Tokyo offers a surprising number of museums as well as art galleries. The museums listed here are top recommendations for any Tokyo sojourn.
Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)
Established in 1872, Tokyo National Museum is Japan's oldest. It boasts the country's premier collection of Eastern art and offers rotating permanent exhibitions in addition to hosting several special exhibitions each year.
Suntory Museum of Art (Roppongi)
In its mission to find “Art in Life,” the Suntory Museum has amassed a collection of some 3,000 pieces centered on Japanese antique art. Its exhibit spaces incorporate wood and Japanese washi paper to bring out the best in the works displayed.
The National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi)
Designed by the late Kisho Kurokawa, the museum's wavelike facade gives an otherworldly quality to the building. Inside, two massive inverted cones dominate the lobby. Set atop one of these is a stylish restaurant that appears to float in space. One of the largest exhibition spaces in Japan, the museum is also noted for its unique special exhibits.
©The National Art Center, Tokyo