©Flower Forest: Lost, Immersed and Reborn 2017,
Interactive Digital Installation by Team Lab Tokyo.
TOKYO ART GUIDE
Umezawa in Sagami Province by Katsushika Hokusai
Contents
Introduction3
Roppongi Art Triangle: Top Things to Do in Tokyo4
Mori Museum4
Suntory Museum of Art4
While You’re At Tokyo Midtown…5
National Art Center, Tokyo5
The Tokyo National Museum’s Most Unmissable Japanese Art7
About the Tokyo National Museum7
The Tokyo National Museum Collection8
What to See at the Tokyo National Museum8
A Must See - The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu8
The Best Places to See Hokusai in Tokyo9
Sumida Hokusai Museum9
Ota Memorial Museum of Art10
Must-See Japanese Painting at the National Museum of Modern Art!11
3 Classic Japanese Gardens in Tokyo You Can’t Miss12
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden12
Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden13
Rikugien Garden14
2
Introduction
Tokyo has the highest concentration of world-class museums and top-notch galleries
in Japan. But as one of the world’s largest metropolises, and with a daunting language
barrier to boot, finding all of the fabulous art isn’t as easy as it should be.
This is why we at Japan Objects have curated this art guide to help you navigate Tokyo’s
unmissable highlights!
First stop, we will take you to the epic art center located in Roppongi that will for sure
inspire you with its thought-provoking exhibitions.
Next, we will head up north to Ueno Park for the Tokyo National Museum, where you will
be amazed by the country’s best selection of Japanese art. You will get a very detailed
report that will guide you through its many
collections, and some of the best works of art
that you simply can’t miss!
We know many of you just love the stunning
beauty of ukiyo-e, woodblock prints. So do
we! This is why next on your itinerary we will
explore two exceptional museums dedicated
to the great Katsushika Hokusai. There
you will be able to see the shining star of
Japanese art, the Great Wave.
We will end our tour with three of the best
Japanese gardens that you must take time
to enjoy! The peace and serenity of these
traditional gardens will surely be one of the
most memorable parts of your Tokyo art
adventure!
We hope you enjoy this Tokyo art guide.
Don’t forget to check back with us at
JapanObjects.com and on social media for
non-stop Japanese art and handy tips.
And most of all have an inspiring journey!
Hans Liu & Diccon Sandrey
Editors, Japan Objects
Wisteria Bonsai
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© Wei Te-Wong / CC
Roppongi Art Triangle:
Top Things to Do in Tokyo
Roppongi is home to some of Japan’s largest museums, so if you’re looking for things to
do in Tokyo, why not visit The Mori Art Museum, Suntory Museum of Art, and the National
Art Center, collectively known as the Art Triangle Roppongi.
Mori Museum
Located in the upscale mega-complex Roppongi Hills, the Mori Art Museum showcases
contemporary art and architecture. The museum has received high critical acclaim for its
breadth of original exhibitions since opening in 2003.
Suntory Museum of Art
If traditional Japanese art is your thing, then you should head over to the Suntory Museum
of Art in the luxurious Tokyo Midtown shopping complex. Opened in 2007, this museum
features classic examples of Japanese glass, ceramics, scrolls, and more. When you’re
finished, the museum shop sells excellent souvenirs and is worth the visit!
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Design Sight 21_21 © Guilhem Vellet / CC
While You’re At Tokyo Midtown…
The Suntory Museum is not the only attraction in Tokyo Midtown. The relaxing and family-
friendly gardens at the back host the Design Sight 21_21 gallery, which is known for its
creative and cutting-edge exhibitions.
National Art Center, Tokyo
The National Art Center, Tokyo, is one of Japan’s
five national museums and is among the country’s
largest exhibition halls! The limitless variety of art
spaces is ideal for comprehensive insights into an
artist’s work, such as the recent hit show Yayoi
Kusama: My Eternal Soul. When you’re ready for a
break, the unusual cafe atop an inverted cone is a
great vantage point for such an inspirational space.
National Art Center Tokyo
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HOW TO GET TO THE ART TRIANGLE ROPPONGI
The Art Triangle Roppongi is ideally located to enjoy some of the city’s finest artworks
in one afternoon. All four are easily accessible from Roppongi Station on the Oedo and
Hibiya lines. Note that some exhibitions can be extremely popular, so arriving early is
advised. If you go to more than one of the museums, don’t forget to show your ticket stub
to get discounted rates at the others!
