🏛️ 20 Tokyo museums: ticket prices and opening hours in 2026

You've come to Tokyo for a few days. You want to see museums, not just neighborhoods and shops. The problem is simple: the city has hundreds of them, the districts are scattered, and half the galleries are closed on Mondays.

The twenty museums below show different sides of Tokyo. Here you'll find ancient scrolls and samurai swords, teamLab's digital rooms, and the icebreaker Soya on permanent display. Admission to the Tokyo National Museum costs 1000 ¥ (as of 09/2026, museum data). Many exhibitions are cheaper than that.

We've put together prices, hours, and closed days for you. We verified the data in September 2026 on the museums' official websites.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

Tokyo museums: what to see first

💡 In short:

Group museums by district: Ueno, Roppongi, Odaiba. That way you won't spend the whole day on the subway.
Go in the morning on weekdays. On weekends, teamLab Borderless and the Tokyo National Museum have lines.
Prices and hours: 09/2026, verified on the official Tokyo National Museum website.

Museum	Admission	Closed
Tokyo National Museum	1000 ¥ (as of 09/2026, tnm.jp)	Monday
teamLab Borderless	from 3800 ¥ (as of 09/2026, teamlab.art)	open daily
Miraikan	630 ¥ (as of 09/2026, miraikan.jst.go.jp)	Tuesday
Nezu Museum	from 1600 ¥ (as of 09/2026, nezu-muse.or.jp)	Monday
Icebreaker Soya	free admission, funenokagakukan.or.jp	open daily

Most museums open in the morning and close between five and six in the evening. Allow at least two hours for each one.

1. Edo-Tokyo Museum

The museum explains how a city by the bay grew into a megacity of millions. The exhibition has no single permanent theme. You'll see the past, present, and future of Japan's capital in one complex. Some of the models are built at full scale, such as the Nihonbashi bridge.

What to see: reconstructions of Edo-period streets, an artisan quarter, a wooden bridge. Many of the models can be touched.
How to get there: Ryogoku Station, about five minutes on foot (per the map).
The catch: the museum building has been undergoing renovation, so check the reopening date and hours on the website before your visit.

2. TeamLab Borderless digital art museum

Visitors in a teamLab Borderless light installation with a sphere

The teamLab Borderless digital museum has moved. It used to occupy galleries in Odaiba, and now it operates in the Azabudai Hills complex. The exhibition has no map: the light-filled rooms flow into one another, and you walk through them without a set route.

Tickets: online only and for a specific time slot. An adult ticket starts at 3800 ¥ (as of 09/2026, tickets on the teamLab website). Tickets with a time slot on Tiqets
Getting there: Kamiyacho station, a two-minute walk.
The catch: after eleven in the morning the rooms get crowded, and weekend slots sell out weeks in advance.

3. Tokyo National Museum

Main building of the Tokyo National Museum with a pond

The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park holds more than 120,000 exhibits (as of 09/2026, museum website). It is the largest collection of Japanese and Asian art in the country. You will recognize the main Honkan building by its long facade. Samurai swords, ancient scrolls, and sculptures are on display here.

Admission: 1000 ¥ for the permanent collection (as of 09/2026, museum price list). Tickets to the Tokyo National Museum
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00, closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, museum schedule).
The catch: you could not see even half the galleries in a week. Pick one or two buildings in advance.

4. Madame Tussauds

The Tokyo branch of Madame Tussauds brings together figures of famous people from different eras in one room. Einstein stands next to Steve Jobs, the Terminator next to Spider-Man. You can take photos with most of the figures.

What to see: a separate sports hall. Japanese figure skater Mao Asada stands on the ice rink, tennis player Sharapova on the court.
The workshop: nearby, they show you how the figures are made, from casting to costume.
The catch: the workshop does not impress everyone. Overly realistic eyes and faces can trigger unpleasant emotions.

5. National museum of modern art

Facade of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAT) collects Japanese art of the 20th century. The collection shows how Japanese artists changed from the Meiji era to the present day.

What to see: ukiyo-e prints and painting from the Meiji era to the present day.
Also inside: an art library, the National Film Center with films and photographs, and a crafts gallery with ceramics and textiles.
Hours: open from ten in the morning to five in the evening.

