How to Visit the Tokyo Museum of Modern Art

The Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art is the largest and most complete museum in Japan dedicated exclusively to Japanese art. This Tokyo landmark covers a variety of artists, both in painting and sculpture, starting from the beginning of the 20th century continuing to the present. Important Japanese contemporary painters are prominently displayed in the museum, as are more classical artists from the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Make the Most of Your Museum Visit

1. Visit on Sunday mornings for free entry, but keep in mind that tourists tend to flock to the museum on weekends, so it may take you longer to go through the whole place.
2. Look for the few Western painters scattered throughout the museum, especially in the exhibits of "Art During and After the War."
3. Don't expect to spend a lot of time here. While the building itself has four floors, the museum can be enjoyed in its totality in under two hours.
4. Use the additional time to visit the Crafts Gallery, which showcases everything from metal and glass work and bamboo to graphic design and dolls, all by contemporary Japanese artists. Large-scale exhibitions by solo artists are sometimes held in the galleries.
5. Make time for the ever-changing photographic exhibits held at the main building of the museum complex. A recent one, "The Unfinished Century: Legacies of 20th Century Art," attracted thousands of visitors over a period of a few weeks.
6. Stop by the National Film Center to explore the permanent collection "Japanese Film History in Documents--From the Collection of Kyohei Misono." The free screenings are in English.
7. Enjoy Kitanomaru Park, which surrounds the museum grounds and allows for quiet strolls, picnicking or rowing (boats are available for rent on the park's premises).
8. Visit more than once if you have the chance. Exhibits change every couple of weeks, and because it only takes about an hour to see the new displays, you can afford to stop by the museum often.

Tips & Warnings

• Since its opening in 1952, the museum has expanded to include two additional buildings: the Crafts Gallery and the National Film Center (NFC).
• The Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art is located near the Imperial Palace and the Science Museum, two major area attractions. If you come early and can spare the time, make sure you stop by at the other buildings.

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