Tokyo National Museum

Japan's oldest national museum, open since 1872 in Ueno Park, and also the country's largest art museum. The collection runs to about 120,000 objects, 89 of them designated National Treasures, with only around 3,000 on show at any one time. Displays rotate every few weeks, so a repeat visit rarely shows the same thing twice.

Originally established in 1872, this museum has the largest collection of items of national and historic importance in Japan. It is one of the most beautifully built and streamlined museums- comprising six large buildings, each displaying a different kind of archeological age. Apart from the permanent display, temporary exhibitions are also held in the museum. Just outside the museum stands the Kuroda Memorial Hall that displays the paintings of Japan's most famous modern artist, Kuroda Seiki. Additionally, the Tokyo National Museum also has a Japanese-style garden and teahouses (where tea ceremonies are held) which are open during the spring and the autumn, and cafes and shops strewn across the grounds. English audio guides are also available in abundance for the perfect museum-viewing experience.