Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum opened in 1872 and is Japan’s oldest museum. It collects, exhibits, researches, and studies cultural properties from Japan and across Asia, and it is a representative cultural institution in Japan with about 2.5 million visitors per year. The museum consists of multiple buildings including the Honkan (Main Gallery), Hyokeikan, Toyokan (Asian Gallery), and Heiseikan. Combining its own collection and deposited items, it holds about 150 National Treasures and about 900 Important Cultural Properties, with a total of around 14,000 objects. Only a small portion is on display at any time, and exhibitions change frequently—sometimes almost weekly—so it’s worth enjoying the chance encounter with works you might only be able to see that day. Inside the museum, Hotel Okura operates “Restaurant Yurinoki” and “Garden Terrace,” where you can enjoy high-quality meals as a break from viewing. There are also three museum shops where you can buy about 4,500 kinds of books related to art and history and original goods. Access: about a 10-minute walk from JR Ueno Station; it is located inside Ueno Park.