Tokyo · Taito · Japan

Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan

Tokyo National Museum

Museum photo spotgoogle verified

easy

10/10

best: morning

contemplative

A local would say...

The Honkan building fuses Western modernism with Japanese Imperial Style, topped by a traditional tiled roof.

Home to the world's largest collection of Japanese art, this museum complex in Ueno Park is where centuries of culture converge under one sprawling roof. You'll find samurai armor that still looks ready for battle, silk kimonos of staggering intricacy, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints that practically hum with color. Don't miss the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, where spot-lit gilt Buddha statues from the 7th century stand in a hauntingly dark hall designed by Taniguchi Yoshio. In spring and autumn, the back garden opens with five vintage teahouses among the cherry trees.