15 Museum Visits in Tokyo to Book Now

1.teamLab Planets TOKYO Digital Art Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9,779 reviews · 1 day · from $25Our pick

At teamLab Planets TOKYO, you walk barefoot through digital art that shifts with your presence. Expect rooms of changing light, sound and materials, including water installations and flower displays. The ticket is listed at $25 per person and is valid for one day; transport is not included. Wear trousers you can roll above your knees.

“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen and done, my husband and I enjoyed it so much we wish we had time to go again”

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2.Samurai Ninja Museum Guided tour and Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,010 reviews · from $27

At Tokyo’s Samurai Ninja Museum, an English-speaking guide explains samurai and ninja history beside displays of armor, helmets, swords, and equipment. Then try throwing ninja stars and dress in samurai gear, including a real helmet, while holding a metal sword. Guides such as Nami, Kenny, Shin, and Nao have made the hour-long visit lively and easy to follow.

“We had such a fantastic time visiting the Samurai Museum with Ken (I think!) as our guide. The visit was super engaging and fun for the kids — they were captivated from start to finish — and we adults also learned a lot along the way. The format was just right: not too short, not too long, and really well balanced. Even though we were part of a big group, Ken managed it perfectly so that everyone felt included and comfortable. Highly recommended!”

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3.Ninja Experience (Family Friendly) at Samurai Ninja Museum TOKYO

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 441 reviews · from $47Top rated

At the Samurai Ninja Museum in Asakusa, you’ll dress in a ninja outfit, hear about ninja history and tools, practise with ninja weapons, pose for photos and take part in a treasure hunt. The activity lasts about 75 minutes. Children under 3 may enter the venue but cannot join the experience.

“excellent activity overall but were grouped with another family with 4 kids who overpowered our own child and despite not payign themselves were still involved. it took away from our experience think each group if children should have mandated number of paid adults as this detracted from our own experience”

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4.Tokyo Studio Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Film Appreciation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 421 reviews · from $193

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Shinjuku to Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, and the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. Your guide shares Ghibli background on the ride, then you explore the museums independently. Lunch and admission are included; Monday visits replace the architecture museum with a temple.

“Highly recommend for any Studio Ghibli fan. The lunch and architecture museum prior was really good and certainly added to the experience and understanding of what influenced Ghibli.”

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5.Tokyo Sword Experience – includes Museum Ticket/Ninja Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 314 reviews · from $84

At Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa, you put on hakama, learn basic iaido with a replica sword, and try a controlled sword fight. A guide also leads a samurai and ninja museum tour. The current activity uses no real sword or sharp blade, despite older descriptions and accounts that mention katana cutting.

“Loved this activity. The staff explained everything fantastically and went in depth into the history of the Samurai. Definitely recommend attending”

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6.Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa: Samurai Sword Lesson & Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 306 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

At the Samurai Ninja Museum in Asakusa, you’ll wear a hakama, helmet, and armor, learn basic katana movements, and try ninja weapons before or after a guided museum tour. English-speaking instructors have included Sensei Ryo, Kai, and Koki. Expect hands-on practice, history, and time for themed photos in a group of up to 16.

“Fun activity to do with the family, also suitable for children. we did it and we loved it. Excellent value for money highly recommended!!”

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7.Art Aquarium Museum GINZA Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 278 reviews · 1 day · from $17Best value

Visit Art Aquarium Museum GINZA inside the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store for a self-guided, roughly one-hour look at goldfish in artful tanks lit to music and scent. The permanent exhibition changes with the seasons, and photography is allowed without tripods, monopods, or extra lighting. Admission is $17 per person.

“It’s really beautiful. Anyone visiting GINZA should see it”

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8.Samurai Sword Experience (Family Friendly)at SAMURAI MUSEUM TOKYO

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 168 reviews · from $65

At Tokyo’s Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa, you’ll hear about samurai and ninja history, try basic sword movements with a wooden or foam sword, and pose in traditional clothing and armor. The session also includes a replica-sword demonstration, ninja-star throwing, and a museum tour. Past instructors have included Ryo, Kenny, and Momo, though staff may vary.

“10/10 experience one of the highlights of my trip I loved the whole experience and took some great photos and learned more about the history!”

