Whether you crave a day of intellectual enrichment, yearn to keep the kids entertained for an afternoon, or are simply looking for a fulfilling way to ride out a few hours of bad weather, visiting a museum can be a great way to spend your time. Fortunately, Tokyo is home to a plethora of excellent museums. In this article, we will introduce you to 15 museums in Tokyo that would be interesting and exciting to explore for people interested in art, nature, or science.

Tokyo is also home to a variety of amusement and theme parks, zoos and aquariums, animal cafes, and more. There are also many destinations you can visit from Tokyo including Kamakura, Atami, Nikko.

15 Museums to Visit in Tokyo

Tokyo National Museum

This is Japan's oldest national museum and houses the largest collection of art in Japan, with over 120,000 objects such as art works, archeological finds, books, photographs and more. Among the artifacts housed here are 89 Japanese National Treasures and 650 important cultural properties. Here you will find various special exhibitions being held at the same time, as well as events, lectures, and symposiums covering topics from washi (Japanese paper) to Zen art. In short, there is bound to be something to pique or stir your interest. Conveniently located within the spacious Ueno Park in Tokyo, this museum houses two restaurants, a coffee shop, and a souvenir shop where you can get a unique take-home gift with a touch of culture and history.

• Website : http://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en
• Address : 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

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National Museum of Nature and Science

Permanent exhibits at National Museum of Nature and Science include the evolution of living things including a display of dinosaur skeletons, the flora and fauna of Japan including rice and the influence of rice cultivation on technology, the peoples of Japan throughout history including the Jomon and Yayoi civilizations, the Ainu and Ryukyuans, the geology of Japan and the solar system. You can also learn about the history of the human habitation of Japan at the museum. There are also a 360-degree movie theater as well as a restaurant, cafe, lounge, museum shop, and more.

• Website : http://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/
• Address : 7-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

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Edo-Tokyo Museum (Closed for renovation till around 2025)

Photo via Edo Tokyo Museum

The museum is currently closed for renovation till around 2025.
Aptly located in shitamachi (old downtown area) of Tokyo, the Edo-Tokyo Museum is highly recommended for people new to Japan or Tokyo. Within the museum is a life-sized replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, also a great spot for selfies. At the end of the bridge you will find many intricate dioramas of life during the Edo or Tokugawa era. There are also lifelike scale dioramas with homes showing how people lived, worked, and played during seasonal festivals. The displays go on to depict the progression of history into the Meiji Restoration and Japan's transition into the modern era from Samurai times. Together with a visit to Ryogoku, the surrounding neighborhood where you can see a sumo match or just walk around the nostalgic streets, this is undoubtedly one of the must-see museums in Tokyo.

• Website : http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/en/
• Address : 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

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Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is a place that teaches you how things happen in the world we live today. This museum in Tokyo has a dome theater with interesting programs, as well as exciting permanent exhibitions and also holds various special exhibitions.

• Website : http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/
• Address : 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo

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Fire Museum (Tokyo Fire Department Firefighting and Disaster Prevention Reference Center)

Photo via Fire Museum

Learn all about the history of firefighting and disaster prevention in Japan at this free museum run by the Tokyo Fire Department. This museum would be an exciting place to visit for both parents and children. At Fire Museum in Tokyo, you can enjoy viewing a collection of vintage emergency vehicles, firefighting equipment, and even boarding a helicopter, etc. It also offers a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline from the 10th floor.

• Website : https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/eng/e_museum.html
• Address : 3-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

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Tokyo Water Science Museum

Photo via Tokyo Water Science Museum

The Tokyo Water Science Museum in Ariake is a free museum educating children on how municipal water is supplied to homes throughout Tokyo. Kids can learn all about the water cycle, the purification process, and finally how water travels from processing centers to their home faucet through engaging displays and interactive games.

• Website : http://www.mizunokagaku.jp/pdf/museum_guide_e.pdf
• Address : 3-1-8 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

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Panasonic Center TOKYO

Photo via Panasonic Center TOKYO

The Panasonic Center TOKYO in Ariake has a showroom where you can see some innovative ideas and technologies. It is also home to AkeruE, a creative museum for children. Furthermore, there is GREEN IMPACT PARK where children can learn about environmental issues and solutions.

