Theme guide
Museums
From national collections to small local museums, they make a good plan for rainy or very hot days. Many close one day a week, often Monday.
- Places to visit
- 492
- Protected site
- 208
Japan's museums range from big national museums to small local ones about a town's history, crafts or famous people. They're an easy plan for rainy days or the hottest summer afternoons.
Many museums close one day a week, often Monday. When Monday is a public holiday, they usually open that day and close the next weekday instead, as the Tokyo National Museum does.
Good to know
- Check the closing day and the last entry time on the museum's own website before you go.
- Many exhibition rooms don't allow photos. Look for the camera signs.
Where to find the most
Places to start with
Up to three places per prefecture, nationally protected sites first.
Region
140 places match
- HokkaidoProtected siteEdwin Dun Memorial Museumエドウィン・ダン記念館A museum in Hokkaido, Japan.
- HokkaidoProtected siteHokkaido Museum of Modern Art北海道立近代美術館A museum in Hokkaido, Japan.In Chuo Ward, Sapporo
- HokkaidoProtected siteYubari Rokumeikan夕張鹿鳴館A museum in Hokkaido, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteFormer Main Branch of the 59th National Bank旧第五十九銀行本店本館A museum in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteAomori Prefectural Museum青森県立郷土館A museum in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteAomori Museum of Art青森県立美術館A museum in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateProtected siteKitakami City Museum北上市立博物館A museum in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateProtected siteIwate Prefectural Museum岩手県立博物館A museum in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateProtected siteRikuzentakata City Museum陸前高田市立博物館A museum in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiProtected siteKura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷A historic building in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiProtected siteSendai Astronomical Observatory仙台市天文台A museum in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.In Aoba Ward, Sendai
- MiyagiProtected siteTakeyama Rice Retailer House and Museum of Rice Cookery武山米店炊飯博物館A museum in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaMisato Museum of History and Folklore美郷町歴史民俗資料館・佐々木毅記念室A museum in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaTDK History MuseumTDK歴史みらい館A museum in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaGosannen Kassen Kanazawa Museum後三年合戦金沢資料館A museum in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteKikusui Craft Museum掬粋巧芸館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteYonezawa City Uesugi Museum米沢市上杉博物館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteKaisendo Museum蟹仙洞A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaProtected siteOkuaizu Museum奥会津博物館A museum in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaProtected siteHideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum野口英世記念館A museum in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaProtected siteKoriyama City History Resource Center郡山市歴史資料館A museum in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.In Koriyama
- IbarakiProtected siteHitachi City Museum日立市郷土博物館A museum in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiProtected siteOarai Museum of Bakumatsu-Meiji History幕末と明治の博物館A museum in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiProtected siteSeal Engraving Art Museum篆刻美術館A museum in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Questions travellers ask
Are museums in Japan open on Mondays?
Many close on Monday. If Monday is a public holiday, they often open that day and close the next weekday instead. Check the museum's website before you go.
Other themes
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.