Arts and Culture | Tokyo City Guide
This is my favourite museum in Tokyo, and it's somewhere I visit every trip. The building itself is worth the visit alone. However it’s the beautifully orchestrated, and ever changing exhibitions, highlighting Japan’s vibrant design culture, that keeps me coming back time and again.
If you’re visiting Harajuku at the weekend, it’s worth dropping by this shrine.
A contemporary art museum at the top of a skyscraper in Roppongi, with a good gallery shop. I don’t think it has much of a permanent collection, so check out the current exhibit before going.
Big contemporary art museum, akin to MOMA. Impressive building, great gift shop. It’s good for big travelling exhibitions, so check what’s on first. Near 21_21 Design Sight, so you can do both in a single afternoon.
This is an absolutely stunning building, set in an upmarket neighbourhood of fancy homes and designer boutiques. The museum has a great collection of ancient Japanese sculptures and artworks, and one of the best gardens in Tokyo. After 21_21 Design Sight, this is my favourite Tokyo museum. If you’re looking for a bite to eat afterwards, nip over the road to the wonderful Down the Stairs cafe.
A cool contemporary art gallery. A little out of town, but worth the trek if you’re looking for something a bit more avant garde.
I’m still yet to make it to the Studio Ghibli museum. Largely because I forget to book, and it typically sells out around 3 months in advance. However, everybody I know who’s been, says it’s definitely worth it. So maybe this year?
Nice collection of Hokusai prints housed in a beautiful concrete brutalist building. Worth a visit if you’re in this part of town.
If you like photography, it’s worth checking out this museum. I’ve discovered a bunch of interesting Japanese photographers as a result.
An interesting, if slightly awkward space, in a cool neighbourhood. So worth checking out if you’re wandering around Harajuku. There’s a nice cafe and art bookshop in the basement.
A small gallery dedicated to Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama, which opened in 2017. There are no tickets on the door so you need to book in advance.