Tokyo National Museum
Photo: Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo museums remain open with shorter hours, online ticketing and safety measures

Everything you should know when visiting Tokyo’s museums and art galleries during the city’s second state of emergency

Tabea Greuner
Written by
Tabea Greuner
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Tokyo’s current state of emergency is expected to last until February 7. However, museums and galleries remain open. To curb the spread of Covid-19, a number of safety rules and coronavirus prevention measures are now in place, such as temperature checks on entry and mandatory face masks. On top of that, many museums currently operate under shorter business hours, and in some cases, you’re required to book your tickets in advance.

To find out more about the museum's new operating hours and protocols, check our list below.

Recommended: Read our guide on how to go out safely in Tokyo

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  • Museums
  • Art and design
  • Shibuya

Shortened opening hours: 10am-6.30pm daily

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
- On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Provide the museum with your contact information, which will be used to track possible coronavirus infections.

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  • Art
  • Marunouchi

Shortened opening hours: 10am-6pm, Fri & 2nd Wed 10am-8pm, as well as on Jan 12-15; closed Mon

Tickets have to be booked in advance (in Japanese only).

Safety measures:
- On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and wash your hands regularly.
- Keep a safe distance from other visitors at all times.
- Refrain from talking in exhibition rooms.

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Postal Museum
  • Museums
  • Oshiage

Shortened opening hours: 11am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm), closed Sat, Sun & hols

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
-On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Keep a safe distance of 2m from other visitors at all times.
- Provide the museum with your contact information, which will be used to track possible coronavirus infections.
- The number of people entering the museum will be limited.

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  • Art
  • Pop art
  • Machida

Shortened opening hours: 10am-6pm (last entry 5.30pm) daily

Advance ticket reservations not required, but recommended.

Safety measures:
- On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and wash your hands regularly.
- Keep a safe distance from other visitors at all times.

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Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum
  • Art
  • Aoyama

Opening hours: 10am-6pm (last entry 5.30pm, closed Tue (Wed if Tue is hols), Mar 15

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
- Temperature check on entry. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Practice social distancing inside the museum.

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  • Museums
  • History
  • Ikebukuro

Shortened opening hours: 10am-4.30pm (last entry 4pm) daily

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
- Temperature check on entry. If you have a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms, you will be refused entry. 
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser frequently.  
- Keep a safe distance from other visitors in the museum.

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  • Museums
  • Oshiage

Shortened opening hours: 11am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm), closed Mon (Tue if Mon is hols)

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
Temperature check on entry. If you have a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms, you will be refused entry. 
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- The number of people entering the museum will be limited.

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  • Museums
  • Kasai

Shortened opening hours: 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm), closed Mon (Tue if Mon is hols)

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
- On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- People who have travelled to a place with a high coronavirus infection rate in the past two weeks should refrain from visiting the museum.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Refrain from drinking and eating in exhibition rooms.
- Keep a safe distance of 1m from other visitors at all times.
- Refrain from talking loudly in exhibition rooms.
- The number of people admitted will be limited.

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  • Museums
  • Yotsuya-Sanchome

Shortened opening hours: 12noon-2am, 1.30pm-3.30pm, closed Wed & Thu

Admission only with reservation via the museum’s official website (Japanese only).

Safety measures:
- On entry, your temperature will be checked. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and wash your hands regularly.
- The number of people admitted will be limited.

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  • Museums
  • Ueno

Opening hours: 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm), irregular hols

Advance ticket reservations not required.

Safety measures:
- Temperature check on entry. Anyone with a fever and cold-like symptoms will be refused entry.
- Wear a mask at all times, cover your mouth when you cough, and disinfect your hands regularly.
- The number of people entering the museum will be limited.
- Provide the museum with your contact information, which will be used to track possible coronavirus infections.
- Admire the exhibitions quietly and keep a safe distance from other visitors.

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