About
Tōkyō National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan)
Japan almost seems chock-a-block with museums, and Tōkyō in particular is practically swimming in them, but this one is the grande dame. The venerable TNM is both Japan’s oldest and largest museum, with a collection of more than 120,000 art and archaeological objects from across the country and elsewhere in Asia. Only a fraction of that enormous hoard is on display at any one time – around 3,000 objects – with exhibits rotated regularly for conservation, so even with repeated visits I don’t think it would be possible to see the whole thing in a lifetime. Objects spanning Japanese history are gathered into themed galleries, perhaps rather frustratingly laid out by subject as well as period, which can create something of a mishmash at times – but what a glorious mishmash it is.
The museum also puts on some of the country’s finest special exhibitions, bringing together National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties from its own holdings and from institutions and collections across Japan and beyond, depending on the theme. The result is very often an extraordinary gathering of objects that one would otherwise have to travel half the country to see. Whenever I’m in the city, I make a point of checking what’s currently on show at the TNM, and will very likely travel up to their sprawling campus at Ueno Park just to make sure I don’t miss it.
Location
Links
Hours, fees, etc.
Refer to this page on the museum’s official website.
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