National Museum of Western Art

UNESCO World Heritage

国立西洋美術館

The National Museum of Western Art in Ueno Park opened in 1959 to show the collection of shipbuilder and art collector Matsukata Kojiro (1866–1950). The building was designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. In 2016 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement". The museum has more than 6,000 paintings and sculptures, from the Middle Ages to the mid-20th century.

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Visitor information

Opening hours: 9:30–17:30; Fridays and Saturdays 9:30–20:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: Closed on Mondays (open if a holiday, then closed the next day) and over the New Year holidays. There are also some irregular closures.
Admission: Admission varies by exhibition.
Getting there: 1 minute on foot from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station; 7 minutes from Keisei Ueno Station.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

Accessible facilities include wheelchair ramp, elevators, multi-purpose toilets, wheelchair and stroller loans.
Part of the World Heritage Site "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier" since 2016.

Tips for Muslim visitors

Taking photos of the permanent collection is allowed, but detailed copying of the works is not.
To avoid crowds at special exhibitions, the museum suggests weekdays in the first half of the exhibition period, around 9:30 a.m. just after opening, or Friday evenings after 6 p.m.
Café Suiren is inside the museum, and the café and shop can be used without paying admission.
Museums are quiet, indoor places that are good for a break, but few have a prayer room. Staff may let you use a quiet corner if you ask politely.
Photography rules change by exhibition. Check the signs before taking pictures.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Tokyo and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.