Best Museums in Tokyo: Here are the ones you can't miss
- japansophy
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you're visiting Tokyo for the first time and are maybe on a tight schedule, you might be tempted to cram in all of the highlights you see on social media. But what you don't see (much) on social media are Tokyo's amazing, world-class museums. To be honest, it's pretty difficult narrowing down Tokyo's museum's to a must-see few, but here are some of what we think are outstanding museums you can't miss plus a few on the quirky side that you can boast to your friends about when you get home.
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*All prices below are as of February 2026 and are subject to change. Opening hours are to the best of our knowledge but check with the museums beforehand to save yourself disappointment.
National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo (MOMAT)
Located near the Imperial Palace, MOMAT is Japan’s first national museum dedicated to modern art. It features works from the early 20th century to contemporary pieces, mostly Japanese but some by international artists. The museum’s collection includes paintings, prints, sculptures, and crafts, offering a comprehensive view of Japan’s modern art evolution, and several national Important Cultural Properties.
Nearest station: Takebashi station on the Tozai subway line (exit 1a)
Admission*: 500 yen (250 yen for students)
Opening hours: Sunday -Thursday 10am-5pm; Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm. Closed Mondays except for public holiday Mondays (in which case, closed on the Tuesday instead). Also closed at New Year.
Tokyo National Museum
The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park is the oldest and largest museum in Japan. It houses over 110,000 objects, including samurai armor, ancient pottery, Buddhist sculptures, and traditional textiles. This museum is ideal for those interested in Japanese history and culture. Tokyo National Museum also has various activities for kids. Read our post about this museum here.
Nearest station: Ueno station on the JR Yamanote line and Ginza and Hibiya subway lines (Park exit)
Admission*: 1000 yen for adults, students 500 yen, children under 18 and senior citizens free. Admission to special exhibitions varies.
Opening hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm (with last admission usually at 4:30pm). It is generally closed on Mondays. If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will remain open and then close on the following Tuesday. It's also closed over the New Year holidays.
Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills - yes, that one with the 9-metre-tall, bronze spider outside - is a relative newcomer to the Tokyo museum scene and focuses on contemporary art and photography in the form of temporary exhibitions. Check the programme to see what's on. The museum is also popular for its 52nd-floor observation deck with panoramic views that include the iconic Tokyo Tower. Tickets for the observation deck are separate and currently cost 2200 yen* for adults, 1600 yen* for senior high school and university students and 1000 yen* for children up to age 16. Senior citizens pay 1900 yen*. Organise your tickets in advance by clicking on the button below.
Nearest station: Roppongi station on the Hibiya and Oedo subway lines (exit 1c)
Admission*: Admission depends on the current exhibition but adults can expect to pay around 2000 yen*. Tickets are available online in advance and are a little cheaper than same-day tickets.
Opening hours: During exhibitions, generally open every day from 10am to 10pm, except Tuesdays when it closes at 5pm. Closed between exhibitions and opening hours can vary depending on the current exhibition.
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Good news for travellers heading to Japan in 2026: the Edo-Tokyo Museum is reopening on 31 March 2026 with a special exhibition after extensive renovations and expansions, so it's a great time to visit. This immersive museum offers visitors a glimpse into the history of Tokyo, starting back when it was a swampy fishing village by the name of Edo. Fans of all things samurai will really enjoy walking down a reconstruction of an Edo-period street and perusing the museum's collection of samurai armour.
Nearest station: Ryogoku station on the JR Sobu line (west exit) or Oedo subway line (exit A3 or A4).
Admission*: Admission to the permanent exhibition will be 800 yen* for adults, 400 yen* for senior citizens, 480 yen* for students, 300 yen* for senior high school students and free for children under this age. Special exhibitions will require separate tickets.
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5:30pm (9:30am - 7:30pm on Saturdays). Closed on Mondays unless it's a public holiday, in which case it's open on the Monday and closed on the Tuesday instead.
Ghibli Museum
Fans of Studio Ghibli’s animated films will need no introduction to this super-cute museum in Mitaka, western Tokyo. As you can imagine, the Ghibli Museum is incredibly popular and entry is restricted to avoid overcrowding, which means getting your hands on tickets is little short of miraculous. Be very wary of ticket offers on third-party sites like Fiverr - some of the offers (from people who at least claim to be in Japan and able to buy the tickets from Lawson as soon as they go on sale) may be genuine but stories abound online of travellers paying up and getting no tickets in return or getting QR codes that look genuine until you turn up at the museum to find they don't work. Tickets go on sale through Lawson on the 10th of the month for the following month and are usually sold out in minutes.
