*This article contains promotions
“I had no idea so many Japanese masterpieces were sleeping in the British Museum.”
That was the surprise that started my museum experience.
The ‘British Museum Japanese Art Collection: A Hundred Flowers – Edo Painting Across the Sea’ exhibition has been held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum since July 25, 2026. The Tokyo exhibition runs until October 18, after which it will travel to the National Museum of Art, Osaka (October 31, 2026 – January 31, 2027).
For those wondering what this exhibition, which is a hot topic on social media and note, is actually like, I have summarized the highlights and how to buy tickets at a discount.
If you want to check tickets right now, click here👇
＼Easy on your smartphone! Smooth entry with advance purchase／
👉Check tickets for the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition on Asoview
What is so amazing about the British Museum Japanese Art Collection in the first place?
The British Museum in London is one of the world’s leading museums, founded in 1753. In fact, this museum has an incredibly rich collection of Japanese art, numbering about 40,000 items.
It is said to be one of the most comprehensive Japanese collections held by any museum outside of Japan.
In this ‘A Hundred Flowers’ exhibition, about 200 items have been carefully selected from those 40,000 for display. Masterpieces of Japanese art, centered on Edo-period folding screens, hanging scrolls, picture scrolls, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints, are lined up.
Highlights of the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition
This exhibition has too many highlights, but I will introduce the points you should definitely keep in mind.
Works returning to Japan for the first time from the UK
One of the highlights this time is the collection of works returning to Japan from the British Museum for the first time.
Masterpieces of Japanese art that crossed the sea to the UK, such as Kitagawa Utamaro’s precious original painting ‘Courtesan Reading a Letter’ and Maruyama Okyo’s ‘Tiger Crossing the River’ folding screen, are returning to Japanese soil for the first time.
Knowing the story that ‘works born in Japan have been cherished across the sea’ changes the way you look at them, doesn’t it?
A competition of eight ukiyo-e masters
Works by eight representative ukiyo-e artists—Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Harunobu, Kiyonaga, Toyokuni I, and Kuniyoshi—are gathered together.
There are many famous works that you may have seen in textbooks, so even those who are not familiar with Japanese art can enjoy discovering things like, ‘Oh, I know this one!’
Fusuma paintings reunited for the first time in 150 years
Fusuma paintings that had been separated in the UK, Seattle in the US, and Aomori in Japan have been brought together for this exhibition for the first time in about 150 years. They were identified as a series of works through recent research, and this reunion is a rare opportunity unique to this exhibition.
The audio guide is luxurious
The navigators for the audio guide are Kabuki actor Somegoro Ichikawa and voice actress Atsumi Tanezaki.
The venue rental version is 700 yen per unit, and the app version is 750 yen, which you can download in advance. I personally recommend using the guide because it deepens your understanding when you view the works while knowing their background.
Ticket information for the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition
Ticket prices are as follows.
-
General: 2,300 yen
-
University/Vocational school students: 1,300 yen
-
65 and older: 1,600 yen
-
18 and under / High school students and younger: Free
Since it is open until 8:00 PM on Fridays, it is a nice bonus that you can stop by after work.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended
Crowds are expected toward the end of the exhibition period, so it is smoother to purchase tickets online in advance.
It is a waste of time to line up at the ticket counter on the day, and since it tends to be crowded especially on Saturdays and Sundays, it is safer to buy them in advance.
With Asoview, you can quickly purchase tickets from your smartphone and enter just by showing the screen on the day.
＼Quickly purchase on your smartphone and enter without waiting on the day!／
👉Check out tickets for the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition on Asoview
PR
Especially recommended for people like this
I have summarized who this exhibition is suitable for.
-
Those who like Ukiyo-e and Japanese paintings
-
Those who know the names Hokusai and Utamaro but have never seen the real things
-
Those who want to enjoy a museum date or a solo museum visit
-
For your child’s cultural experience (18 and under are free!)
-
Those looking for a holiday outing in the Ueno area
The fact that it is free for those 18 and under is quite helpful for families with children. I think it is a good opportunity to show them the real works that are featured in their textbooks.
Check out the collaboration information for the Ueno area too
In conjunction with the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition, collaborations are also being held at Ueno Marui and Atre Ueno.
You can enjoy exhibition-exclusive collaboration menus and merchandise, so it is recommended to stop by after the exhibition. Ueno Marui is also distributing original fans with limited-edition designs (while supplies last).
The museum shop is also well-stocked with British Museum collaboration goods and official merchandise, so you can enjoy looking for souvenirs.
Summary | The Tokyo exhibition runs until October 18th. Secure your tickets before you miss out
The British Museum Japanese Art Collection ‘A Hundred Flowers Blooming: Edo Paintings Across the Sea’ is a valuable, limited-time exhibition where you can encounter masterpieces carefully selected from a collection of approximately 40,000 items.
The Tokyo exhibition runs until October 18th. After that, it will tour to the National Museum of Art, Osaka, so if you want to see it in Tokyo, don’t miss the remaining dates.
The end of the exhibition period is expected to be crowded, so it is recommended to purchase tickets online in advance.
\Enter smoothly without waiting!//
👉Check out tickets for the British Museum Japanese Art Collection exhibition on Asoview
PR
