What is the difference between the National Art Center, Tokyo and Mori Art Museum?

The National Art Center, Tokyo owns no artworks at all; every gallery hosts a temporary exhibition, whether a major curated touring show or a public-submission "kobo" show from a Japanese art association. Mori Art Museum, located atop Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills, owns a small permanent collection (the MAM Collection) that it shows periodically alongside its own contemporary art exhibitions. They are both worth visiting on a Roppongi art day, but they are not the same kind of institution.

Does the National Art Center, Tokyo have a permanent collection?

No. It is Japan's only national art institution with no permanent collection of its own. Every gallery, without exception, holds a temporary exhibition rather than a fixed display, which is also why the building is called a "center" rather than a "museum."

Is the National Art Center, Tokyo free to enter?

Entry to the building itself, including the atrium, art library, shop, and cafes, is free. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately, and admission to a specific exhibition is not free. Free admission to exhibitions is generally extended to visitors 15 and younger and to visitors with disabilities plus one caregiver.

How much does it cost to see an exhibition at the National Art Center, Tokyo?

There is no fixed price, since admission is set separately for each exhibition and changes with every new show. As a general guide, adult tickets for special exhibitions commonly fall in the rough range of ¥1,500 to ¥2,500, usually split into a cheaper advance-purchase tier and a slightly higher general (on-day) tier. Always check the current exhibition's specific price on the official site before visiting.

What are the opening hours of the National Art Center, Tokyo?

The museum is open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

What day is the National Art Center, Tokyo closed?

It is closed on Tuesdays, or on the following working day when a national holiday falls on a Tuesday. Check the official site for any exceptions around specific holidays before planning a Tuesday visit.

What is the nearest station to the National Art Center, Tokyo?

Nogizaka Station, on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, connects directly underground to the museum via Exit 6. Roppongi Station, on the Hibiya Line and Toei Oedo Line, is about a 4-5 minute walk and a good alternative if you are coming from Roppongi Hills.

Who designed the National Art Center, Tokyo building?

Architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the building, built around a wave-shaped glass curtain-wall facade and a "museum in a forest" concept. It opened in January 2007 as his final completed project before his death later that year.

Can you take photos inside the National Art Center, Tokyo?

Photographing exhibited artworks is generally prohibited due to agreements with lenders, and tripods, monopods, and drones are banned both inside and outside the building. Personal, non-commercial photography of the atrium and building exterior is generally fine outside of gallery restrictions.

How long do you need to visit the National Art Center, Tokyo?

Plan for 1.5 to 2.5 hours to see a single exhibition along with the atrium and shop. Add more time if you plan to visit an artist-association gallery as well, or if you are pairing the visit with a wider Roppongi Hills day.

Is the National Art Center, Tokyo worth visiting?

For art and architecture-interested travelers, generally yes, and the building alone is worth the trip for many visitors regardless of the current exhibition. Because there is no permanent collection, the value of a visit depends more than usual on whether the exhibition currently running matches your interest, so it is worth checking what is on before you go. Travelers looking specifically for a reliable, always-there "greatest hits" collection are better served by a fixed-collection museum instead.

The National Art Center, Tokyo

Q: Is the National Art Center, Tokyo the same as the National Museum of Nature and Science?

No. These are two entirely different institutions in two entirely different parts of Tokyo. The National Art Center, Tokyo is an art exhibition venue in Roppongi, Minato, with no permanent collection. The National Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history and science museum with permanent galleries (the Japan Gallery and Global Gallery) in Ueno Park, Taito. The similar naming is a common source of confusion, but they share nothing else in common.

