These 5 Famous Tokyo Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch

Tokyo is a city that never ceases to amaze with its rich culture, history, and art. But if you can’t visit the Japanese capital in person, you can still enjoy some of its best museums and galleries from the comfort of your own home.

Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can explore these five famous Tokyo museums with virtual tours that let you zoom in on the details, learn more about the exhibits, and even see them in 3D.

Here are some of the highlights you can expect from each museum.

Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum is the oldest and largest museum in Japan, housing over 110,000 items that span the history and art of Japan and other Asian countries.

You can admire paintings, sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, textiles, and more from various periods and regions.

Some of the most notable artworks include the likes of Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, and Utamaro.

You might even be able to spot Hokusai’s famous ‘The Great Wave’, which is part of a series of 46 prints depicting various views of Mount Fuji.

Take the virtual tour here

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo was the first national museum of art in Japan, established in 1952.

The museum showcases the development of modern Japanese art from the Meiji era to the present day, featuring works by prominent artists such as Uemura Shōen, Sōtarō Yasui, and Ryūsei Kishida.

You can also see how Japanese artists were influenced by Western styles and movements, such as Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism.

Take the virtual tour here

The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo is Japan’s only museum dedicated to Western art, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The museum was founded in 1959 to display the collection of Matsukata Kōjirō, a Japanese businessman who acquired over 10,000 artworks during his travels in Europe and America.

You can find some of your favorite Impressionist paintings here by the likes of Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir, as well as masterpieces by Rodin, Picasso, and Pollock.

Take the virtual tour here

National Museum of Nature and Science

Are you fascinated by dinosaurs? Or are you more into minerals?

Either way, Tokyo’s National Museum of Nature and Science is the one for you, with over 4 million specimens and exhibits that cover a wide range of natural history and science topics.

You can explore the evolution of life on Earth, the diversity of animals and plants, the wonders of the universe, and the achievements of Japanese technology and innovation.

You can also see some of the museum’s highlights in 3D, such as the fossil skeleton of Futabasaurus, a marine reptile that lived in Japan 80 million years ago.

Take the virtual tour here

Kioi Art Gallery, Edo Ise-Katagami Kimono Museum

Ise-katagami is the Japanese craft of making paper stencils for dyeing textiles, especially kimono fabrics.

The stencils are cut with intricate patterns and motifs that reflect the beauty and symbolism of nature and culture.

With over 5,000 stencils from the Edo to the Showa periods, the Edo Ise-Katagami Museum has Japan’s largest Ise-Katagami collection.

You can admire the exquisite craftsmanship and creativity of these stencils, and learn more about their history and techniques.

Take the virtual tour here