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10 Facts about the Tokyo National Museum

Research and Information Center of the Tokyo National Museum. PHOTO BY; Kestrel.

The Tokyo national museum is an art museum located in Ueno Park, Taito ward of Tokyo. It was established in 1872 during the Yushima Seudo Exhibition and moved to the present location in 1882.

It is among the four museums in Tokyo that are operated by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. The Tokyo National Museum is one of the oldest museums in Japan.

The Tokyo National Museum is the largest art museum in Japan as well as it is one of the largest in the world. Its major role is to preserve and display a comprehensive collection of artwork and cultural stuff from Asia.

Other than the Asian objects, there is also a display of ancient Japanese art and Asian art along the Silk Road. Let鈥檚 take you through the ten facts about the Tokyo National Museum.

1. Tokyo National Museum is Among the Oldest Museums in Japan

The main building of the Tokyo National Museum is in Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO BY; Kestrel.

Japan is known for its culture and arts that date several years ago. There are several historic museums which are well known across the world.

The Tokyo National Museum is the oldest as it was established in 1872 when there was the Yushima Seido Exhibition.

In 1873, there was a permanent display of some art and cultural artefacts. In 1882, the Tokyo National Museum was moved to where it is currently located.

2. The Museum Holds Over 111,000 Cultural Properties

Sculptures from India and Gandhara in the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) of the Tokyo National Museum.

With the main essence of the museum being to collect, display and preserve objects, the Tokyo National museum boasts a wide variety of cultural properties.

It holds over 111,000 cultural properties that have been stored since its establishment. The properties include; 89 national treasures of Japan, 319 Horyuji treasures, 644 important cultural properties, and over 3,000 cultural properties preserved by individuals and organizations.

The museum also holds 55 more national treasures and also 253 important cultural properties deposited since 2019.

3. Tokyo National Museum Has Large Greco-Buddhist Art

The Tokyo National Museum boasts a huge collection of art that is extensive. The museum has the largest Greco-Buddhist art.

The Greco-Buddhist or Gandhara art is an artistic manifestation of the cultural syncretism between Ancient Greece art and Buddhism.

4. Held Record Number of Visitors in 2017

Being one of the oldest and largest museums in Tokyo and Japan, the Tokyo National Museum is one of the most frequented.

In 2017, the Tokyo National Museum held a record number of visitors who went to view the rich historic and cultural properties.

Approximately two million, one hundred and eighty thousand visitors visited the Tokyo National Museum in 2017.

More visitors still frequent the Tokyo National Museum.

5. Designed to be Fire and Earthquake Resistant

Chinese arts in the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) of the Tokyo National Museum.

The Tokyo National Museum has a section that is known as the Honkan (Main or Japanese Gallery). It holds the museum鈥檚 main display of Japanese art from the pre-historic and late 19^th centuries.

The Honkan has two floors and a basement that has a total floor space of about 231,000 square feet.

This large Honkan was designed specially so that it is resistant to fire and earthquake which are the major calamities in Japan.

6. Section of the Museum Built to Commemorate Wedding of a Crown Prince

The Tokyo National Museum has several sections which preserve various types of cultural properties.

One of the sections is known as the Heiseikan. The Heiseikan was first opened in 1999. Its name is linked to the regnal era when it was built during the rule of Emperor Akihito.

On 9^th June 1993, the Heiseikan building was erected to commemorate the wedding of Crown Prince Hiro.

Crown Prince Hiro was married to Masako Okawa during this period of the erection of this section of the Tokyo National Museum.

7. It has a Research and Information Center

Entrance hall staircase of the Main Building (Honkan) of the Tokyo National Museum.

Other than being a cultural and art museum, the Tokyo National Museum plays several other roles.

It has a section known as the Shiryokan which is a research and information centre that attracts several scholars.

The Shiryokan major holds magazines, books, images and several other documents that are linked to history, archaeology and applied arts in Japan, Asia and the Middle East.

Tokyo National Museum research and information centre was opened in 1984. It boasts of two reading rooms, an exhibition area and counters where items held at the archives can be borrowed from.

8. Has Several Restaurants and Shops Within

The Tokyo National Museum is the greatest monument in Japan that holds several other amenities.

The facility contains quite many shops and restaurants within the premises. Locals have been allowed to open the shops and restaurants to serve the thousands of visitors who tour the area.

It is one among the other museums in the world that allow foodstuffs and other commodities to be sold within.

9. Tokyo National Museums has 5 Sections that Hold Special Items

Heiseikan of the Tokyo National Museum. PHOTO BY; Suicasmo.

This facility boasts five sections that hold different types of items. It consists of the Honkan which holds a Japanese gallery, and the Heiseiikan and Hyokeikan which hold special exhibitions.

The Toyokan holds an Asian gallery, the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures which has important relics originally preserved at Nara鈥檚 Horyu Temple and the Kuroda Memorial Hall which holds a collection of works by Kuroda Seiki.

10. Tokyo National Museum Went Through Several Name Changes

The Tokyo National Museum is not the original name given to this famous facility in Japan. It underwent several name changes since it was established.

In 1872, it was known as the 鈥淢useum of the Ministry of Education鈥�. However, it was later changed to simply the 鈥淢useum鈥� before it became the 鈥淪ixth Bureau of the Ministry鈥�.

It was later changed to the 鈥淢useum of the Museum Bureau鈥�. Then it was given the name Imperial Museum after its ownership by the imperial household in 1888.

As more museums were being established in Japan, the name was changed to Tokyo Imperial Household Museum (in 1900). After World War 2, the government imposed new reforms and it was renamed to National Museum.

In 2001, it was permanently renamed 鈥淭okyo National Museum鈥�.

This is one of the most classical, educative and interesting museums to visit in the world. The Japanese, Asian and Middle East cultures can be appreciated at the Tokyo National Museum.