Travel bucket list idea:
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Credit Shutterstock.com/Osugi
If a day of museum hopping is your idea of heaven, look no further than Ueno Park in northeastern Tokyo.
Home to the Tokyo National Museum and its unparalleled collection of Japanese art and artefacts, plus five other museums, there isn’t a better concentration of cultural sites anywhere in the city.
With a boating pond, temple and other attractions, the park itself is a pleasant spot to linger. In late March and early April, when it’s all decorated pink by the annual wave of cherry blossoms, Ueno Park becomes one of Tokyo’s most popular sites for hanami (cherry blossom) parties and picnics.
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Experience
Japan’s biggest science museum showcases astronomy, biology, geology, and technology, allowing visitors to delve into the mysteries and advancements of the natural and scientific realms. Over 25,000 exhibits cover everything from dinosaurs to outer space; highlights include a state-of-the-art planetarium and a dinosaur gallery.
Adult price: £4
Good for age: 4+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
This prestigious art institution houses an extensive collection of European masterpieces, ranging from paintings to sculptures and prints.
The collection includes works by Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, all housed in a UNESCO-designated building designed by Le Corbusier.
Adult price: £5
Good for age: 18+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Experience
Japan’s first public art museum showcases a diverse range of both traditional and contemporary art. The museum’s collection includes Japanese art and Western art, and its special exhibitions cover everything from masterpieces to up-and-coming local talent.
Adult price: £8
Good for age: 18+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Ueno Park’s best museum, and Japan’s oldest museum, is one of the largest art museums in the world.
The museum collects, preserves and displays collections of artworks and cultural objects from across Asia, with a focus on Japanese art. It holds over 110,00 cultural artefacts and artworks, including 89 National Treasures.
For anyone interested in Japan’s fascinating past of emperors, shoguns, samurais and more, this is a must-see. The museum collection includes everything from ancient Buddhist sculptures, to samurai armour and even tea ceremony utensils.
Adult price: £6
Good for age: 18+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Experience
This small msueums focuses on the lives of ordinary Tokyoites in pre-modern Tokyo, with exhibits including full-scale replicas of Edo-era (1603-1868) stores.
Adult price: £3
Good for age: 18+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Experience
Run by the Japan Art Association, this museum covers a range of genres, including sculpture, contemporary art, and calligraphy. There’s no permanent collection, but hosts a changing series of creatively-themed temporary exhibitions.
Adult price: £4
Good for age: 18+
Duration: 2-3 hours
When: March, May and Sept
Freq: annually
The museums are 10 minutes’ walk from Ueno or Uguisudani Station (JR Line), 15 minutes’ walk from Ueno Station (Ginza or Hibiya Tokyo Metro Line) or 15 minutes’ walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Tokyo Metro Line). There is no parking on site.
There’s no need to book tickets in advance – you can just turn up and buy tickets at the door. However, if you plan on visiting multiple museums, buy a Grutto Pass. It gives one-time entry or discounted entry to 99 museums and other facilities in Tokyo, including the six in Ueno Park.
The museums are open all year round, from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday.
