Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya: Tickets, Hours, Exhibitions and How to Get There

ByCentral Japan Guide

Last checked: October 20, 2026, against the official Tokugawa Art Museum website (Japanese and English pages). Hours, fees and exhibitions change, so please confirm on the official site before you go. This site is independent and is not affiliated with the museum. This post may contain affiliate links; if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Tokugawa Art Museum, in the east of Nagoya, shows the treasures handed down in the Owari Tokugawa family, the senior branch of the three Tokugawa families that supported the shogun. It is a good rainy-day plan, and a good way to understand the samurai lords who ruled this region. This guide covers the hours, the closing days, the fees, the current exhibitions and how to get there from Nagoya Station.

Key takeaways

  • The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:30). It is closed on Mondays, and from December 14, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
  • The official site gives the average viewing time as 60 to 90 minutes.
  • It holds more than 10,000 items, including 9 National Treasures. The National Treasure “Tale of Genji” picture scroll is shown for about two weeks each November. This year it is from November 14 to 29.
  • From Nagoya Station, the city bus or the Me~guru bus takes about 30 minutes, and the museum is a short walk from the bus stop.
  • Two admission prices are listed on the official pages, so check the online ticket page before you buy.
Tokugawa Art Museum facts

The short version
Hours 10:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Closed Mondays (the next weekday if Monday is a holiday), and December 14, 2026 to January 4, 2027
Viewing time About 60 to 90 minutes
Admission Adults 2,000 yen on the visitor page (see the note below)
From Nagoya Station About 30 minutes by city bus, Meitetsu bus or Me~guru bus
Address 1017 Tokugawa-cho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya

All details are from the official museum website on the date above.

What is the museum?

According to the official site, the museum shows the treasures of the Owari Tokugawa family. Its more than 10,000 items include 9 National Treasures, 60 Important Cultural Properties and 50 Important Art Objects. The family’s first head was Tokugawa Yoshinao, the ninth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. After Ieyasu died, many of his belongings went to the Owari, Kii and Mito branches, and the Owari family also received other fine pieces. The museum was opened in 1935 by Tokugawa Yoshichika, the 19th head of the family, to preserve the culture of the daimyo lords.

The permanent collection is arranged in five themes, such as arms and swords, the tea ceremony and Noh theater, and the displays change about once a month. The museum also reproduces a tea room and a reception room of the Nagoya Castle Ninomaru Palace.

Exhibitions

The official site lists these exhibitions now and in the coming months:

  • Special exhibition “Tokimeku Hako” (boxes). October 8 to November 15, 2026.
  • “The Traveling Marquis, Tokugawa Yoshichika.” October 8 to December 13, 2026.
  • Special display of the National Treasure “Tale of Genji” scroll. November 14 to 29, 2026. The site says a few scenes are chosen and shown each year in late November. This year it is chapters 37 and 49.
  • Old sutra manuscripts. January 5 to 31, 2027.
  • Hina doll display. February 6 to April 4, 2027.
  • Special display of Sen no Rikyu’s tea scoop “Namida.” February 20 to March 2, 2027.

Check the exhibition page on the official site before you go, since the dates change every year.

Admission fees

The official pages list two sets of prices:

  • Visitor information page. For the museum and the Hosa Bunko library: adults 2,000 yen, high school and university students 1,200 yen, and junior high and elementary school students free.
  • Homepage. For the Masterpiece Collection display: adults 1,600 yen, high school and university students 1,000 yen, and junior high and elementary school students free.

The official pages do not explain which price applies to which exhibition, so check the online ticket page before you buy. The museum shop, the cafe and the restaurant can be used only if you have entered the museum.

Opening hours and closing days

  • Hours. 10:00 to 17:00. Last admission is 16:30.
  • Closed. Mondays. If Monday is a holiday, the museum closes on the next weekday. It is also closed from December 14, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
  • Introduction talks. The museum gives a short introduction of about 15 minutes in the entrance lobby at 10:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 14:30 on all open days, with no reservation. The official page does not say which language is used.

How to get there from Nagoya

The official visitor page lists these routes:

  • City bus. From the Nagoya Station Bus Terminal, stop 10, take the Kikan 2 line toward Inokoshi Depot, and get off at Tokugawaen-shindeki. It takes about 30 minutes, followed by a 3-minute walk.
  • Meitetsu bus. From the Meitetsu Bus Center, 3rd floor, stop 4, take a bus toward Sangenya, and get off at Tokugawaen-shindeki. About 30 minutes, then a 3-minute walk.
  • Me~guru sightseeing bus. From the Nagoya Station Bus Terminal, stop 11. The page says it runs once every 30 to 60 minutes on weekdays and every 20 to 30 minutes on weekends and holidays, and takes about 30 minutes. The Visit Nagoya guide says Me~guru runs from Tuesday to Sunday. See our guide to getting around Nagoya.
  • JR. Take the JR Chuo Line toward Tajimi to Ozone Station, about 20 minutes, then a 10-minute walk from the south exit.
  • From Sakae. The city bus from Sakae Bus Terminal (Oasis 21), stop 3, takes about 20 minutes. Or take the Meijo Line to Ozone Station, about 15 minutes, then a 15-minute walk from exit E5.

By car

There is a coin parking lot with 17 spaces, and the Tokugawaen municipal north parking lot, which is underground with 79 spaces and open from 6:00 to 23:00. Fees are listed on the official page, and neither lot offers a partner discount.

Eating and shopping

The official page lists a Japanese restaurant, Hozentei (lunch from 11:00 to 15:00), and The Museum Cafe (10:00 to 17:00, last order 16:30). The cafe and the museum shop can be used only after you enter the museum. The shop takes bank cards, electronic money and QR payments.

The garden next door

Tokugawaen, a Japanese garden, is next to the museum. We could not read the garden’s own official page, so please check its hours and fee before you go.

Tips

  • Avoid Mondays. The museum is closed, and so are the Toyota museums. Nagoya Castle is closed only from December 29 to January 1, so it is an option on a Monday.
  • The Tale of Genji display is on view for only about two weeks, so plan your date if it matters to you.
  • Combine it with Nagoya Castle. The museum reproduces rooms from the Ninomaru Palace. See our Nagoya Castle guide.
  • Allow 60 to 90 minutes. The official site gives that as the average.
Viator · Affiliate linkNagoya: Exploring the Beauty of Tokugawa-en GardenA guided walk through Tokugawa-en, the garden next to the museum, according to the listing. It lists the garden admission and a local guide. Museum admission is not listed, so buy that ticket separately.Check on Viator

Map

Open these places in Google Maps:

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Tokugawa Art Museum? The visitor page lists 2,000 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for high school and university students. The homepage lists 1,600 yen and 1,000 yen for the Masterpiece Collection display. Check the online ticket page.

What time does it close? It closes at 17:00, and the last admission is 16:30.

Which day is it closed? Mondays, and from December 14, 2026 to January 4, 2027.

How long does a visit take? About 60 to 90 minutes on average.

When can I see the Tale of Genji scroll? The National Treasure is on special display from November 14 to 29, 2026.

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