By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: August 28, 2026 · Facts verified: August 28, 2026

Quick Answer

Hours

10:00 AM-6:00 PM Mon/Wed/Thu/Sun, 10:00 AM-8:00 PM Fri/Sat, closed Tuesdays

Admission

Building entry free; exhibition tickets vary by show, roughly ¥1,500-¥2,500 for adults

Nearest Station

Nogizaka Station, Chiyoda Line (direct underground connection)

Best Time

Weekdays, or Friday/Saturday evening for the extended hours

Visit Duration

1.5-2.5 hours

The National Art Center, Tokyo's undulating glass facade and inverted cone entrance structure, with mature trees framing the plaza

Area: Roppongi / Minato
Best For: Art, Architecture, Culture
Nearby: Mori Art Museum · Roppongi Hills

Plan Your Tokyo Visit

Visiting The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo, often shortened to NACT or National Art Center Tokyo, is Japan's only national art institution with no permanent collection of its own. Instead of a fixed set of galleries you can count on seeing every visit, the building exists purely to host exhibitions: major curated touring shows alongside public-submission exhibitions organized by Japanese art associations. It sits in Roppongi, in Minato, a short walk from Nogizaka Station.

Architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the building around a wave-like glass curtain-wall facade and a "museum in a forest" concept, with mature trees planted along the plaza in front. It opened to the public on January 21, 2007, the first new national art museum built in Japan in thirty years, and was Kurokawa's final completed project before his death later that year.

Because there is no permanent collection, deciding whether to visit comes down mostly to two things: whether the exhibition currently on show matches your interest, and whether you want to see the building itself, which nearly every visitor and reviewer treats as worth the trip on its own. The atrium alone, with its inverted glass cone housing a spiral restaurant, draws people who have no interest in that week's specific show.

NACT pairs naturally with a wider Roppongi day. Roppongi Hills, home to the Mori Art Museum, is a walk away, and the two are often visited together since both are art venues in the same neighborhood. They are not the same kind of institution, and the distinction matters enough that it is worth spelling out clearly before you plan your visit.

Things to Do at The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo is not the National Museum of Nature and Science. They are two entirely different institutions in two entirely different parts of Tokyo: NACT is an art exhibition venue in Roppongi, Minato, while the National Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history and science museum with permanent galleries across town in Ueno Park. The similar naming ("National" plus "Center" or "Museum") is a genuine, common point of confusion, but the two share nothing beyond the name pattern.

NACT is also easy to confuse with Mori Art Museum, and this one matters more since both are Roppongi art venues people often visit the same day. The difference is the collection model: Mori Art Museum sits atop Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills and owns a small permanent collection shown periodically alongside its contemporary art exhibitions. NACT owns nothing at all, not even a small rotating collection. Every gallery in the building, whether a major curated show or a public-submission exhibition from a Japanese art association, is there temporarily. That is also why it is called a "center" rather than a "museum," a deliberate naming choice reflecting that it holds no artworks of its own.

How to Get to The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo sits in Roppongi, Minato, and is reached most directly from Nogizaka Station, with Roppongi Station as a practical alternative.

Both stations are genuinely viable depending on where you are coming from: Nogizaka connects straight into the building, while Roppongi Station puts you closer to Roppongi Hills and the wider Roppongi nightlife district.

Nearest Stations
Nogizaka Station, on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, is the closest and officially recommended route, connecting directly underground to the museum through Exit 6 with no need to surface first. Roppongi Station, served by the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Oedo Line, is about a 4-5 minute walk and a good alternative if you are already based near Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Midtown.
From Tokyo Station or Central Tokyo
From Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Line to Kasumigaseki, then transfer to the Chiyoda Line toward Nogizaka Station. The full trip typically takes around 20-25 minutes including the transfer.
From Haneda Airport
From Haneda Airport, take the Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line toward central Tokyo, then transfer onto the subway network toward Nogizaka or Roppongi Station. The full trip typically takes around 40-50 minutes depending on the connection.

Map

Open The National Art Center, Tokyo in Google Maps

Best Time to Visit The National Art Center, Tokyo

Weekdays for smaller crowds; Friday and Saturday evenings for the extended 8:00 PM closing and a quieter later visit.

Entry Fee & Hours

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Admission

Special exhibitions are ticketed separately and priced per show, typically in the rough range of ¥1,500-¥2,500 for adults, split into advance and general (on-day) tiers. Building entry (atrium, library, shop, cafes) is free. There is no single fixed admission price, since it depends entirely on which exhibition is running; check the current show's price before you go.

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Hours

10:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; 10:00 AM-8:00 PM Friday and Saturday; last admission 30 minutes before closing. Closed Tuesdays, or the following working day when a national holiday falls on a Tuesday.