Imperial collections museum in Tokyo's palace gardens fully reopens: ¥2,500 adults, kids free, December tickets go on sale 11 Nov and 2 Dec
This week's news · Checked 2026-11-03
What happened. Sannomaru Shozokan, the museum holding paintings, calligraphy and decorative arts from Japan's imperial collections, fully reopened on 3 Nov 2026 after an expansion. It sits inside the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The opening exhibition, "Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections", runs until 24 Jan 2027 in 3 rotations, and every work changes between rotations (museum's official site, checked 3 Nov 2026).
| Item | Details (Sannomaru Shozokan official site, checked 3 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| Rotation 1 | 3–23 Nov 2026 (on sale since 12 Sept) |
| Rotation 2 | 26 Nov – 20 Dec 2026, tickets on sale 11 Nov, 10:00 Japan time (09:00 Malaysia time) |
| Rotation 3 | 23 Dec 2026 – 24 Jan 2027, tickets on sale 2 Dec, 10:00 Japan time (09:00 Malaysia time) |
| Hours | 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00 (last entry 19:30) |
| Closed | Mondays (except 23 Nov and 11 Jan), 24–25 Nov, 22 Dec, 28 Dec – 3 Jan, 12 Jan |
| Price | Adults ¥2,500 (tax included) |
| Free, booking required | Under 23, university, high school and junior high students. Show proof of age or a student ID at entry; without it, entry is refused and the booking is void |
| Free, no booking | Elementary school age and younger; persons with disabilities + one caregiver |
| Tickets | Date and 30-minute slot. No tickets sold at the door on the day |
What it means for you.
- In Tokyo between 26 Nov and 20 Dec: book on 11 Nov at 09:00 Malaysia time. Two adults + two primary-school kids = 2 × ¥2,500 = ¥5,000 (about RM129 at the ECB rate of 2 Nov 2026), and the kids walk in without a booking. Teens under 23 are free too, but each needs a dated ticket.
- Coming at the end of December: rotation 3 starts 23 Dec, with tickets on sale 2 Dec. The museum is closed 28 Dec – 3 Jan, so before New Year you only have 23–27 Dec.
- Pick your ticket channel: ART PASS (e-ticket) has no fee and can't be cancelled, but you can change the date up to 2 times. Seven Ticket adds ¥110 per ticket, and the paper ticket must be printed at a 7-Eleven; screenshots aren't accepted. Arriving after your slot can mean no entry and no refund.
- Getting in: use Otemon gate, about 5 minutes on foot from Otemachi Station (exit C13a) or 15 minutes from Tokyo Station (Marunouchi North). The museum is about 100 m inside Otemon. On Fridays the gardens are closed and Otemon is the only way in to the museum.
- Prayer: the Tokyo Station prayer room, inside the JR EAST Travel Service Center at Marunouchi North, is open 10:00–17:00, fits about 2 people and has a wudu facility (checked 15 Oct 2026; details in the Tokyo prayer rooms list). If you pick a Friday or Saturday evening slot, that room will already be closed, so plan your prayer before.
- Staying near Otemachi and Tokyo Station: Trip.com: Tokyo hotels 7–11 Dec, 2 adults + 2 kids (prices depend on the day you check).
Before you fly: Map of 231 halal places & prayer rooms (US$6.99) — December Edition, 15 Nov.
Affiliate links may be used; your price doesn't change. Sources: Sannomaru Shozokan, opening exhibition (English), shozokan.nich.go.jp; Sannomaru Shozokan, admission and tickets (English), shozokan.nich.go.jp; Sannomaru Shozokan, opening exhibition tickets (Japanese), shozokan.nich.go.jp; Sannomaru Shozokan, access (Japanese), shozokan.nich.go.jp; ECB rate via Frankfurter, 2 Nov 2026 (¥100 = RM2.578). Checked 3 Nov 2026.