Mori Art Museum
森美術館 (Mori Bi-jutsu-kan) Design Sight 21_21
52-53F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Midtown Garden, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-6 Akasaka,
Tokyo Tokyo
10:00am-10:00pm, closes at 5pm on Tuesdays 10:00am-7:00pm, closed on Tuesdays
www.mori.art.museum www.2121designsight.jp
Suntory Museum of Art National Art Center, Tokyo
サントリー美術館 (Santorī Bi-jutsu-kan) 国立新美術館 (Koku-ritsu Shin Bi-jutsu-kan)
3F, Galleria, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Tokyo 7-22-2 Roppongi, Tokyo
10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Tuesdays 10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Tuesdays
www.suntory.com/sma www.nact.jp
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© Wiiii / CC
The Tokyo National Museum’s Most
Unmissable Japanese Art
For the ultimate collection of Japanese paintings, sculptures, ceramics and more, visit
the Tokyo National Museum. Here’s everything you need to know about this must-see
institution!
About the Tokyo National
Museum
The Tokyo National Museum first
opened in 1872, making it Japan’s
first ever museum. Since then, it
has moved twice and seen various
reformations over the past 140 or
so years. With a collection of over
100,000 items, including 90 National
Treasures and over 600 Important
Cultural Properties, this museum is
the largest in the country!
© David Baron / CC
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The Tokyo National Museum Collection
The Museum’s collection is vast. In fact, it takes five separate exhibition buildings to
accommodate all the works on display, not to mention those in storage! The best part is
that there is something for everyone; whether you’re interested in traditional lacquerware
or Japanese arms and armor. At any time, there are about 4,000 pieces on view, and
exhibitions are rotated frequently, meaning there’ll be new things to see each time you visit!
What to See at the Tokyo National Museum
The Honkan is the main building, and houses everything from Buddhist statues, to hand
painted scrolls, to Samurai armor. The first floor has rooms separated by genre, including
metalwork, pottery and sculpture. The second floor is separated by theme, such as ‘Noh
and Kabuki’ and ‘The Art of Tea Ceremony’. Make sure to visit the National Treasure Room
on the second floor to view a national treasure piece!
A Must See - The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu
The Murasaki Shikibu Nikki Emaki is a series of picture scrolls created sometime during the
13th century. The story is believed to be based on the real life diary of Murasaki Shikibu,
author of the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji. There are only four scrolls remaining from
the original complete work, scattered throughout different museums and private collections.
Murasaki Shikibu Nikki Emaki
HOW TO GET TO THE TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM
You can easily reach the Tokyo National Museum on foot. From Ueno Station, on the
Yamanote Line and Ginza and Hibiya Subway Lines, take the Koen Exit and walk 10
minutes. Regular admission is 620 yen for the permanent exhibition, while admission to
special exhibitions is between 1000 and 1500 yen.
東京国立博物館 (Tōkyō Koku-ritsu Haku-butsu-kan)
13-9 Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo Ten-minute walk from Ueno Station, on the
Yamanote Line, and Ginza and Hibiya Subway Lines
9:30am-5:00pm
www.tnm.jp
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The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai
The Best Places to See Hokusai in Tokyo
The Ukiyo-e print master Katsushika Hokusai is undoubtedly Japan’s most iconic artist, and
his maritime masterpiece, Great Wave off Kanagawa, is perhaps the most reproduced image
in the world.
Although you have certainly come across reproductions of his work before, you may be
wondering: where is the best place to view Hokusai’s art in person? Here are a couple of
suggestions to add to your Tokyo itinerary!
Sumida Hokusai Museum
The first port of call for the Hokusai enthusiast should
be the newly completed Sumida Hokusai Museum
dedicated entirely to this prolific artist. Located in
Tokyo’s north-eastern Sumida ward, the collection
opened to the public in November last year and has
proven a hugely popular destination for locals and
visitors alike.
Here you can experience an intelligently curated,
multilingual and interactive display documenting the
many stages of Hokusai’s career. Aside from the iconic
Sumida Hokusaia Museum
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wave, Hokusai composed over 30,000 prints, sketches and paintings throughout his lifetime.
His greatest hits are included in the museum’s permanent collection of course, but it is
fascinating to see the development of his artistic style through his lesser known works.
The print below, for example, is an earlier composition of Kanagawa’s treacherous
coastline, which shows the versatility and imagination of Hokusai’s art.
The temporary galleries do a wonderful job highlighting specific aspects of Hokusai’s
skills, although there is less English information available than in the permanent gallery.
HOW TO GET TO THE SUMIDA
HOKUSAI MUSEUM
すみだ北斎美術館 (Sumida Hokusai
Bi-jutsu-kan)
2-7-2 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
9:30-5:30, closed Mondays. Best to avoid weekends
if you can!
Ryogoku subway (about 30 mins from Tokyo main
station)
www.hokusai-museum.jp
Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Hokusai made an incomparable contribution to
the discipline of the woodblock print, but to really
understand his work, it needs to be viewed in
the context of those artists that came before, and
others that followed. To get a more complete
view of ukiyo-e art, your next stop should be the
Ota Memorial Museum of Art.
