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Tokyo Museums
Tokyo National Museum (Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan )
If you only go to one museum in Tokyo this museum in Ueno Park should probably be the one as it houses the most comprehensive, and enormous collection of Japan’s historical artifacts, and is the oldest museum in Japan, established in 1872. The Tokyo National Museum displays numerous national treasures and ancient Japanese art as well as archeological finds and artifacts from throughout Asia.
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park Taito-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-5777-8600
Admission Price: Adults: ¥ 600 University Students: ¥ 400
High/Junior High/Elementary School Students and under: Free
Admission Hours: 9:30 am - 5 pm. 6 pm on saturdays, sundays, and national holidays
Open until 8 pm Fridays during April - December
website: www.tnm.go.jp
Edo Tokyo Museum
The Edo Tokyo museum has impressive displays relationg to the history of Tokyo from Tokyo's edo period, 1603 to 1868, to modern times. The main displays are divided between the Edo and Meiji period of Tokyo. The Edo Tokyo Museum is located directly behind the Ryougoku Sumou Stadium & museum, which is also an interesting place to visit. Directions: take the JR Sobu Line and get off at Ryogoku. exit from Ryogoku station's West Exit and walk about 3 to 4 minutes and you will find it.
Hours: 9:30a.m. - 5:30p.m. (Saturday until 7:30p.m.)
Admission: adults: ¥ 600 HS students: ¥ 300 college students: ¥ 480 over 65: ¥ 300
Address: 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015
03-3626-9974
website: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english
Hara Museum of Contemporary art
Admission: adult ¥ 1000 HS and Uni students: ¥ 700 kids: ¥ 500
Hours: 11 am to 5 pm, 11 am to 8 pm on Wednesdays
4-7-25 Kitashinagawa
Tokyo, 13 140-0001
Japan
+81 3 3445 0651
website: www.haramuseum.or.jp
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art
This Museum houses a combination of Western and Japanese contemporary artists. There is quite a variety of artistic styles, mediums, and content displayed at the Tokyo Metropolitan. Because of these galleries are temporary and always changing, the content can be quite different from exhibition to exhibition. The museum also rents out galleries to artists so have a look if you are into modern art and wanna see what Tokyo's "art" scene has to offer.
Website: www.tobikan.jp
Address: 8-36 Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku
Admission varies often
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm Tuesday - Sunday. Closed every third Sunday of the month
Shitamachi Museum ( Shitamachi Fūzoku Shiryokan )
Shitamachi was Edo's main downtown area. The Shitamachi museum gives the chance to experience some of the old-school charm by letting you enjoy some interesting scenery, try on clothes from the era, teach you some games and other entertaining interactive activities. If you've seen that episode of South Park where the kids are in that old timey theme park where everyone has to stay in character, it's kind of like that, all the old stuff you can play with and "learn" about i mean.
Admission: ¥ 300 for adults ¥ 100 for students
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday - Sunday
website: www.tokyo-cci.or.jp/sangyokanko/english
Tobacco & Salt Museum
If you love your tobacky and salt, you'll love this entertainingly educational museum dedicated to these sophisticated substances.
Admission: 100 ¥ for adults and a mere 50 ¥ for the kids who need a lesson on the history of tobacco and salt.
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm Tuesday - Sunday
Address: 1-16-8 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku
Tepco Electric Energy Museum
This museum is 7 floors of various displays demonstrating nearly everything related to electricity. English language handouts and explanations are available, and there are displays to entertain people of any age.
Admission: FREE!
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm Thursday - Tuesday
Address: 1-12-10 jinnan, Shibuya-ku
Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum opened in 2003 and houses an impressive collection of contemportay art of very respectable quality. It is located on the top of Mori Tower. Addmission includes Tokyo city View which includes some spectactular views of Tokyo from the top of the Mori building. Tokyo City View is worth a look in itself as it provides a 360 degree view of Tokyo with floor to cieling windows and even an open air viewing area. Check out the museum's website for information on current shows.
Admission: ¥ 1500
Hours: 10 am - 10 pm Wednesday to Monday
Address: 53rd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Website: www.mori.art.museum
Okuro Shuukokan
This small 2 story museum is located on the grounds of the Okuro Hotel. It houses an exquisite collection of sculptures, lacquer boxes, and even some artifacts considered to be Japan's national treasures.
Admission: Adult ¥ 800 student ¥ 500
Hours: 10 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday - Sunday
address: 2-10-3 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Museum of Maritime Science (fune no kagakukan)
Constructed in the shape of a ship, this museum contains 4 floors of very interesting displays relating to everything in Japan's shipping history, including highly detailed models i'd love to play with in my hot tub. One of which is a 4 meter long replica of the largest battleship ever built in Japan, the Yamato, which was fundamental in Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. There are also many exhibits for the kids to enjoy. To get there by train, take the Yurikamome line to Fune no Kagakukan.
Admission: ¥ 1000 ¥ 600 for kids
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday. Until 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday
address: 3-1 Higashi-Yashio, shinagawa-ku
website: www.funenokagakukan.or.jp
National Museum of Emerging Science & innovation ( Miraikan )
Tokyo's National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation is the most entertaining and educational science museum in Japan. With plenty of hands-on interactive exhibits and activities to entertain the kids, such as riding a virtual reality horse, designing and constructing your own robot, and plenty more.
Admission: adult ¥ 500 under 18 ¥ 200, Children free on Saturday
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm Wednesday to Monday
Address: 2-41 Aomi, Koutou-ku
website: www.miraikan.jst.go.jp
Ghibli Museum
Ghibli is an anime fantasy land designed for children by Japan's most world famous anime artist, Miyazaki Hayao. Each entrance ticket contains a unique cell from a Studio Ghibli film. You'll probably have to reserve your entrance several months in advance as it is a popular location.
Admission: ¥ 1000 adult, ¥ 100 - 700 for kids,
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm Wednesday - Monday
Directions and ticket information at the Ghibli museum's website
www.ghibli-museum.jp/ticket/overseas.html
Sumo Museum
Located on the first floor of the Ryogoku Kokugikan where many national Sumo tournaments are held. It's a one minute walk from the JR sobu line at the Ryogoku station, from the west exit. There's also a lot of restaurants nearby selling chanko nabe, the traditional sumo wrestler food.
Address: 1-3-28 Yoko-ami Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015
Admission: free
Hours: 10 am - 4:30 pm
website: www.sumo.or.jp/eng/museum
Yushukan War Memorial Museum
This museum located inside the Yasukuni Jinja (Yasukuni Shrine) is dedicated to those who lost their lives in Japanese military conflicts, especially WW2. It's interesting to get a look at Japan's right wing expression of it's World War 2 aggression and lack of acknowledgement of Japanese military atrocities as demonstrated in this museum.
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm
Directions: by JR Sobu and Chuo lines it's a 10 minute walk from the Ichigaya and Iidabashi stations. By Subway a 5 minute walk from Kudanishita station by Hanzomon and the Tozai lines.
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