National Museum of Western Art

Where to go and what to see in Tokyo to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and Japan travel writer Rob Goss.

A dizzying mixture of old ways and modern style, crowds and calm, and arguably the best food scene on the planet.

A collection of six excellent in one park, including the Tokyo National Museum. Also one of the city’s most popular sites for hanami in Cherry Blosssom season.

Japan’s oldest and largest art and cultural museum, is a must-see for anyone interested in Japan’s fascinating history. Collections include samurai armour and swords, ancient Buddhist sculptures even tea ceremony utensils.

With towering gateways and a five-storied pagoda, this busy temple in Asakusa is a standout. If you have time for just one temple in Tokyo – make it this one.

Drama and tradition combine in this 1,000-year-old sport. It’s a mesmerising and atmospheric spectacle – and Tokyo’s Ryogoku neighbourhood is the centre of it all.

Japan’s biggest science museum showcases astronomy, biology, geology, and technology, allowing visitors to delve into the mysteries and advancements of the natural and scientific realms. Over 25,000 exhibits cover everything from dinosaurs to outer space; highlights include a state-of-the-art planetarium and a dinosaur gallery.

Run by the Japan Art Association, this museum covers a range of genres, including sculpture, contemporary art, and calligraphy. There’s no permanent collection, but hosts a changing series of creatively-themed temporary exhibitions.

Japan’s first public art museum showcases a diverse range of both traditional and contemporary art. The museum’s collection includes Japanese art and Western art, and its special exhibitions cover everything from masterpieces to up-and-coming local talent.

This small msueums focuses on the lives of ordinary Tokyoites in pre-modern Tokyo, with exhibits including full-scale replicas of Edo-era (1603-1868) stores.