The National Museum of Western Art , Tokyo 国立西洋美術館

Enjoy renowned western works of art in the Ueno of Tokyo areas.

Designed by renowned Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, the National Museum of Western Art houses more than 6,000 sculptures and paintings dating from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. This is the only museum in Tokyo focused exclusively on western artists, and boasts works by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Rubens, and Van Gogh. While the art alone is impressive enough, the architecture and exterior grounds of the museum are particularly stunning.

Opened in 1959, the National Museum of Western Art houses the collection of industrialist Matsukata Kojiro. Stored for years in France, his collection was permitted for relocation back to Japan on the condition that a dedicated exhibition facility was built. As a preeminent modern architect, Le Corbusier was a fitting choice to design the building, and the striking concrete structure was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2016.

The National Museum of Western Art is located in Ueno Park. Consider spending an hour or two exploring the museum, then head to neighboring park attractions, which include the Ueno Zoo, the Tokyo National Museum, and The Ueno Royal Museum.

The museum will be closed from January 27 to February 10, 2020