Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum

Set in the historic Mitsubishi Ichigokan building, designed by Josiah Conder at the end of the 19th century, this art museum is located 5 minutes walk from the Marunouchi south exit of Tokyo station. There is no permanent exhibition on display, but special exhibitions are held throughout the year, on average three or four exhibitions of two to three months each.

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum

(from the museum's website)

The <a href="http://mimt.jp/english/">Museum's English website</a> states that the "Japonisme movement is one of the driving forces of the exhibition activity at our museum" and this is reflected in the special exhibitions on offer. Many explore themes of Japonisme in European art or the connections between Japanese and Western artists and centre around important works by well-known Western painters, especially works borrowed from large art museums in Europe and the US.

Many, if not all, of the special exhibitions at Mitsubishi Ichigokan include English on the object labels as well as on the main interpretive panels. The special exhibition from June 27 - September 6, 2015, "Kyosai: Master Painter and his Student Josiah Conder," also had audio guides available in English.

Admission charges change depending on the exhibition and can be steep, many exhibitions are \1500 or more, but the exhibitions are well laid out and the building provides a beautiful backdrop.

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum hallway

(from the museum's website)

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum exhibit space

(from the museum's website)

It is worth noting that the Museum normally sets the temperature of its exhibit space to 21C. While shawls are available for visitors to borrow, the exhibit rooms can feel cold and visitors may want to bring a sweater or shawl of their own, especially in the summer months.

In addition, perhaps due to the Museum's location in the upscale Marunouchi district, while it provides discounts or free admission to elementary school children for many of its exhibitions, the staff are not necessarily friendly to younger visitors or those of any age who make noise.

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum

(from the museum's website)