MuseumfanswithlimitedtimeshouldconsideravisittoUenoParkwhereavarietyoffirstclassmuseumsareconcentratedcloselytogether,includingtheimpressiveTokyoNationalMuseum,theNationalMuseumofWesternArt,theTokyoMetropolitanArtMuseum,theNationalScienceMuseumandUenoZooalongwithsomesmallermuseums.
MuseumsinTokyoaretypicallyclosedononedayoftheweek (usuallyMondays) andduringtheNewYearholidays (typicallyDecember29toJanuary4).Iftheregularweeklyclosingdayfallsonanationalholiday,mostmuseumswillopenontheholidayandclosethenextdayinstead.
Somemuseumshaveextendedhoursoncertaindays (typicallyFridays),andsomeofferfreeentrancetoselectedexhibitionsoroncertaindaysofthemonth.Mostmuseumsallowentryuntil30minutesbeforeclosingtime.
TokyoNationalMuseum
Hours:9:30to17:00 (extendedhoursonsomeFridaysandweekends)
Closed:Mondays (orfollowingdayifMondayisaholiday),NewYearholidays
Admission:600yen
AstheoldestandlargestmuseuminJapan,itismadeupoffivebuildings,eachlikeaseparatemuseuminitself.Theyhousethelargestcollectionofnationaltreasuresandimportantculturalitemsinthecountry.
NationalMuseumofWesternArt
Hours:9:30to17:30 (until17:00inwinter,until20:00onFridays)
Closed:Mondays (orfollowingdayifMondayisaholiday),Dec28toJan1
Admission:420yen,specialexhibitionsextra
Thismuseumdisplayswesternart,primarilybyEuropeanartists.Thereisnopermanentgalleryandtherotating (轮流的) exhibitsaremostlyfromthemuseum'scollection.Admissionisfreeonthe2ndand4thSaturdaysofeachmonth.
TokyoMetropolitanArtMuseum
Hours:9:30to17:30 (until20:00onFridays)
Closed:FirstandthirdMondayofeachmonth,NewYearholidays
Admission:Variesbyexhibition
ReopenedinApril2012,thismuseumdisplaysalltypesofartinitssixgalleries.Thereisnopermanentcollection,buttherearemultipletemporaryexhibitionsbyvariousartgroups.
NationalScienceMuseum
Hours:9:00to17:00 (until20:00onFridays)
Closed:Mondays