What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
A reaaaaaaaally must for art-lovers!
Today was the last day of the Joan Miró exhibition.
There were families with kids and lots of adults, too. My junior high schooler was free.
There are lots of restrooms, and even a nice restaurant.
The whole experience was perfect!
View @ Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
.
Established in 1926 as Japan’s first public art museum and founded with financial support from industrialist Keitaro Sato, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum building was designed by modernist architect Kunio Maekawa.
.
The museum does not maintain a vast permanent collection, being best known for hosting nearly 300 temporary exhibitions annually, but the small permanent collection of art includes 12 sculptures and 36 calligraphic pieces, featuring Japanese artists such as Haruo Igarashi, Bukichi Inoue, and Kakuzo Tatehata.
.
The unique Citizen’s Gallery aims to democratize art and foster a vibrant inclusive art community, and is thus designed as an inviting, participatory space where art made by local citizens finds a formal platform within a major cultural institution.
.
The curated works on display typically cover a broad range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, calligraphy, installation, and even multimedia approaches; reflecting the diverse, everyday experiences of Tokyo’s residents.
Located in Ueno, close to many other museums ( like National Museum of the Imperial Collections), at the moment there are many traditional calligraphy exhibitions and local artist collections. For me, as an artist, was very interesting. Miro exhibition was not worth for me comming from EU I saw enough times in Spain etc etc but if you are interested please visit it.
The Joan Miro exhibition is showing from Mar-July 2025. Cost is 2300 yen, but two of the galleries are free of charge (not Miro). Well worth a 2-3hr visit!
Also, there’s a special bonus seeing cherry blossoms in Ueno Park!
Don't Forget Your Cash!
This is one of Japan's top-tier museums, and it's definitely worth a visit! Beyond the impressive special exhibitions, the permanent collection is also a must-see. It's a fantastic spot if you're looking for a good walk around Ueno.
You can buy tickets online ahead of time, but heads up: the audio guide service and lockers are cash only, so be sure to bring some coins and small bills with you!