Toyo Bunko Museum Tours

Founded in 1924, Toyo Bunko is one of the five largest Asian studies research libraries in the world, and it's the oldest and the largest institution in Japan. The museum was opened to spark interest in the region's history and culture and has contributed to Asian studies through the acquisition of books and other materials.

The Basics
Visit this under-the-radar Tokyo museum (also known as the Oriental Library) to take in its educational and entertaining exhibits on Asian history. View exhibition rooms and audio-visual displays alongside cultural treasures, source materials, and artworks on display. It’s well worth a visit for those with an interest in Japanese and Asian history and culture. Purchase tickets online in advance, or add a museum visit to a private sightseeing tour of Tokyo.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Toyo Bunko is a must-visit for those with an interest in Asian culture and history.
• There is a restaurant and a gift shop on site.
• The museum is accessible to wheelchair users.
• There is a free guided tour every day at 3pm (in Japanese only).

How to Get There
The museum is an 8-minute walk from Komagome Station on the JR Yamanote Line and the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. It’s a 7-minute walk from Sengoku Station on the Toei Subway Mita Line and a 15-minute walk from Sugamo Station on the JR Yamanote and Toei Subway Mita Line.

When to Get There
Toyo Bunko is open Wednesday through Monday from morning until evening (last admission is 30 minutes before close). It is closed on Tuesdays, except when a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, in which case the museum is open on the holiday and then closed on Wednesday. It's also closed on New Year’s Day.

The Morrison Archive
Upstairs from Orient Hall (the main exhibition space) look for what is possibly the museum’s most important collection, the Morrison Archive. Collected by the Australian journalist, George Ernest Morrison during his 20-year residency in Beijing, it contains approximately 24,000 volumes, including about 1,000 map/lithograph titles, about 7,200 pamphlets, and more than 120 periodicals. Of particular note are 54 editions of Marco Polo's Description of the World, including a copy of the first Latin printing from 1485.