9 Under-the-Radar Museums in Tokyo

You might have heard of kawaii culture, which prizes cute and cuddly things, but unko kawaii—translated as “disgusting cute”—is a whole different ball game. It’s best exemplified by the Unko Museum, which makes poo, well, palatable, with its vibrant colors and photogenic exhibits.

Highlights include neon representations of poo in different languages, a recreation of a store that only sells poop in different colors, and a room where you can indulge in some poo throwing. If you’re not feeling too pooped after your visit and want a deeper dive into kawaii culture, the weird and wonderful Harajuku neighborhood is the perfect place to explore on a walking tour.

Don’t miss: The Poop Volcano, which periodically erupts with tiny poop toys. Watch out, it’s going to blow!

Art and aquariums might seem like an unusual combination, but Art Aquarium proves they go together perfectly. Housed in a department store in the sophisticated shopping district of Ginza, this underwater experience reinterprets the age-old Japanese tradition of goldfish appreciation, with contemporary exhibitions that combine light and color to create an otherworldly gallery of fish.

Once you’ve explored the museum, Ginza is the perfect place to indulge in some retail therapy or even try your hand at making your own chopsticks.

Don’t miss: The Origamirium, where goldfish swim in a multi-angled tank beneath origami goldfish.

Even though it’s often hailed as the most spectacular ceramic museum in Japan, the Musée Tomo still only attracts a fraction of the crowds of other better-known Tokyo institutions. It’s home to one of the world’s most significant collections of Japanese ceramic art and explores a more contemporary side of pottery.

Here, each of the modern clay exhibits sits beneath a spotlight, which gives the gallery a theatrical feel. And if visiting the museum has inspired your creative side, learn about the art of kintsugi during a hands-on workshop, during which you’ll repair broken pottery using gold-infused paint.

Don’t miss: Ecologically inspired work such as Earth Food Chain 2023 by prominent Japanese potter Ichiro Nishizawa.

Perhaps for good reason, the Meguro Parasitological Museum is one of the lesser-known Tokyo museums. Exhibits here are not for the faint of heart: they comprise more than 300 specimens of parasites (and their hosts) preserved in liquid.

However, it’s the ideal place to indulge your curiosity about the grotesque, and you can even buy a memento of your visit at the gift shop—because who wouldn’t love a tapeworm shirt as a souvenir?

Don’t miss: One of the world’s largest tapeworms, which measured a whopping 28 feet (8.8 meters) when extracted from its host’s large intestine.

Nihonga is to Japan what impressionism is to France, and the blissfully quiet Yamatane Museum of Art is dedicated to this uniquely Japanese art form, which exemplifies the country’s aesthetic principles.

One of the most elegant small art museums in Tokyo, it's home to more than 1,800 works that depict everything from the snow-capped summit of Mt. Fuji to tabby cats. Plus, the on-site café serves a selection of traditional Japanese sweets sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you’re feeling inspired to create your own nihonga-style masterpieces after you leave, you can produce a personalized souvenir during a fan-painting workshop or a glass sandblasting experience.

Don’t miss: Gyoshū Hayami’s Dance of Flame, a hypnotic celebration of bright color and classical techniques.

One of the more underground Tokyo museums, the Kite Museum is home to a rare collection of more than 300 kites from around the world, along with memorabilia such as international kite festival posters. And as the paper kites are painted with scenes from Japanese folklore and samurai legend, the museum provides a colorful introduction to local culture.

It’s also situated above the historic Taimeiken restaurant, which is famous for its omuraisu (Japanese-style omelette). And if you feel like doing some flying of your own after visiting the Kite Museum, you can take to the skies in a helicopter for unrivaled views of the mega metropolis.

Don’t miss: You can borrow a kite to fly yourself at a riverside spot beside the museum, completely free of charge. Just ask at reception.

Home to a whopping 17,000-piece collection, the Japan Folk Crafts Museum is dedicated to promoting the work of skilled artisans and simple crafts that prize quality over quantity. It was opened by the founders of the mingei movement, which championed small-batch crafts over impersonal mass production.

Here, the permanent collection is organized by categories such as textiles, ceramics, and tribal crafts, and the museum gift shop is the perfect place to pick up bespoke souvenirs you won’t find in touristy stores.

Don’t miss: The traditional Okinawan bingata, vibrantly colorful designs stenciled onto cotton or linen.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Shibuya, the Shoto Museum of Art offers a serene escape from Tokyo's crowds; it’s the perfect antidote to the exhilaration of walking over the Shibuya Crossing, hailed as the world’s busiest zebra crossing. Alongside hosting exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and other media by renowned artists, the museum has a community focus and often showcases the work of Shibuya residents and high school students.

Plus, its architecture is a marvel—it resembles a fluted fan. If its exterior has made you want to see more of Tokyo’s innovative buildings, opt for an architecture tour to learn about the city’s blend of classic and contemporary designs.

Don’t miss: The 4-story atrium, which features a fountain, a bridge, and red granite walls.

Alongside a fine collection of Japanese and East Asian artworks, the Mitsui Memorial Museum exhibits more than 4,000 Japanese cultural artifacts from the Edo period onwards, with a focus on tea ceremony utensils, calligraphy, and swords. The museum also hosts a rotating series of temporary exhibitions that feature different objects from the private collection, so check the website before you visit.

Just keep in mind that a visit here is sure to get you in the mood for a Tokyo tea ceremony, which typically takes place in ryokan-style rooms, and you may dress in a traditional kimono—it’s a quintessentially Japanese experience.

Don’t miss: The Noh drama masks and costumes, which include exquisitely embroidered kimonos.