Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station · 9 min walk (Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line, Toei Ōedo Line)
- Hours
- 10:00–18:00 (last admission 17:30); closed Mondays (or following weekday if Monday is a holiday), exhibition changeovers, and Dec 28–Jan 1
- Admission
- MOT Collection: ¥500 (adults), ¥400 (college students), ¥250 (high school & seniors 65+), free (junior high and younger); special exhibitions priced separately
- Time needed
- 1.5–3 hours
- Best time to go
- Friday evenings during designated Night Museum extended hours (open until 20:00 in November, 21:00 in August), when crowds thin and evening discounts apply
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Located in the quiet Kiyosumi-shirakawa district, MOT is a striking 1990s architectural landmark showcasing a vast collection of post-war Japanese and international modern art. It is a must-visit for design lovers who want to experience cutting-edge, large-scale installations and avant-garde exhibitions away from the crowded tourist hubs. Expect spacious galleries, a fantastic art library, and a beautiful surrounding park.
What Japanese guides note
Visitors often underestimate walking distances within the 33,515-square-meter complex as well as the ten-minute walk from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station. Japanese guidebooks routinely recommend pairing gallery viewing with a stroll across connecting Kiba Park and the neighborhood's specialty coffee roasteries. Note that lengthy exhibition changeover periods occur several times a year, during which all gallery spaces close completely while public dining and the library stay open.
Details from local sources
- The basement art library holds over 280,000 art-related books and exhibition catalogs and is accessible to the public free of charge without an exhibition ticket. [source]
- Purchasing a ticket for any special temporary exhibition automatically includes same-day admission to the concurrent MOT Collection permanent exhibition. [source]
- Admission to the MOT Collection exhibition is free to all visitors on October 1 for Tokyo Citizens Day. [source]
- Designed by Takahiko Yanagisawa and opened in March 1995, the building features 33,515 square meters of floor space, making it one of Japan's largest public museum structures. [source]
- The basement family restaurant 100 Spoons provides complimentary freshly made baby food for guests dining with infants. [source]
- On the third Wednesday of every month, visitors aged 65 and older receive free admission by presenting proof of age. [source]
Insider Tip
Combine your visit with a stroll around the neighborhood, which is famous for its trendy third-wave coffee roasters and quiet canals.
Frequently asked
Can I visit the museum without buying an exhibition ticket?
Yes. Public areas require no tickets. Visitors can access the central glass atrium, browse the NADiff contemporary art shop, eat at either the 2F sandwich cafe or B1 restaurant, and enter the basement art library containing roughly 280,000 art publications without paying an entry fee.
Does a special exhibition ticket include the collection galleries?
Yes. Every ticket purchased for a temporary special exhibition permits entry into the MOT Collection galleries during the same visit. If multiple special exhibitions run concurrently, the ticket counter also sells a discounted combined pass that covers every active exhibition and the collection.
How far is the walk from the nearest subway station?
Kiyosumi-shirakawa is the closest station. Walking from Exit B2 on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line takes roughly 9 minutes, while walking from Exit A3 on the Toei Oedo Line takes about 13 minutes. Kiba Station on the Tozai Line is approximately 15 minutes away on foot.
What happens if a scheduled Monday closing is a national holiday?
When a Japanese national holiday falls on a Monday, the museum stays open to the public on that Monday and closes on the immediately following weekday instead. The entire facility also closes during scheduled multi-week exhibition changeovers and from December 28 through January 1.
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