Tokyo National Museum

Honkan of the Tokyo National Museum.

Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan)
The Tokyo National Museum holds the largest collection of Japanese art in the world and is currently comprised of four main galleries in four buildings. The museum holds over 100,000 artefacts that are periodically rotated to be displayed. The museum originates in 1872, when an exhibition was held at the Taiseiden Hall of Yushima Seido by the Ministry of Education.

Honkan Japanese Art Museum
The Honkan houses the main gallery of Japanese art, featuring the finest selection of Japanest artwork from the Jomon-period to the early 19th century. Here, you can find stunning katana swords, beautiful Buddhist mandalas, Noh masks, colorful Edo garments, ukiyo-e, and lacquerware.

Heiseikan
The Heiseikan houses the Japanese Archeological Gallery on the first floor and the special exhibition space on the second floor. Special exhibitons usually require an additional fee and may be crowded.

Toyokan Asian Museum
To the right of the Honkan is the 5-story Toyokan Asian Museum, designed by Yoshiro Taniguchi. The gallery mainly displays art from China and Korea but also displays sculptures and pottery from the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. The building has undergone earthquake-proofing and extensive renovation of the gallery space from 2009 to 2012.

Gallery of Horyuji Treasures
The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures houses and displays masks, Buddhist sculptures, and paintings presented to the Imperial Household as a “gift” by Horyuji Temple in 1878. The gallery is a contemporary building designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. It is closed for renovation until March 14, 2016.

Hyokeikan
The Neo-baroque style building to the left of the Honkan is the Hyokeikan, which was built in commemoration of the marriage of the Taisho emperor in 1909. It is currently closed(July 2015).

Access & Admission
Regular admission is 620 yen for an adult, 420 yen for a univeristy student, and free for elementary/middle/high school students and people under 18 or over 70.(July 2015)