The National Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan

Inside the Imperial Palace East Gardens in Tokyo, the National Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan displays artworks and cultural objects once passed down through the Japanese Imperial Family. Its changing exhibitions draw on a collection spanning paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles and archaeological objects. The museum is compact, with two gallery rooms, so you can take in the display in about half an hour. Check the current exhibition before you go, and book a timed ticket online in advance if you can.

A collection passed down in the Imperial Family

Sannomaru Shozokan opened in 1993 in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Its collection began with art objects donated to the government in 1989 by Emperor Emeritus Hirohito and Empress Emerita Kojun. The objects had been handed down within the Imperial Family over generations.

In 2023, responsibility for the museum moved from the Imperial Household Agency to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. It reopened in part under its current name, the National Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.

What to see inside

Exhibitions draw from a broad collection of Japanese art and cultural objects, including painting, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles and archaeological material. The two gallery rooms make for a short visit, with time to read the accompanying information in Japanese and English.

The display changes, so the objects on view depend on the exhibition. Some works are not open to photography; follow the instructions in the galleries. A gift shop stands opposite the museum, where you can find a commemorative stamp.