Suntory Museum of Art, art museum in Tokyo, Japan
The Suntory Museum of Art is an art museum in Akasaka located within Tokyo Midtown, featuring a carefully curated collection of around 3,000 objects of Japanese craftsmanship including ceramics, lacquerware, glasswork, and dyed textiles. The modern building was designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma using natural materials to create a calm space where visitors can focus on the artisanal works on display.
The museum was founded in 1961 by the Suntory family, who had begun collecting fine art in the late 1800s, establishing a long tradition of art patronage. After relocating from Marunouchi to Akasaka-Mitsuke, it moved to its current location in Tokyo Midtown in 2007, where modern facilities now house the collection.
The museum displays artworks deeply rooted in Japanese daily life, showing how beauty exists in everyday objects like tea bowls and textiles. Visitors can observe how traditional craft techniques are preserved and valued today, especially through regular tea ceremonies that reveal the country's cultural understanding of ritual and aesthetic refinement.
The museum is directly connected to Roppongi Station exit 8, making it easily accessible; a typical visit takes about an hour given the manageable size of the collection. Visitors should note that the museum is closed on Tuesdays and that admission prices vary depending on the current exhibition.
A special feature is the Genchoan tea ceremony room on the sixth floor, where visitors can observe live traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. These regularly offered experiences provide insight into a central cultural ritual that few museums present.
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