum is that English-language captions or exhibition information, especially for the galleries dedicated to local Japanese art, are few and far between. But this essentially forces the visitor to examine and appreciate the art instead of just reading the captions, so it may not be such a bad thing. Admission also varies by gallery and exhibition, so it’s worth doing a little research prior to visiting - or just asking the museum staff.
A good time to visit if you’re strapped for cash is on International Museum Day, which falls on or around 18 May. Waiving its usual entry fee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum opens its doors to the public to celebrate and encourage awareness of the role museums play in societal development. If you do go, expect crowds.
English name:
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Japanese name:
東京都美術館
English address:
8-36 Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-0007
Japanese address:
〒110-0007 東京都台東区上野公園8-36
Opening hours:
9:30am-5:30pm (last entry 5pm)
Closed first and third Mondays, or the following Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday
Admission:
Varies by exhibition
Nearest Transport:
Train: 7-minute walk from the Park exit of Ueno Station.
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
+81-3-3823-6921
Website:
Official Website (English)
Near To Here:
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is located in Tokyo's Ueno district. See our complete list of things to do in Ueno, 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
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- 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
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