Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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THE BEST MUSEUMS
•
Tokyo National Museum
(Ueno Park,
Taito-ku;
&
03/3822-1111
): Even
professed museum-phobes should make
a point of visiting the largest museum
of Japanese art in the world, where you
can see everything from samurai armor
and lacquerware to kimono and wood-
block prints. If you visit only one
museum in Tokyo, this should be it. See
p. 177.
•
Edo-Tokyo Museum
(1-4-1 Yokoami,
Sumida-ku;
&
03/3626-9974
): Housed
in a high-tech modern building, this
ambitious museum chronicles the fasci-
nating and somewhat tumultuous his-
tory of Tokyo (known as Edo during
the Feudal Period), with models, repli-
cas, artifacts, and dioramas. Guided
tours in English are available for free.
See p. 173.
•
Mori Art Museum
(6-10-1 Roppongi,
Minato-ku;
&
03/5777-8600
): Tokyo's
highest museum, on the 53rd floor of
Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills, offers
fantastic views of Tokyo along with
innovative shows of emerging and
established artists from around the
world. And it's open late most nights,
too, making it my top pick for a roman-
tic cultural experience. See p. 188.
•
Open-Air Folk House Museum
(7-1-1 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki;
&
044/922-2181
): It's in the neigh-
boring town of Kawasaki, but the
30-minute train ride to this “village” of
34 traditional houses and historic
buildings in a beautiful wooded setting
makes for a lovely, educational outing.
And the photographs you'll get of
thatched farmhouses and other archi-
tectural gems will make you feel you've
left Tokyo—not to mention the 21st
century—far behind. See p. 196.
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