Art Museum Spots in Japan

Area

Japan
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Leisure / Hobbies

Culture / Tour

The Sumida Hokusai Museum

4.0

270 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Sumida-ku Kamezawa 2-7-2

This is a hidden gem - you might have seen Hokusai works in your own country as part of an arts tour, but to see his work in his home area is pretty special. The entry fee was reasonable and we...
Toyama Glass Art Museum

4.5

333 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Toyama Pref. Toyamashi Nishichou 5-1

The Toyama Glass Art Museum, which opened in 2015, is a museum that aims to spread awareness of the beauty of modern glass art and of its future potential. The Museum has displays of modern glass art works from the Museum’s own collection (which were collected by Toyama City Government over a period of 30 years), along with a glass art garden, and also holds a variety of special exhibitions and other events. The Museum is located around one-minute walk from the Nishicho Station on the Toyama Chihou Railway “Shiden” tram line.

We hurried to this muzium toward the end of our visit to toyama. Pleasant surprise to find out they have nice glass exhibition especially on the 4th floor. Truly colourful and pleasing. In fact...
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT

4.5

285 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Akasaka 9-7-6 Tokyo Midtown/Garden

Located in Tokyo Midtown, a multi-purpose complex directly connected to Roppongi Station, this museum holds exhibitions about design. Unlike traditional museums it was created to “think about daily articles from a design perspective, create objects and propose new ideas.” It is mainly host to organized exhibitions but also features talks and other events. The architecture of the building was designed by Tadao Ando and makes for a very unique exterior, such as with its roof made of one folded iron plate.

Incredible architecture with great design exhibit. Highly recommend for design enthusiasts. Park is also lovely. Limited but well curated gift shop.
Tokyo Contemporary Art Museum

4.0

254 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Koto-ku Miyoshi 4-1-1 Kiba Park

Wonderful exhibitions in a beautiful space. We went to get into the Dior exhibition but had missed same day sales so we stayed to look at the two current displays of contemporary Japanese art...
Shimane Art Museum

4.5

285 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Sodeshichou 1-5

An art museum which first opened in 1999. Located in Sodeshi Town, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, the Shimane Art Museum is one of the largest in the San’in region. A modern structure standing on the bank of Lake Shinji, the museum’s theme is an “art museum which harmonizes with water.” The museum’s collection consists of outstanding works of art in every genre, including paintings, sculptures, crafts, and photographs; the museum also displays numerous artworks which make use of water. The museum’s entrance lobby has giant windows facing Lake Shinji, and the view of the setting sun from here is spectacular (visitors may enter the entrance lobby free of charge).

First the architecture of the museum in front of the lac is amazing. Inside permanent exhibition has very important western and japanese master piece as an enormous sculpture Victor Hugo by Rodin...
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

4.5

277 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Osakashi Kita-ku Nakanoshima 1-1-26

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, which opened in 1982, is dedicated to ceramics from the East Asia region. The Museum’s collection—which is focused mainly on Chinese and Korean ceramics—is world-class in terms of both quantity and quality. The 300 or so representative items that make up the Museum’s permanent exhibitions effectively bring across the appeal of ceramics, such as the painstaking effort made to ensure that ceramics reflect the light to best effect. The Museum’s themed exhibitions and special exhibitions are also very popular.

I visited this place on february, it is just nice. Easy to access by subway, just a few hundreds walking distance.
Hiroshima Museum of Art

4.5

297 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hiroshima Pref. Hiroshimashinakaku Motomachi 3-2 In the central park

An art museum focusing on modern art located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture which was opened in 1978 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Hiroshima Bank. The museum has a large collection of modern art with a focus on Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne and other Impressionist artists. Including its modern Japanese art, the museum’s collection consists of some 300 works. In addition to a standing exhibition of some 90 modern French artworks, the museum also holds special exhibitions several times a year. There’s also a museum shop and fashionable café with a view of the museum’s inner garden.

