The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

The Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art is the most important museum in Japan for collecting and displaying modern Japanese art. This Tokyo museum is also known as MOMAT in English (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo). The museum is noted for its 20th-century art collection, which includes both Western-style and Nihonga artists.

The National Museum of Modern Art's austere gray exterior appears at first to be at odds with Kitanomaru Park's lush flora. However, within lies one of the world's best collections of modern Japanese art. The galleries on the fourth and second levels allow visitors to view some of the country's most difficult times from the perspective of its most prominent artists. The Crafts Gallery is still a short walk away, despite the fact that the museum's cinema section split off last year to become the National Film Center. While the polished trinity of art museums in Roppongi fills up at peak times, a visit here is much more laid-back; even on weekends, huge lineups are uncommon.

Location: 3-1 Kitanomarukoen, Chiyoda 102-0091 Tokyo

Website: momat.go.jp