The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT) is Japan’s primary national museum for modern and contemporary art, established in the mid-20th century to build a national collection of modern works. It focuses on Japanese artists of the 20th century alongside international modern movements.

Galleries display paintings, sculptures, prints and installations with rotating special exhibitions that present thematic surveys, retrospectives and international loans. The museum offers educational programmes, catalogues and research resources related to modern art in Japan.

Its founding reflects post-war efforts to consolidate and display modern art on a national level, and the institution has since undergone periodic renovations and curatorial updates to accommodate changing exhibition needs. MOMAT forms part of Tokyo’s network of national museums and cultural institutions.

The museum stands in Kitanomaru Park north of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, within walking distance of the palace grounds and major city transport links.

• Access: Located in Kitanomaru Park, the museum is a short walk from the Imperial Palace; the nearest metro stations include Takebashi and Kudanshita.

What to See #

• Permanent collection galleries: Permanent collection galleries presenting 20th-century and contemporary Japanese and international art, including painting, sculpture and prints.
• Special exhibition galleries: Rotating special exhibition halls that host national and international temporary shows and thematic projects.
• Design and craft displays: A collection of design and craft works that complements the modern art holdings and occasional architecture-related displays.