There are thousands of museums in Japan. Here is a list of national museums.
Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum is the oldest museum in Japan and is located in the Ueno Koen Park. There are the Japanese Gallery, Asian Gallery, the Gallery of Horyuji Temple Treasures, and more.
Kyoto National Museum
Address: 527 Chayamachi Higashiyama-ku, KyotoAccess:Take Kyoto City Bus #206 or #208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae stop from Kyoto Station / 7 minute walk from Keihan Line Shichijo Station
Phone: 075-541-1151
Admission: *Due to the construction, the permanent exhibition hall has been closed.
Hours (Special Exhibitions): 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (last entry 5:30 p.m.) / Fridays 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. (last entry 7:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
*This museum will be closed from November 24, 2009 to January 5, 2010, and March 15, 2010 to April 9, 2010.
Kyushu National Museum
Address: 4-7-2 Ishizaka Dazaifu-city, FukuokaAccess: 10 minute walk from Nishitetsu Line Dazaifu Station
Phone: 092-918-2807
Admission: 420 yen (adults) 130 yen (college students)
Hours: Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.(last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
Nara National Museum
Address:50 Noborioji-cho Nara-city, NaraAccess: 15 minute walk from Kintetsu Line Nara Station / Take the Nara City Loop Bus from Kintetsu or JR Nara Station to Himuro Jinja/Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan stop.
Phone:0742-22-7771
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 500 yen (adults), 250 yen (high school and middle school students)
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.) *Extended hours apply on certain days.
Closed Mondays *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
National Museum of Ethnology
Address: 10-1 Senri Expo Park Suita-city, OsakaAccess: 15 minute walk from Osaka Monorail Banpaku Kinen Koen Station or Koen Higashiguchi Station/
Phone: 06-6876-2151
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 420 yen (adults) 250 yen (high school and college students), 110 yen elementary and middle school students
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.) Closed on Wednesdays *If a national holiday falls on a Wednesday, it's closed the next day.
National Museum of Japanese History
Address: 117 Jonai-cho Sakura-city, ChibaAccess: 15 minute walk from Keisei Line Sakura Station
Phone: 043-486-0123
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 420 yen (adults), 250 yen (high school and college students)
Hours: 9：30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (March - Sep.) / 9：30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Oct. - Feb.)
Closed on Mondays. *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
National Museum of Nature and Science
Address: 7-20 Ueno Koen Park Taito-ku, TokyoAccess: 5 minute walk from JR Ueno Station Koenguchi Exit / 10 minute walk from Tokyo Subway or Keisei Ueno Stations
Phone: 03-5777-8600
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 600 yen (adults and college students) free of charge (seniors age 65 +, high school age and younger children)
*Admission fees to special exhibitions vary for each exhibition.
Free Admission Day: Nov. 3
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ( - 8 p.m. on Fridays)
It's basically closed on Mondays (except national holidays) and Dec. 28 - Jan. 1.
*If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
The National Art Center, Tokyo
Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: Tokyo Subway Chiyoda Line Nogizaka Station / Hibiya Line or Oedo Line Roppongi Station
Phone: 03-5777-8600
Admission: vary for each exhibition.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
It's basically closed on Tuesdays (except holidays) and late Dec. - early Jan.
*If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, it's closed the next day.
Access: Tokyo Subway Chiyoda Line Nogizaka Station / Hibiya Line or Oedo Line Roppongi Station
Phone: 03-5777-8600
Admission: vary for each exhibition.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
It's basically closed on Tuesdays (except holidays) and late Dec. - early Jan.
*If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, it's closed the next day.
The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Address: 4-2-55 Nakanoshima Kita-ku, OsakaAccess: 5 minute walk from Keihan Nakanoshima Line Watanabebashi Station / 10 minute walk from Yotsubashi Subway Line Higobashi Station
Phone: 06-6447-4680
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 420 yen (adults) 130 yen (college students)
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.（last entry 4:30 p.m.）/ 10 p.m. - 7 p.m. (last entry 6:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays. *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Address: Okazaki Enshoji-cho Sakyo-ku, KyotoAccess:5 minute walk from Kyoto Subway Higashiyama Station / Kyoto City Bus No. 5 or NO. 100 from JR Kyoto Station to Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan-mae stop.
Phone: 075-761-4111
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 420 yen (adults) 130 yen (college students)
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays. *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT) displays of modern paintings, crafts, films, and more and consists of the Art Museum, the Craft Gallery, and the National Film Center. The Art Museum and Craft Gallery are located in the Kitanomaru Koen Park near the Tokyo Imperial Palace. The main art museum was established in 1952 as the first national museum of art in Japan.
The National Museum of Western Art
Address:7-7 Ueno Koen Taito-ku, TokyoAccess: 1 minute walk from JR Ueno Station Koen-guchi Exit / 7 minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station / 8 minute walk from Tokyo Subway Ueno Station
Phone: 03-5777-8600
Admission (to the permanent exhibition): 420 yen (age 18-64), 130 yen (college students)
Free Admission Day (*to permanent exhibition): the second and fourth Saturdays, Nov. 3
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. / - 5 p.m. (mid. Dec. - early March) / - 8 p.m. on Fridays
It's basically closed on Mondays (except national holidays) and Dec. 28 - Jan. 1. *If a national holiday falls on a Monday, it's closed the next day.
