Tokyo National Museum
There are more museums in Tokyo than you can shake a soba noodle at, but if you want just one, arguably the best of them all, pay a visit to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park (you might want to stop by the Ueno Zoo while you’re in the neighbourhood).
Uneo Park itself is a pretty, tranquil spot; admission to it and the classical Japanese architecture museum is free, so it’s an excellent way to see Tokyo affordably.
This is the oldest national museum in all of Japan, housing some 110,000 items from masks to weaponry, costumes to statuary, hundreds of which are designated national treasures. At any given time four or five thousand items are on display in the permanent collections, with more added as touring exhibitions make a stop. Here you will experience the art and artefacts of historic Japan, a perfect introduction to the modern country you are visiting. It brings Japan into perspective. One of the largest museums in the world, the Tokyo National Museum is spread over six buildings; it opened in 1983 and has received many millions of visitors.