Tokyo National Museum Ueno

The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno is the largest and oldest museum in Japan, founded in 1872, and the best public collection of Japanese art and history in the world. Its 120.000 pieces include 90 national treasures and more than 650 important cultural properties: Buddhist sculpture, ceramics, samurai armour, ukiyo-e paintings, calligraphy and archaeological objects spanning from the Jomon period to the end of the Edo era. The museum occupies several imperial-style buildings at the northern end of Ueno Park; the Heiseikan building is dedicated to Japanese archaeology and the Honkan is the main gallery. Admission costs 1.000 ¥ for adults and 500 ¥ for university students; under-18s and over-70s free. Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). It is reached in six minutes from the Park Exit of JR Ueno station. Check the temporary exhibitions before going, as they are usually extraordinary. Allow at least two hours for the visit.