no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Scenery of the National Museum of Western Art. The building of the museum is a modern design.

National Museum of Western Art

Credit Shutterstock.com/picture cells

Last updated: 31 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Rob Goss

This prestigious art institution houses an extensive collection of European masterpieces, ranging from paintings to sculptures and prints.

The collection includes works by Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, all housed in a UNESCO-designated building designed by Le Corbusier.

Don't miss

The museum houses one of the largest collections of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures outside of France, including his most famous and iconic work, ‘The Thinker’.

Price from: £5
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
Frequency: annually
When: March, May and Sept
Duration: 2-3 hours

When to do it

The museum is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Ryokan Sawanoya

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[1.2 miles]

Family-run ryokan (traditional inn), providing tradition on a budget in Tokyo’s old Yanaka neighbourhood.

Official star rating:

BnA Studio Tokyo

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[1.5 miles]

A recently-opened boutique hotel with just 6 rooms, each a unique art installation, in a convenient location in Akihabara.

Official star rating:

Nine Hours Otemachi

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[3 miles]

The capsule hotel gets a slick reboot at this chain, offering smart sleeping pods in Shinjuku and elsewhere. Decent accommodation at very affordable prices.

Official star rating:

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[3.2 miles]

Uber lux, five star hotel with a prime location in central Tokyo for all travellers who can afford it. One of Tokyo’s swankiest addresses.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Tokyo

Kanto, Japan

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

Website >
Overview >

Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Museums of Ueno Park

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.3 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 6+ | Varies | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.4 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 8+ | £6 | 2-3 hours

Sensoji Temple

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[1.9 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >

Sumo wrestling

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.6 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 8+ | £15 | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

Fossil in National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno park taken May 22, 2016 in Tokyo.
Experience

National Museum of Science and Nature

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.1 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 6+ | £4 | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >
Ueno Royal Museum
Experience

Ueno Royal Museum

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.3 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 18+ | £4 | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, situated in Ueno Park, displays all arts in its six galleries with no permanent collection.
Experience

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.3 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 18+ | £8 | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >
Shitamachi Museum
Experience

Shitamachi Museum

Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.6 miles]

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.

Best for ages: 15+ | £3 | 2-3 hours

Website >
Overview >