An alternative is the hugely popular full-day guided bus tour that includes entry to the Ghibli Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum, lunch and a souvenir Ghibli cup. Tickets for this tour sell out quickly too but are usually available a month or too in advance. Click below to check availability and prices.
Nearest station: Kichijoji station (Atré exit) or Mitake station, both on the JR Chuo line and both around 15 mins' walk from the Ghibli Museum. A special Ghibli Museum bus runs every 15 mins during opening hours from the south exit of Mitake station (230 yen*)
Admission*: Tickets are 1000 yen* for adults, 700 yen* for children age 13-17, 400 yen* for kids aged 7-12, 100 yen* for 4-6 year-olds and free for kids age 3 or under. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are as rare as hen's teeth, so consider investing in a bus tour with a guaranteed Ghibli Museum ticket
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm and generally closed on Tuesdays. Tickets have to be bought in advance, so you won't have to worry about just racking up and finding it closed.
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
In Tokyo on a rainy day and wondering how to entertain the kids? Miraikan is a huge interactive museum focusing on futuristic technology with lots of hands-on exhibits, cute robots and live demonstrations. It will keep the kiddos entertained for hours but is also fascinating for adults interested in tech, space and future science.
Nearest station: Tokyo International Cruise Terminal (Yurikamome line, exit 1A)
Admission*: Tickets for the permanent exhibition are 630 yen* for adults and 210 yen* for 6-18 year-olds. Kids get in free on Saturdays.
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm, closed on Tuesdays, unless Tuesday is a public holiday.
Ota Memorial Museum of Art
The Ota Memorial Museum of Art museum specializes in ukiyo-e, traditional Japanese woodblock prints. It holds one of the largest collections of ukiyo-e in the world, with works by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. The 12000 pieces in its collection are exhibited in themed rotation, so there's always something new to see. Tickets don't have to be bought in advance - drop in spontaneously when you're in the Harajuku area for a taste of Edo-period culture.
Nearest station: Meiji-Jingumae station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin subway lines (exit 5)
Admission*: Admission depends on the exhibition (generally 1000-1200 yen*) but children age 15 and under get in free in any case. Note: cash only.
Opening hours: 10:30am - 5:30pm, closed Mondays (except National Holidays -If Monday is a holiday, closed on the next work day). Also closed when exhibitions are being changed. Check website in advance.
Sumida Hokusai Museum
Staying with the woodblock print theme, this relatively new museum is dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan’s most famous ukiyo-e artists and displays his woodblock prints and paintings. It also explores his influence on art worldwide. Explore Hokusai's techniques and life story and stock up on all your "Great Wave of Kanagawa" souvenirs.
Nearest station: Ryogoku station on the Oedo subway line (exit A3 or A4).
Admission*: 400 yen* for adults, 300 yen* for university or senior high school students and senior citizens, free for junior high school children or younger kids and for visitors with disabilities.
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5:30pm, closed Mondays (except National Holidays -If Monday is a holiday, closed on the next work day).
And now some of the more you'll-never-guess-what-I-did-in-Tokyo museums/installations/exhibitions...
Samurai Ninja Museum Tokyo
This museum has two branches, one in Shinjuku and one in Asakusa (as well as another in Kyoto). If you're interested at all in samurai culture, this place will keep you captivated for hours. Get up close and personal with samurai armour, try your hand at throwing shuriken and learn all about ninja skills. The Asakusa branch also offers samurai and ninja "experience" packages, also for kids (age 6+). The samurai sword experience, where you dress up in samurai gear and learn how to swing your katana, is especially popular. Click below to check availability and book your tickets conveniently on Klook.
teamLab Planets & teamLab Borderless
The teamLab digital art museums have gained legendary status among visitors to Japan and for our own Baby-Japansophies, no trip to Tokyo is complete without a visit to one or the other installation. Borderless is the OG of the teamlabs' work and has recently relocated and reopened in Azabudai Hills. Planets is currently nearing the end of its tenure on Odaiba and will close at the end of 2027. You are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance, since (a) popular times sell out very fast and (b) it will save you a LOT of time queueing. Tickets for a particular month go on sale 2 months ahead. Click below to check availability and book your ticket on Klook.
Unko Museum Tokyo
Believe it or not, this is an ultra-kawaii, pastel-coloured museum dedicated to poop. The tour starts by sitting on a toilet and "producing" your own plastic poop, which you get to keep as a souvenir, of course. Wander through poop-themed rooms (including a supermarket, where everything on the shelves is poop-y), dive into a poop ball pit, boogie on down in the dancing poop room, test your reflexes by catching the poop, see how far your can fling a poop... great fun for kids and the young at heart: you'd be surprised how many young Japanese adults consider this museum the perfect date-night venue. Click on the button below to buy your tickets in advance through Klook.
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