Here are links to the current exhibition schedules of all my favorite Tokyo museums in one place, so you can check what eye-popping art will be on display while you’re there! These are all great museums, but the ones with pictures are my personal only-in-Japan favorites.
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ARTIZON MUSEUM
Choice pieces of modern art by all the masters, with exhibitions designed and curated in unique ways
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BUNKA GAKUEN COSTUME MUSEUM
Excellent exhibits of Western and Japanese historical clothing
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BUNKAMURA GALLERY 8
Popculture art
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HOKUSAI MUSEUM
All about Hokusai, including a rotating collection of his woodblock prints and sketchbooks
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MINGEIKAN – JAPANESE FOLK ART MUSEUM
A collection celebrating the Mingei Movement and the beauty of traditional objects used in everyday Japanese life
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MIRAIKAN (National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation)
Science museum with interactive exhibitions for kids & adults
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MITSUI MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Surprising and exquisite handcrafts and art pieces from the Meiji Era to the present day
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MORI ART MUSEUM
Showcasing modern artists and designers who have thought-provoking messages
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MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, TOKYO
Exhibitions of Japanese and international modern artists
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NATIONAL ART CENTER
Multiple galleries with shows featuring international and Japanese artists/art movements
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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
Excellent natural history museum featuring a wing devoted to all things Japanese
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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART
Retrospectives of western artists so comprehensive, you’ll never see them gathered together like this anywhere else
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NEZU MUSEUM
Choice exhibits of traditional Japanese art surrounded by a beautiful garden
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OTA MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF ART
Woodblock prints by all the famous artists, exhibited in interesting themes
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SUNTORY MUSEUM OF ART
Traditional Japanese art of the highest quality
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TOBACCO & SALT MUSEUM
Surprisingly entertaining museum devoted to tobacco and salt
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TOKYO METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM
Unusual mix of Japanese and international art exhibitions
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TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM
Vast collection of every type of Japanese art and artifact
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TOKYO NODE
Quirky event/exhibits of cutting edge artists
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TOKYO OPERA CITY ART GALLERY
Beautiful exhibits by thought-provoking artists who are not well-known outside Japan
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TOMO MUSEUM
The most spectacular ceramic art museum in Japan
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YAYOI-YUMEJI MUSEUM
Takehisa Yumeji’s paintings and the actual vintage kimono ensembles worn by his models
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YAMATANE MUSEUM
Museum dedicated to Japanese nihonga painting and other works on paper and silk
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More great only-in-Japan museums from The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had that display only their permanent collections (rather than ever-changing exhibitions) are here:
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 