2026.11.03 — 2027.01.24 · Coming soon
Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections — Tokyo
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, holds art handed down by the Imperial Family. For its grand opening after expansion, its first special exhibition, Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections, runs from 3 November 2026 to 24 January 2027 with National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including Shōsōin Treasures kept by the Imperial Family for centuries and the Hōryūji Treasures associated with Prince Shōtoku. The works change completely in three rotations: the first (3–23 November) brings Emperor Shōmu’s mother-of-pearl lute and octagonal mirror, shown inside the Imperial Palace for the first time, and Kano Tan’yū’s Tale of Genji screens; the second (26 November–20 December) the National Treasure gigaku mask Chidō and a dragon-headed ewer; the third (23 December–24 January) the National Treasure Mongol Invasion Scrolls and the Chinese Lions screens by Kano Eitoku and Kano Tsunenobu. Exhibitions of Jakuchū’s Colorful Realm and Japanese calligraphy follow.
The first rotation shows Emperor Shōmu’s four-string lute, inlaid with turban-shell mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell and amber in floral scrolls, a Shōsōin treasure shown inside the palace for the first time.
Art exhibitionsThe second rotation brings the seventh-century National Treasure gigaku mask Chidō, with long earlobes and a towering nose, a face left by a long-lost masked theatre.
Art exhibitionsThe third rotation shows the National Treasure Chinese Lions screens: the right by Kano Eitoku in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the left by Kano Tsunenobu in the Edo period.
Art exhibitionsChecked · 2026-10-15
Swipe to explore · Tap to enlarge
2023 · 江戸村のとくぞう · Photo source · CC0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
Every work changes between the three rotations, so pick the right one.
Book a date and time slot in advance; there are no tickets at the door.
Closed on Mondays and over the New Year.
No gallery plan has been published for this exhibition.
Open official guide ↗Tuesday 3 November 2026 to Sunday 24 January 2027 (Japan time), in three rotations with entirely different works: 3–23 November, 26 November–20 December and 23 December–24 January. 9:30am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm), until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays (last entry 7:30pm). Closed Mondays (open 23 November and 11 January) and on 24–25 November, 22 December, 28 December–3 January and 12 January.
Asia/TokyoThe Sannomaru Shozokan is inside the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, 1-8 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, about 100 m from the Ōte-mon gate; about 5 minutes on foot from exit C13a of Ōtemachi station and 15 minutes from the Marunouchi North Exit of Tokyo station.
Entry is by date and half-hour time slot booked in advance; there are no tickets at the venue, and you may enter only in your slot. Each ticket admits once and cannot be refunded or reissued; ART PASS bookings can be changed twice but not cancelled. Under-23s and junior high to university students are free but must book and show ID; visitors with a disability certificate plus one companion, and children of primary school age and under, are free without booking (children with a guardian). The museum is inside the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, with security checks at the entrance.
JPY 2,500
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Kano Eitoku · Public domain Image source
Museum of the Imperial Collections, the Yomiuri Shimbun and NHK
Kano Eitoku’s Chinese Lions (16th century, public domain), shown in the third rotation.
Information checked on 2026-10-15
Suggest a correction ↗
Seven centuries of Daitokuji treasures in Tokyo: 14 National Treasures, 69 Important Cultural Properties and the famous Kizaemon tea bowl.
Japan · Tokyo
Made in Abyss holds its first reproduction original-art show, printed right out past the trim lines of the manuscripts.
Japan · Tokyo
More than 80 Turners from Tate come to Ueno, hung beside works by Rothko and Olafur Eliasson.
Japan · Tokyo
Share your experience