Where to See Traditional Japanese Arts in Tokyo

Home to the Japanese businessman and philanthropist Nezu Kaichirō , the Nezu Museum houses one of Tokyo’s most comprehensive collections of Japanese and East Asian art, including calligraphy, painting, ceramics, and textiles. After Nezu’s passing, his son turned his late father’s home into a public museum in order to preserve and share the impressive collection. Walk inside and you will also find a small, lush Japanese-style garden complete with tranquil ponds and small Buddha statues.

Different from kabuki, and perhaps underrated, Noh is a very unique form of Japanese performing arts. Dating back to the 14th century, this form of theatre, which involves dance, music and drama, requires performers to wear restrictive masks and long, traditional-style garments while performing in sync to the music. The eye-catching shows are run by the Japan Arts Council, which hosts performances on occasion at the National Noh Theater in Sendagaya.

While the neon-drenched area of Akihabara is known for its anime characters and endless toy stores, its also home to one of Tokyo’s best artisanal shopping strips. Known as 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan, the collection of stores runs underneath the Yamanote line between Akihabara and Okachimachi Stations (hence the name Aki-Oka). Here you will find around 50 different shops and cafés, all displaying classic Japanese arts and crafts created by contemporary artisans.

To learn more about Japan’s love of theatre, it’s worth heading over to Waseda University, where you will find the city’s fascinating Theatre Museum, which is also Asia’s only museum dedicated solely to theatre. Once inside, you will discover exhibits devoted to classic Japanese performing arts such as kabuki and noh, as well as a large display of Western theatre’s influence on modern Japanese performing art. The Theatre Museum often includes visitors in their events by inviting them to join in on role-playing workshops and games.

When it comes to Japanese art, there’s arguably no form more influential and iconic than ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Located in the historic neighbourhood of Asakusa, the Amuse Museum is home to a large collection of ukiyo-e prints as well as textile from the Edo period. Located near Asakusa Station, it is an ideal sightseeing spot to add to your itinerary.

The Paper Museum in Oji is a museum like no other. Home to around 40,000 items, it covers all facets of the paper world, both practical and artistic. Inside this rather striking building, you will find displays covering the invention of paper, its history, and, of course, origami. For a chance to make your very own washi (Japanese paper), make sure to visit the museum on a weekend.

Home to a collection of more than 500 kimonos, the Ome Kimono Museum is a celebration of the traditional garments. Built inside a 200-year-old storehouse, the collection on display changes seasonally, offering no shortage of stunning exhibits. Stroll around the museum and you will find kimonos worn by the imperial family and historical pieces, including the outfits worn by Prince Nashimoto at the coronation of Emperor Taishō during the early 1900s.

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