6. National museum of nature and science

Brick building of the National Museum of Nature and Science

The exhibition tells the story of the natural sciences and is divided into two galleries. The Global Gallery shows how technology and science are changing the planet. Here you will understand why the climate is changing and how humans affect nature and animals. On the roof there is a garden of medicinal plants that people have used for centuries.

The Japan Gallery is dedicated to the nature and challenges of the country itself. The displays explain how the islands are formed, where earthquakes and typhoons come from, and how the Japanese protect their shores from water. This section has a 3D theater with popular science films about Earth and space.

The museum is considered one of the most visited in the city, so it gets crowded on weekends. The two galleries are connected by a walkway, so you can move easily from one to the other. Terminals are placed throughout the center: at every display you can get explanations and go deeper into a topic. A separate display case is dedicated to Hachiko the dog, a symbol of loyalty.

What to see: the stuffed Hachiko, the 3D theater, terminals with explanations at every display.
Good to know: the audio guide is available in English, Korean, and Chinese for an extra fee.
The catch: the museum is closed on Mondays, and a full visit takes almost the whole day.

7. Tokyo metropolitan art museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum building and the plaza in front of the entrance

The museum operates in Ueno Park, and its exhibitions are funded by the city. The building opened in the mid-nineties, and since then it has shown painting, photography, calligraphy, and sculpture by Japanese and foreign artists. The first floor houses the permanent collections, with thematic exhibitions above.

The museum covers more than 1,500 square meters, so there is room for several exhibitions at once. Art lectures and workshops for anyone interested are held here regularly. Separate spaces are set aside for small performances: you can watch dancers and listen to vocalists.

The program is updated almost every month. In one visit you can see two or three exhibitions. Between exhibition changes, the galleries close temporarily for installation, so it is worth checking the schedule in advance.

What to see: parallel exhibitions across a wide range of styles, from classical to contemporary art.
Hours: open daily from ten in the morning to half past five, with extended hours on Fridays.

8. Shitamachi Museum

Facade of the Shitamachi Museum in Ueno Park

The Shitamachi Museum recreates an old-town neighborhood at full scale. During the Edo period, lower-income artisans lived here, and the houses stood wall to wall. The earthquake destroyed this district almost completely. The Low City got a second life only after the war.

What to see: a butcher's shop, a potter's and a coppersmith's workshops, a smithy. The Low City looks different in winter and summer.
Getting there: Ueno Station, then walk following the signs (see map).
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from half past nine in the morning to half past four, closed on Mondays.

9. National Art Center

Glass facade of the National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center was designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. He envisioned a building that could host any kind of exhibition. The architect believed that architecture should not be fully understood. The building stands in the Roppongi district, next to boutiques and upscale restaurants. You will spot the wavy glass facade from afar; it is called the glass wave.

Inside, the space seems to be constantly changing. Moving elevators travel through all the floors, so the volume appears to breathe. There is no permanent collection here: every few weeks a new exhibition arrives on any art-related theme.

What to see: major traveling exhibitions of contemporary art. On the third floor there is a free library with materials on painting, and lectures are also held there.
For visitors: the center has a souvenir shop, a cafe, and a children's play area.
The catch: the center is closed on Tuesdays, and there is no permanent collection for a leisurely visit.

10. Tokyo Metro Museum

Entrance to the Subway Museum with a Japanese sign

The Tokyo Metro Museum explains how the Tokyo subway was built. The exhibition is divided into thematic sections. The old Ueno station is shown separately. The first subway cars stand nearby.

What to see: models of escalators and ventilation systems, models of old and new cars, safety systems.
Who it's for: it is interesting for both adults and children. There is a subway-themed play area for young children.
Hours: open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

11. Toy Museum

The collection began as the private collection of the Nakano family. Some toys are kept as exhibits and cannot be touched. The rest of the toys serve their intended purpose, and both children and adults play with them. The most valuable display cases take up more than one room.

Entrance to the Tokyo Toy Museum with a banner

The museum moved into a former school building that was built before the war. Today the collection numbers thousands of toys from all over Japan and from other countries. Both children and adults come here, drawn to old toys and their history.

What to see: the Haunted House, the Toy Forest with a cypress floor, the Plastic Lake with beads instead of water, and the Apollo ship.
Quiet games: table football and cards for a calm evening.
Good to know: the shop sells sweets, and small wooden toys are placed inside the packets.
The catch: the museum is closed on Thursdays, and the most valuable display cases can only be viewed.

