What hotels are near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum?

Hotels near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum: (1.98 mi) Matsumoto Marunouchi Hotel (1.84 mi) Richmond Hotel Matsumoto (0.56 mi) Hotel Route-Inn Court Matsumoto Inter (1.91 mi) Dormy Inn Matsumoto (2.13 mi) Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu View all hotels near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum on Tripadvisor

What restaurants are near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum?

Restaurants near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum: (2.03 mi) Itoya (1.68 mi) Sushiten (1.99 mi) Kobayashi Soba (0.57 mi) Kurekino (2.10 mi) Pizza Verde Matsumoto View all restaurants near Japan Ukiyo-e Museum on Tripadvisor

Japan Ukiyo-e Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

#111 of 238 things to do in Matsumoto

Art Museums

Tuesday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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What people are saying

By Martina1888

“Ukiyo-e Museum”

Oct 2023

The nearest train station is Ōniwa from which you have to walk for about 15min. Alternatively you can walk there from Matsumoto station which takes about 45min. I was really looking forward to visit this art museum but was actually a bit disappointed because it is very small. There's basically only one room with a changing exhibition. Before you visit, check out the current theme to see if that's something for you. At the entrance you can watch an informative movie about the process of woodblock printing (also available in English) and there's a "stamp station" where you can print your own painting. The staff is lovely and there's an excellent museum shop.

“Lots of original work - fantastic museum.”

Sep 2023

We really visited the Hokusai Museum in Obuse and were eager to check out some more work by ukiyo-e artists. This museum is beautifully designed to allow full focus on the large range of prints. There was a short film to help with understanding the process and a nice gift shop. The staff were very helpful and made for a great visit.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

3.0

54 reviews

Excellent

11

Very good

15

Average

10

Poor

10

Terrible

8

Vivian S

Canberra, Australia24 contributions

Lots of original work - fantastic museum.

Sep 2023 • Couples

We really visited the Hokusai Museum in Obuse and were eager to check out some more work by ukiyo-e artists. This museum is beautifully designed to allow full focus on the large range of prints. There was a short film to help with understanding the process and a nice gift shop. The staff were very helpful and made for a great visit.

Written September 9, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard G

Grosse Ile, MI4 contributions

"one of the best museums in Japan" - NOT

Mar 2012 • Couples

Besides the castle, this museum was a main reason for our visit to Matsumoto. It is a tired, poorly maintained, sad little place. Guidebooks state they have over 100,000 prints, but we saw only 50-60 - some displayed in the corridor to the toilets (eww!). The ticket price of 1200 yen (yes, 1200!) is ridicuolus, and borders on highway robbery. When we arrived we had to search out someone to take our money, turn on the lights and turn the heat on. The owner insisted on showing us a slide show that he must of spent 2 hours on 15 years ago. Can't remember the last time I saw a carousel slide projector used (its called Powerpoint - they should try it sometime). It is obvious the current proprietor has no passion for this artform. I suggest he consider selling the collection so it can be properly displayed for all to enjoy. Sorry to be so negative, but this place was terrible, one of the worst museums we have ever seen, and to charge that kind of money added insult to injury. Do yourself a favor, and visit one of the many Ukiyo-e galleries in the Kanda area of Tokyo...you will see more prints, displayed appropriately, with knowledgeable staff, and you won't have to spend a single yen.

Written March 31, 2012

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Electra88

London113 contributions

Closed without notice

Sep 2014 • Couples

This review isn't based on the attraction per se, but if you're planning to go and read this first, please check it's open!
We checked the website for opening times (closed Mondays) and asked tourist information at Matsumoto station how to get there (taxi) as it's out of town. So we set off on a Tuesday by taxi and it's closed!! Ended up paying for a return taxi ride (¥1500 each way) for nothing. The museum looks shabby from outside, but obviously can't comment on the woodblocks displayed inside.
No sign on door saying "closed". No respect shown to potential visitors.

Written September 30, 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ronin_nl1

2 contributions

Very disappointing

Apr 2013

We are great fans of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and very much wanted to visit this museum because it has the biggest collection, over 100.000 prints, in the world of which are many major works.
The location is not easy to reach but we could use the bikes from our hotel and the weather was lovely, so getting there was quite a joy since it is easy to find as well. Also the building is not very appealing, but that should not have mattered much because it was the collection we came for.
But the exhibit was very very disappointing. The theme the collection focused on was 'western music and how it influenced the Japanese'. Well, not a subject Ukiyo-e is famous about.. Only works from artists that are not very rare were displayed and the quality of the works was on average very poor. Some works from Kunisada or Chikonobu were the highlights; every starting collector can buy these starting at 100 bucks... Only one Utamaro was displayed, of poor quality...
Really disapponting (especially for an entrance fee of 1200 yen pp), the more as they also displayed reproductions from their masterworks in the hall and soevenirshop etc. which showed that they do have a very very nice collection... They just don't display it, at least not in this exhibition.
I would really advise people to inform first about the current exhibition before visiting.

