Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo

Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo

Established in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum is the oldest Japanese national museum.

Established in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum is the oldest Japanese national museum. Its collection of over 110,000 items makes it the largest art museum in Japan and one of the largest art museums in the world. The collection is spread across 6 buildings in Ueno Park –

• Honkan - the Japanese Gallery showcases Japanese works from 10,000 BC to the 19th century, including Buddhist statues, painted sliding doors, scrolls, ceramics, lacquerware, and maps, along with objects such as samurai clothing, Noh masks, costumes, katana swords, armor, and weapons.
• Hyōkeikan is the oldest structure in the complex, built in 1909 to commemorate the wedding of Meiji Emperor Taisho who was then Crown Prince. It is the epitome of Western-style architecture during the Meiji Period, and used for temporary exhibitions.
• Heiseikan houses the Japanese Archaeology Gallery which traces the history of the country from ancient to pre-modern times through excavated finds of Jōmon linear appliqué type pottery, terracotta figurines, Paleolithic tools, burial mounds, and other objects.
• Hōryū-ji Hōmotsukan - the Gallery of Hōryū-ji Treasures houses 7th-8th century religious objects donated by Horyuji Temple in Nara, such as statues and copper reliefs.
• Tōyōkan – the Asian Gallery showcases artifacts from the entire continent grouped into 7 regions, namely China, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, India, West Asia, Middle-East and Egypt.
• The Kuroda Memorial Hall, built by bequest of Western-style painter Kuroda Seiki, showcases 126 oil paintings, 170 drawings, sketchbooks, letters, and other materials relating to the artist.