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9.Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa: Kid-Friendly Ninja Training

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 67 reviews · 1h 15m · from $56

At Tokyo’s Samurai & Ninja Museum in Asakusa, an English-speaking guide leads you through a 75-minute ninja experience with a full outfit, ninja techniques, shuriken throwing, a blowgun, a treasure hunt, and a photo shoot. A guide named Koki has been praised for friendly explanations, though you cannot count on having the same instructor.

“We got to do the ninja experience. It was so cool and our instructor was amazing!”

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10.Guided Cup Noodles Museum Tour & Make Your Own Cup

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70

Spend 90 minutes at Yokohama’s Cup Noodles Museum with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to four. Explore Momofuku Ando’s story, see a replica of his work shed, and make a custom cup with your choice of soup base and toppings. Guides have included Nori, Tomo, Tomoko, and Andy.

“Ms. Tomoko was our guide. She met us on time, she was knowledgeable, helpful and kind. She took pictures of us in various parts of the museum and helped us facilitate much of our experience. The tour was much better with her as a guide and we highly recommend this tour.”

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11.Mt. Fuji, Owakudani, Hakone Shrine, & Open-Air Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25 reviews · from $79

Spend a day in Hakone with an English- or Korean-speaking guide, visiting the Open-Air Museum, Owakudani and Hakone Shrine. The order can change with weather and traffic, and optional ropeway or pirate-ship rides cost extra. Guides including Juna, Icchi and Yuichi have helped groups adapt plans to the day.

“Everything was on time and the ride was smooth. We were able to hit all of the spots with no issues and our guide was really helpful every step of the way. Great way to see Hakone”

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12.Private Tour Through the Tokyo National Museum & Ukiyo-e

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 17 reviews · 2h 30m · from $74

Spend 150 minutes with a private English-speaking guide among Ueno’s historic sites and the Tokyo National Museum. See Kiyomizu Kannondo’s wooden stage and park view, visit Ueno Toshogu Shrine, then explore museum highlights such as samurai armor and ukiyo-e prints. Past guides have included Shigeru, Hattori Yutaka, Mieko, and Masahito.

“We had an excellent and informative tour around Ueno Park with our guide Ms Mieko. Starting off with the grounds and then later into the National Museum. Mieko explained the history of the current grounds right up to the present day.”

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13.Private Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 15 reviews · 5 hours · from $193

Spend five hours with an English-speaking guide at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. See Kunio Maekawa’s modernist home, Sutemi Horiguchi’s blend of Japanese and European design, the Mitsui family residence, and a Shitamachi street with an old bathhouse and train. Guides such as Yuichi and Yuki have tailored tours to guests’ interests. Ghibli Museum admission is not included.

“Our guide was very pleasant, knowledgeable, reliable, and helpful. We really enjoyed meeting and getting to know him. We were under the mistaken impression that we would be picked up from our hotel by car and driven to the Edo-Tokyo Architectural Museum. However, it was quite an interesting experience/adventure taking the train and bus to and from our destination. The outdoor architectural museum was quite interesting!”

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14.Tokyo War History Tour: Yasukuni Shrine & War Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 150 - 210 minutes · from $87

Explore Yasukuni Shrine and the Yushukan War Museum with a private English-speaking guide. You’ll get context for the museum’s distinct account of Japan’s wars, plus time to consider how the country remembers its dead. The extended option adds Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, a secular memorial to unidentified war dead. Guide Tatsuo has led this tour.

“Extremely interesting. Very experienced guide, a lot of interesting and new information provided. The history of Japan from early times to nowadays, with unique artefacts, photographs and documents exhibited in the museum. For instance, do you know why you should walk on the left side of the pavement or stand the left side of the escalators? No, not related to driving in Japan, the rule is way before cars existed. Take the tour to find out 🙂”

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15.Japan Football Association museum tour at 「blue-ing!」

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 1 hour · from $25

At blue-ing!, the Japan Football Association’s football museum in Tokyo Dome City, an English-speaking guide leads a small group through Japanese football exhibits and digital experiences, including generative AI content. The one-hour visit includes Discovery Area entry and one free drink. You’ll also find artificial turf, a café and bar, and a shop.

“Guia simpática e divertida, um passeio com muita história sobre o futebol japonês”

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