Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, known as Tobikan, is one of Japan’s most historically significant cultural institutions. Founded in 1926 as Japan’s first public art museum, it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, a milestone that positions it as an enduring pillar of the country’s public arts infrastructure. The museum is housed in a modernist building designed by Kunio Maekawa, itself a landmark of Japanese architectural history, located within the rich cultural precinct of Ueno Park. Unlike many institutions, Tobikan does not primarily maintain a permanent collection for display; instead it serves as a leading rental gallery facility, hosting approximately 280 exhibitions per year across its seven gallery spaces. These exhibitions represent the full breadth of visual art, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, ceramics, and photography, drawn from public organizations, universities, and private artists’ associations. The museum also organizes its own curated special exhibitions, often featuring major loans from international collections. The centenary programme for 2026 includes landmark exhibitions presented in partnership with the British Museum and Sweden’s Nationalmuseum. The on-site cafe and museum shop add to the visitor experience, and the surrounding Ueno Park provides access to several other major museums, the Ueno Zoo, and Shinobazu Pond within a short walk.