Tokyo National Museum established in 1872 is the oldest and largest Japanese museum. It has a collection of over 90,000 items representing the cultural and architectural heritage of Asian civilizations with special emphasis on Japan.
National Museum in Tokyo consists of five buildings, each of which is dedicated to a particular theme.
- Honkan or Japanese Gallery - This was the original gallery designed by Josiah Conder, an architect from Britain. After being damaged by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, it was reconstructed between 1932 and 1938. The reconstructed building designed by Watanabe Jin resembles the 'emperor's crown style'. There are 24 exhibition halls spread over two floors displaying Japanese art work from 10,000BC to late 1800. The displays are categorized into ceramics, thematics, weaponry, and sculptures.
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- Toyokan Asian Gallery - This building designed by Taniguchi Yashira was inaugurated in 1968. Ten exhibition rooms distributed from the 1st to the 3rd floors are dedicated to art sculptures and artifacts from China, India, Southeast Asia, Korea, Middle East Asia, and Egypt.
- Gallery of Horyuji Treasures - This gallery spread over six chambers displays the artworks donated by Horyu-ji to the Emperor in 1878. This building designed by Yoshio Taniguchi is furnished with conservation material. Explanation for the artworks are provided in Japanese, English, French, Chinese and Korean.
- Heiseikan - The Heiseikan was built in 1993 to commemorate the wedding of the crown prince. Constructed specifically for exhibition purposes, this building has a Japanese Archaeological Gallery in the first floor.
Hyokeikan - This is the latest addition to Tokyo National Museum. The Hyokeikan built in Western architectural form resembling Meiji style was to honor the wedding of the crown prince of Taisho. It was opened in April, 2007 as an education center.
Tokyo National Museum remains open from 9:30 am to 5 pm and up to 6 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and National holidays between April and December. During special exhibitions the museum remains open till 8pm on Fridays. This Tokyo Museum remains closed on Mondays and from 28th December to 1st January.
