The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, or MOMAT, sits in Kitanomaru Park near the Imperial Palace. Its collection traces Japanese art from the Meiji period to the present, with paintings, prints, sculpture, photography and works by international artists. Displays change throughout the year, so each visit brings a selection from the museum’s collection of more than 13,000 works. Look for the top-floor Room with a View, where you can pause over views of the Imperial Palace grounds.
A collection tracing modern Japanese art
MOMAT opened in 1952 as Japan’s first national art museum. Its collection spans the Meiji period, which began in 1868, through the present day, giving the galleries a broad view of how Japanese art changed as the country entered the modern era. The museum also holds works by international artists, so Japanese paintings and sculpture appear alongside art from abroad.
The collection includes more than 13,000 works across paintings, prints, sculpture and photography, with video art also represented. Rather than display everything at once, the museum selects works for rotating presentations. Around 200 pieces are shown in a term, and the selection changes several times a year. Check the current programme if you have a particular artist or period in mind.
What to look for in the galleries
The collection moves across different periods and styles. Early Japanese modernist portraits by Kishida Ryusei are among its notable works, as are paintings connected to the wartime years. Other displays bring together Japanese- and Western-style paintings, prints and sculpture, showing how artists worked with changing ideas and influences.
The museum’s selection can include artists such as Yokoyama Taikan and Hishida Shunso, as well as international names including Picasso. Because the works on view rotate, the specific pieces you see depend on the current display. Read the labels as you go: they add historical background to the works and their makers.
Special exhibitions are held separately from the rotating collection displays. Their subjects and admission arrangements can differ, so check the museum’s website if you want to see a particular exhibition.
A pause above the palace grounds
On the top floor, the Room with a View looks out over the grounds of the Imperial Palace. It offers a quieter place to sit between galleries and take in the surrounding landscape. On a clear, sunny day, the view is a natural reason to slow down before heading back to the exhibitions.
MOMAT is in Kitanomaru Park, close to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. You can combine the museum with a walk in the park or a visit to the gardens. The galleries are arranged over several floors, so allow time to move through the displays at your own pace rather than treating the museum as a quick stop.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long do you need at MOMAT?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours for the collection and a pause in the Room with a View.
What kind of art is at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo?
The collection covers Japanese art from the Meiji period to the present, alongside works by international artists. It includes paintings, prints, sculpture, photography and video art.
Does MOMAT have special exhibitions?
Yes. Special exhibitions are held alongside the rotating collection displays. Check the museum’s website for current exhibitions and admission details.
Where is the Room with a View?
It is on the top floor and looks out over the Imperial Palace grounds.
