Researched guide · Checked on Nov 3, 2026
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Samurai armor and swords, Buddhist sculpture, ceramics, kimono and paintings: if you only visit one museum for Japanese art and history, make it the Tokyo National Museum. It is Japan’s oldest and largest museum, in Ueno Park. Here are the hours, prices and how to get there.
Quick answer
Admission: ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for university students for the collection exhibitions. Free for under 18s and over 70s.
Hours: 9:30–17:00, and until 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before a Monday holiday. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: usually on Mondays (open on a Monday holiday and closed the next day) and December 26–31, 2026.
Winter closures: the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) and Honkan rooms 17–20 are closed November 30–December 31, 2026. The whole museum is also closed on December 15, 2026.
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Tickets and prices
| Collection exhibitions | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | ¥1,000 |
| University students | ¥500 |
| High school students and younger, under 18 and over 70 (with ID) | Free |
| People with disabilities and one caregiver (with certificate) | Free |
Special exhibitions need a separate ticket, which also lets you into the collection exhibitions on the same day.
Skip the ticket line: the museum sells official online tickets (through asoview), valid for two months from purchase. At busy times the wait at the ticket counter can be over 30 minutes. Counters accept credit cards, IC cards such as Suica, and UnionPay.
Opening hours and closed days
- Open: 9:30–17:00. Until 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before a Monday holiday.
- Closed: Mondays (when Monday is a holiday, the museum opens and closes the following day instead), and December 26–31, 2026.
- Special exhibitions may have different hours.
- Extra late days: open until 20:00 on May 4 and 5. On January 1, 2027, open 12:00–20:00.
- Extra closed days: December 15, 2026 (facility inspection). From December 22 to 25, 2026, only the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures and Kuroda Memorial Hall are open.
- Rooms closed for work: Toyokan and Honkan rooms 17–20 (November 30–December 31, 2026), Honkan room 4 (October 26, 2026–April 25, 2027) and Honkan rooms 2–3 (December 14, 2026–April 25, 2027).
What to see
The museum has several buildings on one site. With two to three hours, see the Honkan highlights first, then the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures and the Toyokan. The collection changes often: many works are delicate and shown only for a few weeks, so there is something different on each visit. An English map is on the official website.
Honkan (Japanese Gallery)
The main building tells the story of Japanese art from prehistory to the 19th century. The 2nd floor has the highlights: a National Treasure Gallery, Buddhist art, Zen and ink painting, tea ceremony, samurai arms and armor, folding screens, kimono and ukiyo-e prints. The 1st floor is arranged by type: sculpture, lacquerware, metalwork, swords and ceramics, plus Ainu and Ryukyu (Okinawa) culture.
Toyokan (Asian Gallery)
Art from the rest of Asia, on five floors and a basement: Chinese Buddhist sculpture, art from Egypt and Western Asia, sculpture from India and Gandhara, Chinese bronzes, ceramics and painting, Korean art, and Khmer and Southeast Asian sculpture. It is closed November 30–December 31, 2026.
Gallery of Horyuji Treasures
A calm, modern building by the architect Yoshio Taniguchi, with treasures from Horyuji, an ancient temple in Nara: rows of small gilt bronze Buddhist statues and gigaku masks (masks for an old dance drama).
Heiseikan, Kuroda Memorial Hall and the garden
- Heiseikan: big special exhibitions on the 2nd floor (separate ticket) and the Japanese Archaeology Gallery on the 1st floor.
- Kuroda Memorial Hall: free. Oil paintings by Kuroda Seiki, a pioneer of Western-style painting in Japan. It is just west of the Main Gate and open 9:30–17:00.
- Museum garden: behind the Honkan, with five historic teahouses. It may close for bad weather or maintenance, so check the official site.
Before you go: security, photos and food
- Security check: there are metal detectors and bag checks at the Main Gate, and suitcases are not allowed inside. Leave big bags in lockers at Ueno Station.
- Photos: allowed in most galleries, but not on the 2nd floor of the Heiseikan or of objects with a no-photography sign. No flash, tripods, monopods or selfie sticks.
- Food: a restaurant and a café on the 1st floor of the Toyokan, a restaurant in the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, and a coffee shop at Kuroda Memorial Hall.
Where to eat near the museum
For a quick meal, use the cafés and restaurants inside the museum listed above. For a longer meal outside, try one of these two places in the Ueno area:
- Inshotei: a Japanese restaurant inside Ueno Park, established in 1875. Lunch starts from ¥2,000, and seasonal kaiseki (traditional course meals) costs ¥7,800–¥20,000.
- Nadai Unatoto Ueno: an affordable eel restaurant near Ueno Station. Unadon (eel on rice) starts from ¥640 on the chain’s official menu, and prices can differ by store.
Prices can change, so check before you go. For more ideas, see our Ueno and Akihabara guide and restaurant guide.
How to get there
| Station | Walk |
|---|---|
| JR Ueno Station | About 10 min |
| Ueno Station (Ginza and Hibiya lines) | About 15 min |
| JR Uguisudani Station | About 10 min |
| Nezu Station (Chiyoda line) | About 15 min |
| Keisei Ueno Station | About 15 min |
The museum has no parking. Ueno Park also has the Ueno Zoo and several other museums. See our Ueno and Akihabara guide.
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FAQ
How much is the Tokyo National Museum?
¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for university students for the collection exhibitions. Visitors under 18 and over 70 are free.
Is the Tokyo National Museum open on Mondays?
Usually not. When Monday is a national holiday, it opens that day and closes the following day.
Is the Tokyo National Museum open late?
Yes, until 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before a Monday holiday.
How long should I spend at the Tokyo National Museum?
Allow at least two to three hours for the main building. The collection is large.
Can you take photos at the Tokyo National Museum?
Yes, in most galleries, without flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Photos are not allowed on the 2nd floor of the Heiseikan or of objects with a no-photography sign.
Can I bring a suitcase to the Tokyo National Museum?
No. Suitcases are not allowed inside, and bags are checked at the Main Gate. Use the coin lockers at Ueno Station.
Should I buy Tokyo National Museum tickets online?
It helps at busy times, when the counter line can take over 30 minutes. Official online tickets are valid for two months from purchase.
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Sources
Hours, prices and access come from the official Tokyo National Museum website (checked November 3, 2026). Please check before you go.