This museum is a bit more centrally located in
the Harajuku area, where you will doubtless find
yourself eventually if you head out for a little
shopping.
HOW TO GET TO THE OTA MEMORIAL
MUSEUM
太田記念美術館 (Ota Kinen Bi-jutsu-kan)
1-10-10 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
10:30-5:30, closed Mondays. Also best to avoid © Ota Memorial Museum of Art
weekends!
Meiji-jingu-mae subway or Harajuku station
www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp
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Parting Spring, by Kawai Gyokudo
Must-See Japanese Painting at the
National Museum of Modern Art!
Kawai Gyokudo’s two-part series depicts a scene of late springtime. A river runs through a
gorge surrounded by cherry blossoms, and several leisure boats make their way down the
current. Gyokudo was inspired by the Nagatoro Gorge in Saitama Prefecture, just north of
Tokyo. The artist paid special attention to the motion of the water and how to accurately
translate it onto his painting. “Parting Spring” is a two-part painting depicted on a pair of
folding screens. It was finished in 1916 and was designated an Important Cultural Property
in 1971.
HOW TO GET TO THE NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO
東京国立近代美術館 (Tōkyō Koku-ritsu Kindai
Bi-jutsu-kan)
3-1 Kitanomarukoen, Chiyoda, Tokyo
10:00am-5:00pm, closed on Mondays
Two-minute walk from Takebashi Station on the Tozai
Line
www.momat.go.jp
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© Taichiro Ueki / CC
3 Classic Japanese Gardens in Tokyo
You Can’t Miss
Tokyo is known for having some of the most beautiful public parks and gardens in the
world. These living works of art come in all shapes and sizes, from ancient estate gardens
to small pockets of greenery reserved by the literary elite.
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
With hundreds of years of history behind it,
Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the best Edo-era
gardens in Tokyo and one of just a handful of
surviving examples from that period.
When this spectacular Japanese garden was being
built, its Tokugawa masters were very inspired by the
Chinese classics they studied. As a result, traditional
Chinese garden aesthetics influence many aspects
of Koishikawa Korakuen. The Full Moon Bridge,
is one example, which is meant to create the © Japan Objects
impression of a full moon on the pond.
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Many people look forward to Koishikawa Korakuen’s weeping cherry trees blooming
each spring. This rare type of flowering tree drapes its branches like a willow, making this
garden one of the Tokyo’s most romantic sakura viewing spots!
HOW TO GET TO KOISHIKAWA
KORAKUEN GARDEN
小石川後楽園
1-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo, Tokyo
9:00am-5:00pm
Short walk from Korakuen subway station on the
Marunouchi and Namboku lines.
Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden
Mukojima Hyakkaen is a garden in
Tokyo’s Sumida district, originally
tended by a merchant. It is on a more
limited scale than the sprawling gardens
of the daimyo, or lords. It has close
ties to Japan’s literary world and 29
stone monuments, including poetry
engravings from familiar names like
Basho, and calligraphy inscriptions from
esteemed Japanese poets, are scattered
throughout the grounds.
One of Mukojima Hyakkaen’s proudest
features is its Bush Clover Tunnel. © Arashiyama / CC
The clover tunnel is in peak bloom around
September, enveloping visitors in an embrace of lush greenery and pale pink blooms.
While autumn is the best time to see Mukojima Hyakkaen, the garden has been designed
so that it has different flowers, trees and herbs blooming all year long. The name
“Hyakkaen” means “Garden of a Hundred Blooms”.
HOW TO GET TO MUKOJIMA
HYAKKAEN GARDEN
向島百花園
3-18-3 Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida, Tokyo
9:00am-5:00pm
Six-minute walk from Higashi-Mukojima subway
station on the Tobu Skytree Line.
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Rikugien Garden
The stunning Japanese garden of
Rikugien was once part of the impressive
estate of a daimyo back in the early
1700s, and has been faithfully preserved
and restored over the years. The name
“Rikugi” means “Six Principles of Poetry”,
and the garden was designed around this
literary concept.
Rikugien is one of the largest and most
beloved gardens in Tokyo. It is best
known for its spring cherry blossom and
autumn foliage light ups, when the colorful
© Marufish / CC
seasonal trees are illuminated and the park
stays open until late into the evening.
HOW TO GET TO RIKUGIEN GARDEN
六義園
6-16-3 Honkomagome, Bunkyo, Tokyo
9:00am-5:00pm
Less than ten minutes from Komagome subway
station on the Namboku and Yamanote lines.
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HAVE AN INSPIRATIONAL TIME IN TOKYO!
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