Museums in Tokyo: Current exhibitions and safety measures

Art is nutrition for your mind and soul. It’s nothing you necessarily need to live, but at the same time, you might need art to feel alive. The following is a list of current exhibitions held at museums in central Tokyo and the latest information for staying safe while enjoying art!


Table of Contents
  1. Tokyo Station Gallery
  2. Marunouchi Street Gallery
  3. Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo
  4. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  5. Science Museum

Tokyo Station Gallery is an art museum that has been active in the Marunouchi station building of Tokyo Station since 1988. Since its opening, the brick-walled exhibition rooms revealing the former structure of the station building and the museum’s unique exhibitions have been at the center of attention.

The charming exhibition rooms of the historic building
The “Bauhaus” exhibition held in 2020
Current exhibition:
“The Extraordinary Drawings of Kyosai”

Saturday, November 28, 2020 – Sunday, February 7, 2021
http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/exhibition/202011_kawanabe.html
http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/english/archive_202011_kawanabe.html (English)

Upcoming exhibition:
“Minami Kunzo”

Saturday, February 20 – Sunday, April 11, 2021
http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/exhibition/202102_minami.html
http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/english/archive_202102_minami.html (English)

* As a general rule, tickets have to be pre-purchased for a specified date and time. Please purchase a “Lawson ticket” before visiting.
* If it is later found out that an infected person had visited the museum, the date and time of the visit will be announced on the official website. Please keep your used ticket in case you want to check the time and date later.
* You need to wear a face mask inside the building. Also, please use the hand sanitizer provided at the entrance.

Tokyo Station Gallery

http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery
1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/GATGw1rkfNxJ2sRG7
Nearest stations: Tokyo Station, Otemachi Station, Nijubashimae Station


The animal sculptures created by Atsuhiko Misawa a little bit scary and really cute at the same time.

Since 1972, the area management company and the foundation that runs the popular THE HAKONE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM (“Hakone Sculpture Museum” in Japanese) run an art project featuring art sculptures on both sides of Marunouchi-Naka-Dori Street. The project is called “Marunouchi Street Gallery”. Since the sculptures are replaced by other ones every few years, there is always something new to see. You can see the works of famous artists from around the world and take captivating photos just by walking down the street!

There is also an art piece by Yayoi Kusama, who is famous for her colorful giant pumpkins! When you look closely, you’ll see that this sculpture actually also looks like a pumpkin.

Marunouchi Street Gallery Map showing where the works are installed:
https://www.marunouchi.com/ (English, Japanese)


Enjoy the historic red-brick architecture and artworks at “Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo”

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, which has been restored as much as possible to its original appearance 125 years ago, charms with a beautiful red brick exterior and classic looking interior. In 1894, when Tokyo Station hadn’t been built yet and there were no other buildings around, Mitsubishi built the “Mitsubishi Ichigokan” (designed by Josiah Conder) at this location.

In 1968, the building had to be dismantled due to its deterioration, but it was restored in the same design and with a base isolation structure – to prevent earthquake damage – in almost the same place as before.
The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, which opened in 2010, holds three exhibitions each year featuring modern art, mainly from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Upcoming exhibition:
“Constable A History of His Affections in England” (With works from the Tate Museum)

February 20th-May 30th, 2021
https://mimt.jp/constable/

* Please buy your ticket in advance if possible. Click here for details: https://mimt.jp/ticket/
* Please use “Marunouchi Park Inn” for parking. (There is a discount service depending on the use of nearby shops and restaurants)

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo

https://mimt.jp
2-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/TzWZmhJs3XwzaFoQ8
Nearest Stations: Tokyo Station, Yurakucho Station, Otemachi Station, Nijubashimae Station, Hibiya Station
*For car parking, please use the “Marunouchi Parking”
(There is a discount service according to the amount spent at nearby shops and restaurants.)


Join us on an art time travel from modern to contemporary art! MOMAT

Dream or Reality? MOMAT special exhibition on “Sleeping: Life with Art – From Goya and Rubens to Shiota Chiharu” held until February 23, 2021

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT) is Japan’s first national museum holding a collection of modern and contemporary artworks from the Meiji era (1868-1912) to the present day. Don’t miss the regularly held exhibition “MOMAT Collection” and special exhibitions! Thanks to the multilingual panels and work descriptions, you can enjoy the exhibition with all information even if you can’t read Japanese.

In addition to Japanese, the explanations of the exhibits are available in English, Chinese (simplified), and Korean. Furthermore, you can also download an app for more multilingual work explanations for free!

Also don’t miss the view from the observation break room “Room with a view”. From here you can see a panorama of the moat and the Imperial Palace East Imperial Garden.

The nice view from the “Room with a view”
Current exhibitions:
MOMAT Collection special exhibition: “What Is Like the Present?”

November 3, 2020-February 23, 2021
https://www.momat.go.jp/en/
https://www.momat.go.jp/en (English)

Special Exhibition “Sleeping: Life with Art – From Goya and Rubens to Shiota Chiharu”

November 25, 2020-February 23, 2021
https://www.momat.go.jp/en/
https://www.momat.go.jp/en/ (English)

Special Exhibition “Male Sculpture” Primarily from the Museum Collection

November 25, 2020-February 23, 2021
https://www.momat.go.jp/en
https://www.momat.go.jp/en (English)

Upcoming exhibition:
Special Exhibition “Ayashii: Decadent and Grotesque Images of Beauty in Modern Japanese Art”

March 23-May 16, 2021
https://www.momat.go.jp/en
https://www.momat.go.jp/en (English)

* From Friday, January 15, 2021, the museum will be closed at night for the time being. The closing time on Fridays and Saturdays will be changed to 17:00.
* Same-day tickets are sold at the venue, but it is recommended to make an online reservation/purchase in advance.
* A face mask must be worn inside the building. Hand sanitizer and body temperature check at the entrance.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT)

https://www.momat.go.jp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOMAT60th
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momat.pr

3-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/UrVmJReZ5Vo6hUhB9
Nearest stations: Takebashi Station, Kudanshita Station, Jimbocho Station


The mysterious and fun world of science! “Science Museum”

(*Currently, you need to wear a face mask inside the building.)

From the ground level up to the 5th floor, the Science Museum is a science universe! Many of the exhibits are hands-on experiments allowing you to directly touch and operate machines etc. Since the exhibits convey the joy of science in an easy-to-understand manner for children, it’s the perfect museum for families (but also for adults who want to refresh their understanding of science!).

As of January 2021, an advance online reservation is required. However, if there are free slots available, you may also buy same-day tickets at the museum.
Click here for details: http://www.jsf.or.jp
Reservation page: https://jsf.revn.jp
* It is necessary to wear a face mask, disinfect your hands, and keep a secure distance from other people.
* Capacity is set for each exhibition room. In addition, some of the exhibits are closed.

Science Museum

http://www.jsf.or.jp/en/
2-1 Kitanomaru Garden, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/VZsspjvwJ3QSL8rX6
Nearest stations: Kudanshita Station, Takebashi Station