12. Miraikan Museum

Glass building of Miraikan museum with a silver sphere

Miraikan showcases cutting-edge technology, and almost everything here can be touched. Guides explain how the exhibits work. You will find displays about robots, space, ecology, and biology.

What to see: six floors of interactive halls. To explore them in detail, you need more than one day.
Admission: 630 yen (as of 09/2026, official website). Miraikan tickets on Tiqets
The catch: the museum is closed on Tuesdays. Check the schedule before your visit, as Miraikan is being prepared for major renovations.

13. Mori Art Museum

Entrance to the Mori Art Museum with escalators

The Mori Art Museum occupies the top floors of the Roppongi Hills tower. Panoramic windows offer a view of the city. It is the highest museum in Japan, and you can combine the visit with a view of Tokyo.

What to see: temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and works by young Japanese artists.
Getting there: Roppongi station, then follow signs for Roppongi Hills (on the map).
Hours: open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

14. Nezu museum of fine arts

The Nezu Museum houses the collection of Nezu Kochiro, who bequeathed it to the city. The building was rebuilt from scratch after the war. Today it is a corner of Buddhist harmony in the center of Aoyama.

What to see: bronze vessels, calligraphy, and old drawings. The museum pavilions are surrounded by a garden.
Admission: from 1600 yen for a special exhibition (as of 09/2026, official website).
Hours: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry earlier. Closed on Mondays.

15. Sony explora science museum

Shiny sphere of a Foucault pendulum in a museum

Sony Explora Science shows how the company's technologies work. It explains the connection between scientific research and everyday devices. The exhibits are designed primarily for children.

Adults will find it interesting too. In the optical illusions room, you won't immediately tell what's real and what's a trick of the eye. The sound room demonstrates how music is born from pure signals. Several times a day, short performances with optical and sound effects are staged here.

What to see: the optical illusions room, the sound room, and a small planetarium where you'll see the starry sky through a telescope.
Activities: you can make your own cartoon starring yourself.
The catch: photography and phone videos are not allowed inside the halls.

16. Panasonic Museum in Shiodome

The Panasonic Museum in the Shiodome district is artistic rather than technical. The core of its collection consists of works by Ruo. The exhibition is compact, and you'll spend about an hour exploring it.

The catch: exhibit labels are only in Japanese, with almost no English explanations.
Hours: open daily from ten in the morning to six in the evening.

17. Origami Museum

Miniature paper bento boxes in a display case

The Origami Museum welcomes guests free of charge. You only pay for workshops, and even those are optional. This is an old family business that has operated since the mid-nineteenth century. Today it is run by a descendant of the founder.

The exhibition spans several floors. Figures made of colored paper are displayed in the first two rooms: from simple cranes to complex compositions. On the upper floors, instructors teach you to fold flowers and animals. A small paper production facility operates in the basement, and the shop sells books, finished figures, and everything you need for the craft.

What to see: colored paper figures, from simple models to true works of art.
Good to know: visitors with poor eyesight can borrow glasses here free of charge.
The catch: the museum is closed on Sundays, and workshops are paid separately.

18. Museum of maritime science and shipbuilding

Icebreaker Sōya docked at the museum pier in Odaiba

The main exhibit sits on the water: the icebreaker Soya is moored at Odaiba, and anyone can come aboard. The ship's interiors have preserved their mid-twentieth-century appearance.

The Soya has a rich history. The ship was built in Japan for the Soviet Union under the name Volochaevets, but after diplomatic relations broke down it remained in Japan and received a new name. During the war, the icebreaker carried cargo and ammunition and suffered almost no damage.

After the war, the Soya was converted into a civilian vessel. It sailed to Antarctica with expeditions and rescued polar explorers. One operation was difficult: the dogs had to be left on an ice floe, but in the spring the ship returned for the surviving huskies. This story became the basis of a famous film. The icebreaker itself also got trapped in ice, and a Soviet ship came to its rescue. It was permanently moored at Odaiba in the late seventies.

What to see: the captain's bridge, instruments, and crew cabins. On deck, you're allowed to touch the mechanisms, which are in working order. Nearby are a bathyscaphe, a sailing ship, and old guns from the Battle of Tsushima.
Admission: boarding is free, with voluntary donations accepted (as of 09/2026, official website).
The catch: the museum's main building has closed, leaving only the open-air area and the ship.

