Tokyo's National Museum can be found in the north side of green Ueno Park. You can purchase normal entry tickets at the booth on the left and special exhibition tickets at the booth on the right. There are discounts available for students (including University students), disabled people, and the elderly. Normal admission is 600 yen (about $5); special exhibitions cost extra. The museum is generally open from 9:30am to 5pm but you should double-check the website to verify the opening times on a particular day.

After purchasing your ticket there are different buildings to explore. The building on the east side (to the right as you walk in) houses the Asian art collection. There are some beautiful statues, paintings (including woodblock prints, hanging scrolls and calligraphy) and artifacts from hundreds of years ago. The works of art come from Korea, India, China, and southeast Asia.

The large building to the north of the main entrance houses the Japanese collections. Here you'll find priceless paintings, artifacts, Buddhist works of art, ceramics and sculptures. Behind this building is a beautiful Zen-inspired garden that is open when weather permits. It's worth a stroll. During special occasions (i.e., University student appreciation day), there may be a tea ceremony or other event held in an area behind the Japanese Collection building.

The building to the northwest houses the changing exhibitions. Currently, the special exhibition is on Japanese Ichiboku Buddhist Statues and will run until December. These beautiful statues are worth a look but if time and money is constrained then you may have to give it a pass, unfortunately.

The National Museum provides an excellent tour of non-modern art throughout Asia and it may take a long time to explore all of its treasures, so come early. Also, the English website is well designed and very helpful. It provides a lot of relevant information, including admission details, current events, and directions: www.tnm.go.jp/en/gallery Enjoy your tour of Asian art!