Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
£
Tokyo Metropolitan
Art Museum
The sunken, partially underground
floors of the redbrick building
designed by architect Maekawa
Kunio may not be the perfect
place to present art, but the
contents are always interesting.
The main hall shows an eclectic
mix, ranging from Japanese
flower arrangements and ink-
brush works, to contemporary
installations. The art library is
first-rate.
d
Map F1 • 8-36 Ueno Koen,
Taito-ku • 3823-6921 • Open 9am-5pm
Tue-Sun • Adm • www.tobikan.jp
Acrobats performing in Ueno Park
!
Ueno Park
This wonderful park is an
engaging mix of leisure and
culture. Among the highlights
are the Tokyo National Museum,
with the world's largest collec-
tion of Japanese arts and anti-
quities, contemporary and
Western art and science
museums, avenues of cherry
trees, and the Toshogu Shrine -
a fine historical monument. More
leisure-orientated are its restau-
rants, cafés, zoo, and a huge
pond divided into a boating area,
conservation corner, and a magni-
ficent lotus pond
(see pp16-17)
.
@
National Science Museum
$
Tokyo National Museum
This acclaimed museum is
the centerpiece of Ueno Park.
The Honkan, the main gallery,
has a permanent collection of
Japanese arts and archeological
displays. The Toyokan features
arts and crafts from Asia, with
a strong Chinese, Central Asian,
and Korean showing. The
Heiseikan shows archeological
objects. The cool, ultra-modern
glass lines of the Gallery of
Horyu-ji Treasures contrast
with its permanent collection
of precious religious artifacts.
The Hokeikan is a hall used for
educational and special exhibits.
The building is a fine example
of solidly Occidental, Meiji-era
architecture
(see pp18-19)
.
A giant whale model outside
the building announces this
enormous museum, which is
divided into the original, reno-
vated section and a newer
annex. Older displays and
exhibits of dinosaurs,
asteroids, fossils, and
a reconstructed house
made from mammoth
tusks vie with touch-
screen panels, video
displays, and models.
d
Map F1 • 7-20 Ueno
Koen, Taito-ku • 3822-0111
• Open 9am-5pm Tue-Thu,
9am-8pm Fri, 9am-5pm
Sat-Sun • Adm
Whale sculpture, National Science Museum
83
The English signs at the National Science Museum are adequate,
but for more detail rent an English-language audio guide.
