Plan Your Visit

Recommended for first-time visitors.

Highlights of Japanese Art

Duration time60min.

Experience
Exhibitions8

From the Jomon to Edo period, you can see the historical shift of Japanese culture. The National Treasure Gallery in Room 2 is superb and you may also find masterpieces from school text books!

1

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1

Ancient Art | Ca. 11,000 BC–7th century AD

Japanese art history begins from this room of the Jomon period. There is the famous Jomon Vassel with Flame-like Ornamentation. Other exhibited objects are Jomon Dogus, vessels and Dotaku of Yayoi period, Haniwa nd bonze mirrors of Kofun period, enjoyable to see archeological creations.
2

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1

The Arrival of Buddhism | 6th–8th century

Introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century caused a superb development of Japanese culture. This is a room of Buddhism art exhibiting Buddhist statues, sutras and other Buddhism alter fittings, or burial offerings to pray for Buddhism welfare and prosperity.
3

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2

The National Treasure Gallery

This room is specially designed for the comfortable viewing of masterpieces in a tranquil setting. With each rotation, one exceptional work of painting or calligraphy designated as National Treasure will be presented. The selections come from the Museum's collection or works that are on loan to the Museum.
4

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 3

The Arts of the Imperial Court | 8th–16th century

Japanese culture flourished in hands of court nobles during the Muromachi period. Exhibited objects are literature related art of narrative picture scrolls and waka poem calligraphies, and the nobility's furnishing objects of folding screens or writing boxes of inkstone.
5

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Rooms 5 & 6

Arms and Armor of the Samurai | 12th–19th century

The Military Elite started to take over power and developed military based culture was developed. This room exhibits worrier-related objects of swords, armors, harness and attire. You can also see calligraphy letters and portraits of warriors.
6

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 7

Paintings on Folding Screens and Sliding Doors | 16th–19th century

Folding screens and sliding doors of the Azuchi-Momoyama to Edo periods are in this room. This is the space you'll be surrounded by large picturesque screens.
7

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 8

Decorative Arts | 16th–19th century

Japanese people of this period enjoyed using decorative furnishings and tableware. Through the objects we can imagine how they were living at that time. Art works depicting seasons reflect Japanese people's fundamental spirits to live with nature and seasons.
8

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 10

The Art of Ukiyo–e | 17th–19th century

Ukiyo-e of beautiful women and landscapes, and fashion of the Edo Period, kosode garment, hair accessories, inro medicine case and netsuke are exhibited here.

Have you got an idea how Japanese art history had shifted from the Jomon to Edo period?

MAP

See other recommended tours

  • Enjoy the intricacies of the buildings in addition to the artworks they exhibit.

    TNM Architecture Walk

    Duration time60min.

    Recommended architectural spots were selected in this course. You may walk around viewing historical buildings Honkan, the typical of Imperial Crown Style and Western style Hyokeikan from the later Meiji period, and modern buildings designed by internationally active architects.

    COUPLE MANIA
    Go to TNM Architecture Walk page