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This summer, several of Tokyo’s most prestigious museums will be extending their opening hours on Friday. Dubbed Summer Night Museum 2026, the event sees six art and cultural institutions – Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery – opening until 8pm or 9pm on Fridays from August 6 to August 28.
That’s not all. You can also expect reduced admission fees after 5pm (or free for students in certain cases), plus a host of evening programmes and activities to help you make the most of the long summer days. The museum shops and restaurants, likewise, will open late on those Fridays.
Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum
Friday opening hours extended to 9pm from August 7 to August 28
After 5pm, students enter for free and adults get a discount of ¥160 for the museum’s permanent exhibition. The ‘Western-style Architecture in Japan’ exhibition is open until 9pm (students get in for free) on August 7, 14 and 21. There will also be a 20 percent discount for adults on Fridays during the event period.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Friday opening hours extended until 8pm
Enjoy a ¥200 discount to the exhibition ‘100th Anniversary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Views of This Place - Ueno, Omuta, and Buenos Aires’ after 5pm (students get in for free) on August 7, 14, 21 and 28. ‘Edo in Focus: Japanese Treasures from the British Museum’ will also be open till late, with free entry for students. In addition, there will be a 5 percent discount at the museum restaurants after 5.30pm every Friday during the event period.
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Friday opening hours extended to 9pm from August 7 to August 28
Adults can enter the ‘Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Fusing East and West’ exhibition for ¥1,120 instead of ¥1,400 after 5pm on August 7, 14, 21 and 28. It’s free for students and ¥560 for senior citizens 65 years and older.
The museum’s beautiful garden is also open at night, and entry is included in your exhibition ticket. Otherwise, on Fridays during the event period, garden-only admission is free for students, or ¥160 (regular ¥200) for adults and ¥80 for seniors aged 65 and above.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Late opening on Thursday and Friday until 9pm from August 6 to August 28
There will be several exhibitions running concurrently at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Ebisu, including ‘Idemitsu Mako: What a woman made’, ‘TOP Collection: Tomorrow’s Dining Table' and ‘Nikon Small World’.
After 5pm on the aforementioned dates, adult admission fees will be reduced by 20 percent while students can enter for free.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo
Friday opening hours extended until 9pm on August 7 and August 14
Every Friday after 5pm during the abovementioned period, you’ll enjoy a 20 percent discount on the ‘MOT Collection: Art for Starters’ exhibition. Students (with valid ID, of course) will be able to enter for free.
Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery
Friday opening hours extended until 9pm from August 7 to August 28
With the late opening on Fridays during the abovementioned period, you'll receive a special sticker when visiting the exhibition ‘Listening to the Inner Voice: The Art of Living True’ after 5pm. Admission is always free, even outside the event period.
For more information about Summer Night Museum, check the event website.
This article was originally published on July 6 2023 and updated on July 6 2026.
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