6 Museums in Ueno Park: Enjoy Art and History in Tokyo

Ueno Park's Six Museums: Art and Culture in Tokyo

Tokyo's Ueno Park, Japan's first public park, is home to six museums featuring Japanese art, history, and culture: the National Museum of Nature and Science, the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Ueno Royal Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Shitamachi Museum.

These facilities provide English guidance for their exhibits and will surely delight visitors both young and old.

The 6 Museums in Ueno Park

1. National Museum of Nature and Science
2. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
3. Tokyo National Museum
4. Ueno Royal Museum
5. National Museum of Western Art
6. Shitamachi Museum
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1. National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science is the only national science museum in Japan and is located right in the middle of Ueno Park. It is an educational facility with an extensive collection of biology and geology-related displays from around the world.

Here you can browse the Japan Gallery, a multi-level permanent exhibit that introduces the nature and anthropological history of the Japanese islands. The museum also has a state-of-the-art spherical projection theater and hosts special exhibitions. After or during your visit, stop by the restaurant area for some refreshments.

There are multi-lingual descriptions for the exhibits, and audio guides in English, Chinese, and Korean are also available. The National Museum of Nature and Science has something entertaining for all ages, making this an ideal spot for families and those traveling in groups.

Book your ticket to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo

National Museum of Nature and Science

7-20 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8718

The National Science Museum was founded in 1877 and is Japan's oldest and largest comprehensive science museum. There are exhibits in a vari...

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2. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is known for its permanent exhibits dedicated to open-air sculptures and calligraphic works by Japanese artists, as well as special displays of works from internationally-renowned artists, like Monet and Munch. We recommend checking the special exhibits first during your visit.

The museum has five floors; it has a restaurant and a cafe, making it comfortable for visitors to spend half a day here taking in both Japanese and global art.

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Tokyo, Taito ward, Ueno Park 8-36

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3. Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum is a large, renowned museum with displays of traditional Japanese art, including paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts. Established in 1857, it is considered the oldest museum in Japan and has around 117,000 items on display. This number includes many national treasures and culturally-important artifacts.

In addition to the extensive permanent exhibits, the temporary and seasonal exhibits are also worth seeing.

The Hyokeikan building. Photo by Pixta

The Tokyo National Museum is a large facility with several different buildings: the main building has 23 exhibition rooms on two floors with displays of Japanese art from prehistoric times to the 19th century; the Heiseikan has a gallery dedicated to Japanese archaeology and hosts mainly special exhibitions; the Toyokan showcases art from all across Asia; the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures houses a collection of some of the oldest cultural properties of Japan; the Kuroda Memorial Hall exhibits the works of Japanese Modern painter Kuroda Seiki (1866-1924); the Hyokeikan, currently closed for maintenance work, hosts special exhibitions and events.

The museum also has a Japanese garden and a teahouse. It might be difficult to visit all the buildings in one day. There are two restaurants where you can snack on a light refreshment or meal during your visit.

The Tokyo National Museum is an excellent destination for anyone interested in learning about the fine arts and history in Japan. All the exhibits are provided with English explanations and audio guides.

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo, Taito Ward, Ueno Park 13-9

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4. Ueno Royal Museum

The Ueno Royal Museum hosts mainly contemporary art exhibitions. The special exhibitions change regularly; the Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition, the VOCA Exhibition, and the Japanese Nature Painting Exhibition, which showcase works by award-winning Japanese artists, are particularly popular.

The Ueno Royal Museum is a relatively small museum compared to the rest of the facilities in Ueno Park. Visitors with little time can drop in here for around an hour of art and entertainment.

Ueno Royal Museum

Tokyo, Taito ward, Ueno Park 1-2

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5. National Museum of Western Art

As its name suggests, the National Museum of Western Art has an impressive collection of Western art dating from the end of medieval times to the beginning of the 20th century. The collection includes Impressionist paintings and modern French sculptures, from artists such as Degas and Rodin, making it a must-see for any art lover.

The National Museum of Western Art is renowned for its excellent special exhibitions featuring items from its collection as well as works temporarily borrowed from collections from abroad. Past exhibitions have featured artwork by internationally-renowned figures such as LeCorbusier and Picasso.

It is a large museum with impressive architecture, where you can spend around half a day gazing leisurely at paintings, sculptures, and other artwork.

National Museum of Western Art

110-0007 7-7 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo

The National Museum of Western Art is the only national art museum dedicated to Western art, and exhibits are based on collections donated a...

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6. Shitamachi Museum

*The Shitamachi Museum is temporarily closed for renovations until the end of 2024.

Head to the Shitamachi Museum if you are looking for a museum on the social history of Tokyo. The shitamachi, or lower-lying area of Tokyo, is associated with the working class and covers districts in eastern Tokyo such as Ueno and Asakusa. This museum offers a rare chance to learn about Tokyo's past and the way its residents lived in the Taisho period (1912-1926).

The museum features faithfully reproduced rooms and shops from the 1920s. The facility shows the citizens' lifestyles during those times and the changes that occurred due to earthquakes and war. You will feel as if you've slipped back through time while looking at the details in every corner. The second level of the facility also contains informative displays along with historical artifacts.

Shitamachi Museum

Tokyo, Taito ward, Ueno Park 2-1

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Visit the Museums in Ueno

There are various types of museums in Ueno Park to satisfy your every curiosity. There might be too much to see in one day, but visiting a museum that interests you will surely make for an exciting day in the park.

A tip: The admission to the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Nature and Science is covered by the Tokyo Pass, a convenient digital pass offering unlimited entry to 40 cultural facilities in Tokyo.

Book the Tokyo Pass

All pictures from Pixta