Tokyo ART Walking: National Museum and Ueno Yanaka ART Area
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, the largest museum in Japan, and Yanaka, a popular downtown area and home to many artists, are explored for art purposes.
Visitors can visit large museums as well as small art galleries where they can meet the artists. You can also see Taisho Retro (Western-style architecture of old Japan) and Japanese-style architecture.
Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere and charm of the Ueno Yanaka area by experiencing the temples and art in this temple town area.
This tour is recommended for those who are interested in art and want to visit small galleries while strolling around downtown Tokyo.
The tour visits several small but fascinating art galleries scattered throughout the area. Some galleries offer the opportunity to speak with the artists themselves.
A certified guide will explain the area’s history. This walking tour takes you from Ueno to Yanaka (Nippori Station), so you can efficiently explore the two areas.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Tokyo National Museum
This is the largest museum and art gallery in Japan. It has a collection of paintings, arts and crafts, and sculptures from ancient to modern times. It has a collection of paintings, arts and crafts, and sculptures from ancient to modern times.
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan is one of Tokyo's premier concert halls, hosting opera, ballet, and classical music performances. The building itself is a notable example of modernist architecture, designed by renowned architect Kunio Maekawa. Visitors can enjoy not only world-class performances but also briefly tour the building to appreciate its unique architectural features.
Options
Tokyo ART Walking: National Museum and Ueno Yanaka ART Area
What‘s Included
One soft drink is included
Certified Guide
Tokyo National Museum Admission Fees
Private transportation
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Chill and interesting
Tora B,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great time. May was our guide and she showed us the best way to walk through the museum so that it flowed. She also showed us some of the pokemon manhole covers nearby which was a big perk for my husband and I since we play Pokemon Go. May was super kind and after the museum showed us some shrines and other galleries. I doubt I'd be able to plan something like this myself so it meant a lot. We had taken a makie making class a few days before and in the museum we saw amazing makie pieces. The area May showed us had a lot more shrines than I was expecting and was pretty peaceful. I highly recommend this tour for people who are interested in mixed media art and architecture!
We enjoyed our guide,...
PoojaO,Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We enjoyed our guide, Kyoko. The art tour was eclectic and different from the normal run of the mill tours.
I highly recommend this...
Azusa W,Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I highly recommend this tour for an introduction to Japanese art and the Ueno area of Tokyo. Yuka was my guide and she did a splendid job. She is both very knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. Very enjoyable!
Fantastic
896santiagot,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour with good tourist and cultural spots. Recommended! Special for people who want to know in depth the culture and history of this area
This was a wonderful art...
Fatemeh C,Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a wonderful art and culture tour in Tokyo! The highlight for me was the Tokyo National Museum, which is the largest museum in Japan. The paintings, sculptures, and crafts collection gave a great overview of Japanese history and art. I also enjoyed walking around the Ueno and Yanaka area. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the walk easy and enjoyable. I would recommend this tour to anyone who loves art, history, and exploring a quieter, more creative side of Tokyo.
Fantastic Cultural Tour with Kenny — Ueno & Yanaka
Anna T,Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderfully organized and enriching tour through the Ueno and Yanaka districts. Our guide, Kenny, was attentive, knowledgeable, and truly passionate about what he was sharing. The tour offered a well-balanced mix of culture, art, history, and even a bit of relaxation. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned: • We began with brief stops at the Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall and the National Museum of Western Art, where Kenny provided concise yet insightful commentary on the cultural importance of these locations. • Then we had a more in-depth visit to the Tokyo National Museum, where we explored key masterpieces of Japanese art on the second floor of the Japanese Gallery. Kenny highlighted the most interesting exhibits and brought history to life through engaging stories. • Afterward, we took a short coffee break — a great moment to recharge and reflect on everything we’d seen. • The second part of the tour led us into the more atmospheric and authentic Yanaka area: • We visited the Tokyo University of the Arts, where the Forms of Urushi 2025 exhibition in Chinretsu-kan stood out for its modernity and creativity. • The Gokoku-in Temple, featuring the deity Daikokuten, left a strong impression with its peaceful and secluded setting — a perfect pause in the day. • We concluded the tour at SCAI THE BATH HOUSE, a contemporary art gallery uniquely housed in a former public bathhouse. The space itself had a remarkable atmosphere, and the solo exhibition by Tomoaki Suzuki was both thought-provoking and memorable. Everything was well-paced and smoothly coordinated, and Kenny maintained a friendly, engaging, and informative atmosphere throughout. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of Tokyo’s cultural landscape.
Informative and Personable
zoem598,Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A very informative and personable tour! Our guide Kenny was friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to follow, which was perfect for someone like me with almost no background in Japanese art or architecture. We saw a huge variety—sculptures, paintings, textiles, lacquerware, modern exhibitions, and even a shrine—so it really felt like we explored Japanese culture, from traditional to modern. If you go in summer, bring an umbrella for the walking bits. There’s a lot to take in, but it’s a fun and immersive way to dive into Japan’s art and history.
Excelent time :)
479marielc,Jul 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Yuka was very kind, she helped us with all the questions and took us to wonderful places around the museum. If you are interested in art we highly recommend this tour. Great!!!! :)
Our guide’s name was...
Michael K,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide’s name was Kyoko, ask for her. She is amazing and was very helpful getting us to the meeting point and making sure we got back to our hotel aggravation free. She is a super guide , the next level a total wealth of knowledge and enthusiastic to share her knowledge with her clients. I wish we would have hired her days ago. Thanks for making our day with you a high point in our trip. Clearly ART is her passion. Michael and Veronica from Mexico 🇲🇽
If you love art, this is...
John M,May 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00If you love art, this is a tour to consider. Kenny is an excellent guide to the Ueno Park buildings and the Tokyo National Museum’s Japan Gallery as well as some neighboring galleries. He was a thoughtful companion for a long walk and accommodated our needs by meeting us at our hotel and arranging for a taxi back.
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Operated by True Japan Tour