Museum of the Imperial Collections

The Museum of the Imperial Collections displays artwork from the imperial household through rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Traditional Japanese paintings, sculptures and decorative crafts are shown together to provide an overview of different periods in Japanese art history.

The museum opened in 1993 after the Emperor and Empress donated a large portion of their personal art collection to the Japanese state in 1989. Later additions included pieces from the estate of Princess Chichibu and the family of Prince Mikasa.

The collection includes a six-panel folding screen from the 16th century depicting Chinese lions in gold pigment. Visitors can see handscrolls from the Kamakura period dating to the second half of the 13th century that illustrate historical events.

The building sits within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, reachable from Otemachi Station by walking about five minutes through the Ote-mon Gate. Exhibitions rotate several times a year, so visiting in different seasons offers new displays.

Many visitors overlook the fact that the displayed items were previously held in private by the imperial family and became publicly accessible only after the donation. This means anyone can now see what was once kept within the palace walls.

Location: Chiyoda

Inception: 1993

Official opening: November 3, 1993

Website: https://shozokan.nich.go.jp/en

GPS coordinates: 35.68630,139.75925

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28