19. Photography Museum

Entrance to the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Ebisu

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum showcases works by Japanese and Eastern artists. There are few permanent exhibitions here, but themed projects change frequently. Every photograph has an English translation.

What to see: competition entries by young photographers and a separate room with winners.
Good to know: the museum has a shop with photography books.
Hours: on Thursdays and Fridays the museum stays open later; on other days it closes earlier.

20. Advertising Museum

Entrance to the ADMT Advertising Museum in Tokyo

The Advertising Museum shows how advertisements have changed from the Edo period to the present day. Here you'll see advertising copy and posters that have won awards. Some rooms are devoted to temporary exhibitions.

What to see: the permanent exhibition and a library with books about advertising.
Hours: open daily from eleven in the morning to six in the evening.

Tokyo museums on the map

We put all twenty museums on one map. Save it to your phone so you can plan routes by neighborhood and avoid crisscrossing the city in a single day.

Museums of Tokyo

Places on the map

1Edo-Tokyo Museum How a bay city grew into a megacity, full-scale models
2teamLab Borderless Digital museum, light-filled halls with no set route, Azabudai Hills complex
3Tokyo National Museum Largest collection of Japanese and Asian art, Ueno Park
4Madame Tussauds Wax figures of famous people, athletes' hall
5National Museum of Modern Art 20th-century Japanese art, ukiyo-e prints
6National Museum of Nature and Science World and Japanese galleries, stuffed dog Hachiko, 3D cinema
7Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Painting, photography, calligraphy, themed exhibitions
8Shitamachi Museum Old town quarter at full scale
9National Art Center Wavy glass facade, major touring exhibitions
10Tokyo Metro Museum How the Tokyo metro was built, old carriages
11Toy Museum Nakano family collection, Haunted House, Toy Forest
12Miraikan Advanced technology, six floors of interactive halls
13Mori Art Museum Upper floors of the Roppongi Hills tower, city view
14Nezu Museum Bronze vessels, calligraphy, garden with pavilions
15Sony Explora Science Museum Optical illusion hall, sound hall, planetarium
16Panasonic Shiodome Museum Two exhibitions on technology and design
17Origami Museum Figures made of colored paper, free admission
18Museum of Maritime Science Icebreaker Soya permanently docked near Odaiba
19Museum of Photography Works by Japanese and Asian authors, themed projects
20Advertising Museum Tokyo How advertising changed from the Edo era to today

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit Tokyo museums?

Prices vary, and the main museums' fees are listed in the table at the beginning of the article. There are also free venues: the origami museum and the icebreaker Soya. For popular museums, it's best to reserve a time slot in advance.

What days are Tokyo museums closed?

Most national museums, including the Tokyo National Museum and the Nezu Museum, are closed on Mondays. Miraikan is closed on Tuesdays, the toy museum on Thursdays, and the origami museum on Sundays.

Which Tokyo museums are good for children?

Kids enjoy Miraikan, the toy museum, and the digital rooms at teamLab Borderless. The National Museum of Nature and Science has a stuffed Hachiko and a 3D movie theater. On the icebreaker Soya, visitors are allowed to touch the instruments.

Can you get into teamLab Borderless without a ticket?

No. Tickets are sold only online and for a specific time, in slots. Weekend slots sell out weeks in advance, so buy ahead.

How many museums can you realistically see in one day?

Two, or three at most if they're close together. Ueno, Roppongi, and Odaiba are far apart. Group museums by neighborhood and allow at least two hours for each.

Do you need English to understand the exhibits?

Major museums have English labels, and the Tokyo National Museum offers an audio guide. At the Panasonic museum, explanations are only in Japanese. At the photography museum, however, translations appear under every photo.

Tours and tickets in Tokyo

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

See offers on Tiqets

The widget loads once you give your consent.

In short: what's worth booking

If it's your first time in Tokyo, start with Ueno. The Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum are all close together there. For digital art, head to teamLab Borderless; for a city view, go to the Mori Art Museum.

If you have one day: do Ueno and one museum in Roppongi.
If you're traveling with kids: Miraikan and the toy museum.
If you want to save money: the origami museum is free, and the icebreaker Soya has free admission.

Museum tickets are convenient to book in advance: tickets on Tiqets or Tokyo tours on GetYourGuide.

Tokyo museums: 20 places from ancient scrolls to digital teamLab