• Website : https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/center-tokyo/en.html
• Address : 3-5-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

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Science Museum

Photo via Science Museum

This massive museum from the Japan Science Foundation offers five stories of interactive, educational fun dedicated to science and industrial technology. Kids can explore 20 different galleries, covering everything from how Japanese engineers make buildings earthquake-safe to the science behind soap bubbles. The museum also hosts up to 40 live experiment programs a day.

• Website : https://www.jsf.or.jp/en/
• Address : 2-1 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

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Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum is a fantastic place to visit for everyone interested in photography. It not only holds interesting exhibitions, but also has a library and offers various programs, etc.

• Website : https://topmuseum.jp/e/contents/index.html
• Address : Yebisu Garden Place, 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

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Nezu Museum

Nezu Museum has an impressive collection of about 7600 artworks including important art objects, cultural properties, and even national treasurers. At this popular museum, you can view various sculptures, paintings, ceramics, etc. There is also a beautiful garden where you can enjoy taking a walk. The museum is also home to a cafe with a view of garden.

• Website : https://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/en/
• Address : 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

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Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

Photo via Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

For fans of bonsai, or the art of cultivating miniature trees in a pot, the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is not to be missed. Even if you know nothing about bonsai, here you can try your hand at growing one at a bonsai class taught by Kunio Kobayashi, an award-winning professional bonsai artist who runs the museum and has taught international students throughout his 30-year career. Learn about the beauty of bonsai and you may find yourself growing one at home after a visit to this privately-run Tokyo museum.

• Website : http://www.kunio-kobayashi.com/en/
• Address :1-29-16 Niihori, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo

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The Japanese Sword Museum

Photo via The Japanese Sword Museum

If you are interested in Japanese sword-making techniques, the evolution of Japanese swords throughout history, or are simply in love with the Japanese katana, then the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo is the place for you. It will take you through the history of the Japanese sword from past to present. It even houses swords designed as National Treasures. You can also view samurai armor here and other weapons used by the samurai warrior, as well as the works of famous swordsmiths from the Heian to Edo era (or from A.D.782 - 1867).

• Website : http://www.touken.or.jp/english/index.html
• Address : 1-12-9 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

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Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

As far back as the Edo period, Tokyo has been losing many valuable historical buildings due to fires, floods, earthquakes, and warfare. Today, the city’s remaining cultural architecture continues to be eroded due to social and economic changes within the country. Starting in 1993, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established a seven-hectare Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum as part of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. This museum aims to relocate, reconstruct, preserve, and exhibit historical buildings of great cultural value–that were impossible to preserve in their original locations–for future generations.

• Website : https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/
• Address : 3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo

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Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Photo via Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and more) than a visit to Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is a must for your to do list. The museum is located at a little over a 15-min walk from Mitaka Station beside Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. It is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in the world of Studio Ghibli. Children aged 12 and under can enjoy playing with a cat bus from the famous animated film "My Neighbor Totoro". You can also watch an exclusive short cartoon that can only be seen at the museum.

Please keep in mind that tickets cannot be purchased at the museum. All tickets must be purchased in advance and go on sale on the 10th of each month for the following month. The website provides an English instructional guide on how to purchase tickets.

• Website : http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
• Address : 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo

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Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama

Photo via Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama

The Cupnoodles Museum is a family-friendly museum dedicated to instant ramen and cup noodles. Although it is located in Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, it can be easily accessed from Tokyo. The museum itself is divided into several major attractions: in the Chicken Ramen Factory you can try your hand at kneading, steaming, and flash frying your own pack of instant ramen. Cupnoodles Park is a children’s play area that allows kids to experience the entire manufacturing process from the perspective of the noodles. Don’t forget to stop by the My Cupnoodles Factory, where you can choose the soup flavor and toppings and design your own original packaging for your cup noodles to take home as a souvenir.

• Website : https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/yokohama/
• Address : 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa