Museums & galleries
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo , also known as MOMAT, is the foremost museum collecting and exhibiting modern Japanese art. The museum, in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, is known for its collection of 20th-century art and includes Western-style and Nihonga artists. It has a branch, the National Crafts Museum, in the city of Kanazawa.
Overview
MOMAT is Japan's leading collection of modern Japanese art, covering roughly the past century of painting, sculpture and photography. The permanent collection mixes Western-style oil painting with Nihonga (Japanese-style painting), so it's a useful stop for seeing how Japanese artists responded to Western art movements through the 20th century. It draws visitors more for the depth of its collection than for any single famous work.
Getting there
The museum sits in Chiyoda, close to the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds. From central Tokyo stations such as Tokyo Station or Otemachi, it's about a 10-15 minute walk, or a short subway ride to the nearest station followed by a few minutes on foot.
How much time to allow
Plan on roughly 1.5 to 2 hours to go through the permanent collection galleries at a comfortable pace. Add extra time if a special exhibition is running, as these are often held in separate gallery spaces.
When to go
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends and afternoons. The museum is not typically as crowded as Tokyo's major tourist landmarks, so it's a reasonable option even during busier travel seasons if you want a calmer indoor break.
Nearby
The location makes it easy to combine with other central Tokyo sights:
- Tokyo Imperial Palace (0.9km) - the palace grounds and East Gardens are an easy walk away.
- Jinbōchō (0.8km) - Tokyo's secondhand bookshop district, good for a browse before or after.
- Marunouchi (1.4km) - the business district near Tokyo Station, with shopping and dining options.
- Akihabara (1.9km) - a longer walk or short train ride, for electronics and pop culture shopping.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