Written April 28, 2013

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mewzzz

Tokyo5 contributions

Very very disappointing

Mar 2014 • Family

I would say: don't bother with this "museum." It has none of the professional qualities you associate with museums and there is no staff to speak of to help you. In fact if I didn't ask a question about a strange staircase in the middle of the place I would have missed the only worthwhile thing about the place: a short film on the methods of creating woodblock prints. The one person working at the desk then took us upstairs, started the dvd, and left. The woods blocks are poorly displayed, not explained and commingled with reproductions. There are better places to see woodblocks.

A shame, really.

Written March 2, 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sally962014

Wellington, New Zealand24 contributions

Very Disappointing

Sep 2017

Our only bad experience in Japan. All the information says "the central feature of the museum is its extensive collection of the pictures and prints of Hokusai". The brochure also refers to excellent collections of Utamaro, Kuniyoshi, Honen and Kiyochika. What it doesn't say that you are unlikely to see any of these as they are not on display. It is overpriced and misleading and the only indifferent service we have received in Japan. This experience has marred our visit to Matsumoto.

Written September 2, 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

geoffrey_matt

Hobart, Australia158 contributions

Great art but not the best gallery space.

Jun 2012 • Couples

We were undecided as to whether to visit this place or not, having seen the various reviews on this site. In the end we went because I really like this style of art, and it seemed a good place to see some of the more significant artists' work.
The museum clearly wasn't intended as a public gallery space, it's a storage facility first and foremost. This explains why it's not right in the middle of town, but instead is a bit in the middle of nowhere. We took a taxi from Matsumoto station, which cost 1500yen. A bit more money than the usual advice to get the train to Oniwa and then walk, but it made things a lot easier. The taxi driver was happy to wait as well and take us back afterwards.
The disappointing thing is that as you approach the place it's a huge, modern building and you're thinking this looks like an awesome gallery. But when you get inside it becomes clear that only about 5% of that space is the gallery, the rest is storage which you won't see. Basically there's one medium sized gallery room, and then various other pictures sort of haphazardly displayed around the the entrance, and in the hallways going to the toilets and a vending machine. This seems especially strange when you learn that some of the most famous pictures here (the great wave for example ) are among those in the corners of these hallways, not in the main gallery room.
This is the only Ukiyo-e gallery I've been to so far, so I'm not sure whether to recommend it or not. It's a pain to get to, and the cost adds up (especially if you get a cab), but that said it does house some significant pictures. I would say, if you're a fan of ukiyo-e and can overlook the rather poor presentation of the pictures then it's worth a visit. Otherwise I think you'd do better seeking out the galleries in the bigger cities...

Written June 19, 2012

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter R

Maroochydore, Australia2,419 contributions

Wonderfull wood block prints, largest private collection in the world

Oct 2011 • Couples

This place is a real gem for Matsumoto and is a must see when in town. The museum has the world's largest private collection of wood prints which depict various ages in Japanese history. The wood prints are absolutely amazing and works of art. You only see a few hundred at any given time but what you see is worth it. You also get to see a small movie upstairs about the collection history which is interesting.
There are hundreds of prints, post cards for sale at the museum and these range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars if you are that way inclined.
Getting there is interesting as you can take a taxi which costs 2000 yen or get the train from the central station to Oniwa station and walk for 15 minutes (cost of train 170 yen)
We initially caught the taxi and went back home on the train which was both safe and fun as you get to see a bit of the town's back yards which you miss in the taxi trip. Also you have to ring up for the taxi to get back and we couldn't be bothered

Written November 15, 2011

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CaitlinBrady

Dakar, Senegal41 contributions

For a fan of wood block prints, this is great but small!

Dec 2017 • Friends

If the museum was 5 times the size, I would have rated it excellent. The exhibit when we visited was small but very good, and the gift store has really good reproductions (doing extensive damage to my wallet...)

Written January 7, 2018

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tyler-KameseiRyokan

Nagano104 contributions

If you're lucky, the curator will explain the display

The curator speaks great broken English and his enthusiastic explanations of the current prints on display make for a great experience.

Written April 20, 2012

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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