At 600 yen ($4.50) it maybe worth the experience but 1/2 the collection was closed and 1/2 the art shown on the flyer was out on loan. The grounds and the rodin sculptures are very nice...
Lalique Museum Hakone

4.5

280 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Ashigarashimogunhakonemachi Sengokuhara 186-1

An art museum located in Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo County, Kanagawa Prefecture. The museum’s collection consists of some 1,500 pieces created by French jeweler and glass artisan René Lalique. The museum’s standing exhibition displays approximately 230 select items from amongst this collection. Visitors can view pioneering masterpieces which anticipated modern jewelry trends, perfume bottles, flower vases, and building ornamentation produced by Lalique in the latter stage of his career. There’s also an actual Orient Express train car which was decorated by Lalique and which visitors can actually see inside.

This museum features the work of Rene Lalique who produced amazing art pieces made from glass. The museum itself is a little hard to get to but definitely easy enough and on the bus line. I’ve...
Madame Tussauds Tokyo

4.0

254 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Daiba 1-6-1 Dex Tokyo Beach Island Mall 3F

Located inside the DECKS Tokyo Beach in Odaiba, Minato City, Tokyo, this is an annex of the Madame Tussauds wax museum in London. Various celebrities and famous people from around the world such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, the UK’s Prince William, former President Barack Obama and Mao Asada are reproduced in life-like form. Part of the appeal is that beyond merely looking at the forms, you can rest your arm on their shoulder and take photographs with them.

This Madame Tussauds is MUST place to visit when you come here. You will meet a lot of world celebrities.
Sagawa Art Museum

4.5

168 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Shiga Pref. Moriyamashi Mizuhochou Kitagawa 2891

An art museum located in Kitagawa Mizuho-cho, Moriyama City. The museum’s collection consists of pieces by Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama, sculptor Churyo Sato, and ceramic artist Kichizaemon Raku. The museum has three standing exhibit halls each supervised by one of the artists. The museum also holds special exhibitions of other artists’ works. In addition, the museum owns a Buddhist temple bell designated a National Treasure which was originally cast in 858 to serve as the bell for the Hodoin west bell tower at the Enryaku-ji Temple (note that this bell is not normally put on display).

Great museum, just pity that they do not have English on the non-permanent exhibition. Just introduction, but explanation on each exhibit is only in Japanese. It is a gorgeous building, very...
Hakone Museum of Art

4.5

244 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Ashigarashimogunhakonemachi Goura 1300

This is the most historical museum in Hakone. The museum exhibition mainly focuses on Japanese “Yakimono” (earthenware) from the Jomon period through to the Edo period such as vases and pots produced from the Kamakura through to the Muromachi period in the six sites where the production of ceramic ware began in ancient Japan. On the grounds the scenery can be enjoyed from season to season as there are such attractions as the “moss garden” which is colored with moss and autumn colors, “the Japanese clover path” which is at its best in September and also the Chinese style “bamboo garden”. It is also famous for its autumnal leaf display, especially in November when the garden’s leaves change color all at once.

Lovely historical pottery and ceramics. Not big but thoughtful, well displayed pieces. The big surprise is the exquisite garden surrounding it. The moss garden especially.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

4.0

185 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Meguro-ku Mita 1-13-3 In Yebisu Garden Place

This general photography and video museum opened in 1995. In addition to photograph and video displays, they also offer classes and community outreach. The facility was renovated in 2016. Every floor offers exhibits on a different theme. Admission depends on the current exhibitions on each floor. They host the Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions every year in February, and also offer regular photography and film workshops.

This museum is conveniently located in Yebisu Garden Place, which can be reached via a covered passageway from the Ebisu station (very useful on a rainy day). The museum has no set admission fees...
Suntory Museum of Art

4.0

199 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Akasaka 9-7-4 Tokyo Midtown Galleria 3F

This is an art gallery with a focus on Japanese ancient art located on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown Galleria Museum. Besides the National Treasure “Box with fusenryou design in mother-of-pearl inlay and maki-e”, the gallery is home to about 3,000 works of art. There is no permanent exhibition, but wonderful planned exhibitions not bound by the norms of regular exhibitions including paintings, ceramics, lacquer work, etc. are held. In addition, the tea room “Genchoan” offers Matcha green tea and seasonal Japanese sweets. The nearest station is Roppongi Station.

