Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo

Established in 1926, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park was originally known as the Tokyo Prefectural Art Museum. It changed its name in 1943 when Tokyo became a metropolitan prefecture.

Designed by modernist architect Kunio Maekawa, the museum's current building, constructed in 1975, is celebrated for its avant-garde design harmoniously integrated with Ueno Park's green surroundings.

Initially criticized for its lack of a permanent collection, the museum started amassing art in the 1970s. It currently houses a diverse range of artworks, including twentieth-century sculptures and Japanese calligraphy pieces.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is renowned for hosting high-profile temporary exhibitions, featuring artists like Tarō Okamoto, Isamu Noguchi, Edvard Munch, and Tsuguharu Foujita. It also showcases international art from renowned museums such as The Louvre, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The museum holds around 280 exhibitions annually, including blockbuster shows and thematic exhibitions featuring both established and emerging Japanese artists through initiatives like the Ueno Artist Project.