Toyokan Tokyo National Museum
The Toyokan (Eastern Antiquities Gallery) is part of Tokyo National Museum in Ueno and holds a superb collection of Asian art from India, China and Korea.
Tokyo National Museum, Toyokan 東洋館
Toyokan (Eastern Antiquities Gallery), Tokyo National Museum, Ueno
The Toyokan (Eastern Antiquities Gallery) is part of the vast Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) in Ueno Park.
Many people visit only the Honkan (Main Gallery) and ignore the Toyokan (Eastern Antiquities Gallery) which is a shame.
The Toyokan has an extensive collection of art and antiquities from Asia (South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia) and should really not be missed.
Exhibits at the Toyokan, (Eastern Antiquities Gallery), Tokyo National Museum, Ueno
Gandharan Art, Toyokan (Eastern Antiquities Gallery), Tokyo National Museum, Ueno
History
The building has three floors above ground (plus two mezzanine floors) and one basement floor. It opened in 1968 and was designed by architect Yoshiro Taniguchi (1904 - 1979). Taniguchi's other works in Japan include the Reimeikan in Kagoshima, the Imperial Theater in Marunouchi and the Chidorigafuchi War Memorial in Tokyo.
His son, also an architect, was responsible for the modernist Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, also part of the museum complex.
Exhibits
Much of the art on display is Buddhist in nature though not exclusively. The collection shows and explains the transference of Buddhist art and culture to Japan in the Asuka and Nara periods of Japanese history along the Silk Road.
The exhibits include some superb examples of the art of Gandhara which once thrived in what is now present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Other collections include Chinese Buddhist sculpture, Indian art, and Egyptian art. The basement floor is dedicated to Khmer sculpture, Indian miniature paintings, as well as textiles from around Asia.
The upper floors concentrate mainly on art from Japan's near neighbors China and Korea. These include very early pieces from the dawn of Chinese civilization, Chinese decorative arts, relief carvings, Chinese painting and calligraphy.
The top level has a small but impressive collection of Korean art.
Items on display are clearly labeled in Japanese and excellent English.
Toyokan, Tokyo National Museum, Ueno
Gandharan Statue of a Boddhisattva, Toyokan, National Museum of Japan, Ueno Park, Tokyo
National Museum (www.tnm.jp)
13-9 Ueno Park
Taito-ku
Tokyo
110-8712
Tel: 03 3822 1111
Nearest station Ueno (Park exit).
Admission to the Tokyo National Museum is presently 620 yen for adults, 410 yen for college students.
There is a popular restaurant in the building's annex with outdoor seating.
Wifi is available in most areas of the museum.
Read more about the Tokyo National Museum here
Exterior of the Toyokan, Tokyo National Museum
Chinese lacquerware, Toyokan, Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum is made up of the Honkan, the Toyokan, the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures and just outside the walls, the Kuroda Memorial Hall.
Other buildings in the complex include the Heiseikan (used for special exhibitions), the Hyokeikan, the Research and Information Center (Shiryokan) and the historic Kuromon (Black Gate). The Kuromon is the main gate of the former Edo residence of the Ikeda clan, feudal lords of Tottori.
There is also a Japanese Garden and several teahouses behind the main building.
There are four National Museums in Japan: Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto National Museum, Nara National Museum and the much later Kyushu National Museum.
Gandharan friezes in schist which would have decorated stupas, Toyokan, National Museum of Japan, Ueno Park, Tokyo
Access
The Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is a short walk from Ueno Station or Uguisudani Station on the Yamanote Line. The museum complex is located within Ueno Park.