Located in the middle of an upscale shopping mall, this small but elegant museum spread over two floors is devoted to special exhibits. Admission price is typical for most top tier museums hosting...
Ueno Royal Museum

3.5

211 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 1-2

An art museum located inside Ueno Park. Since its establishment in April of 1972, the museum exhibited art from a variety of genres, including Important Cultural Properties. The museum has no standing exhibit, instead regularly hosting only creative and unique special exhibits. The Ueno Royal Museum also offers art classes for everyone from beginners to masters.

This is a small museum at the Ueno park. It’s open on Mondays when the national museum is closed and that’s how we ended up there. During our visit, they had a thorough art exhibit about dinosaurs...
Okada Museum of Art

4.5

265 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Ashigarashimogunhakonemachi Kowakudani 493-1

An art museum located in Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo County, Kanagawa Prefecture. The museum has five floors of exhibition space, making it one of the largest art museums in Hakone. Focusing primarily on ancient to modern East Asian pottery and early modern to modern Japanese painting, including Japan’s leading artists Katsushika Hokusai, Kitagawa Utamaro, Ito Jakuchu, and Yokoyama Taikan. The museum exhibits some 450 separate works of art. There’s also a café, footbath, garden, and museum shop, giving visitors the chance to experience both art and the seasonal beauty of Hakone up close.

箱根を代表する美術館の一つ。敷地は大きく分けて美術館と庭園の2つに構成されている。美術館は、主に日本・中国・韓国の東アジアの美術品が展示されている。時代は紀元前のものから近現代のものまで幅広く、しかも展示数が極めて多い。展示品はいずれも一級品、もしくは歴史的に極めて価値のあるものばかりで、特に陶器や青磁を始めとする器類の展示は目を見張るものがある。説明も読まず簡単に展示品を鑑賞するだけでも、全て...
Narukawa Art Museum

4.0

220 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Ashigarashimogunhakonemachi Motohakone 570

It is a museum built on the banks of Hakone’s Lake Ashi. Since the museum opened in 1988, its collection with its focus on contemporary Japanese paintings has surpassed 4,000 pieces and even now continues to increase. The museum is among the first to collect and exhibit works by not just famous artists but also works by artists who show promise for the future. From the one-sided 50-meter-wide picture window which stretches out inside the building, one can look out over the large panorama of Lake Ashi, Hakone. You can also enjoy tea and desserts from precious fine art handicraft serving dishes by Koji Ishii and Ryo Mikami in the museum’s “Kisetsufu” (Seasonal Wind) tea lounge.

A very nice site and building. Note-the museum is open at 9am, cafe at 10. A limited amount of artwork on display and much of it not particularly impressive.
The National Art Center, Tokyo

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Roppongi 7-22-2

This is a museum located in Roppongi with the largest floor area in Japan. It opened in 2007 as the fifth National Art Museum in Japan. A variety of exhibitions taking advantage of the exhibition space of 14,000 square meters are held here. It is famous as the last museum involving Kisho Kurokawa, a representative architect of Japan. A unique tea salon at the top of the inverted cone is a popular spot that also appears in movies, etc.
The Towel Museum

3.5

250 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Asakurakami

This is a specialist towel museum located in Japan’s leading towel production area, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Housed within a building reminiscent of a European castle there is also a 33,000 square meter European style garden with flowers blooming throughout the year. Inside the museum visitors will find a whole range of items on display made out of towel and cloth by the writer, painter and product designer Atsuko Matano. Visitors can also take a look around the place where towels are made and have their own unique embroidery stitched into a towel they’ve purchased. There is also a shop which sells Shikoku souvenirs with a focus on towel products.

I thoroughly enjoyed this place - it was very interesting and had a great stock of towels. I wished that I had of purchased some to bring back home.
Shitamachifuzoku Museum

4.0

289 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 2-1

This is a small museum and it was hard to find. When we finally did find it, I found it too warm inside and we didnt stay long.
Mori Arts Center Gallery

4.0

138 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Roppongi 6-10-1 Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 52F

An art gallery on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower built alongside a viewing deck. In addition to special exhibitions operated in cooperation with world-class art museums, the facility also hosts a variety of Cool Japan art shows covering topics such as anime, manga, and video games. Together with the Mori Art Museum on the 53rd floor, this popular tourism spot provides visitors with the chance to enjoy high quality art not beholden to any specific genre or existing framework.

Beautiful art gallery, well worth the trip! Especially if museums are something you enjoy when travelling.