The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MoMAT) offers visitors the chance to experience the works of its Permanent Collection for free courtesy of International Museum Day, held each year on May 18.
Rewarding the budget-conscious and anyone savvy with trip planning, May 18 is a celebration of the role that museums and galleries play in society by highlighting themes and issues that face museums across the globe. The National Museum of Modern Art focuses heavily on modern works of the 20th century with some 13,000 of them held. The works feature a strong emphasis on Japanese art with around 200 or so on display at any one time. The National Museum of Modern Art naturally features a museum shop with numerous souvenir opportunities, a restaurant for the hungry, as well as an art library.
The museum is located right by the Imperial Palace and, along its moats and walls, offers quite picturesque views of central Tokyo. The museum was Japan's first national gallery and was once home to a separate craft gallery but this has now been relocated to Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture. A film archive in the form of what is now the independently operated National Film Center cane also be found as well as regularly held special exhibitions. While accessible to the public, these special exhibitions do not fall under the free admission day program.
The museum is also part of a consolidated catalogue of works program known as the 'Union Catalog.' This catalogue features material held by four of Japan's national museums.
Please check the official website for the museum's regular special exhibition details, and notes on photography within the museum.
