Would you like to enjoy sightseeing in Tokyo even more affordably? Throughout the year, many facilities in Tokyo such as museums, art galleries, and zoos offer free admission days, including on Culture Day. In this article, we introduce a monthly calendar of free admission days at Tokyo’s sightseeing spots. We also summarize information on facilities you can enjoy for free in Tokyo and tips for avoiding crowds.
*The information in this article is current as of October 23, 2025.
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Check Free Admission Days! Must-Know Money-Saving Tips for Sightseeing in Tokyo
Many public museums, art galleries, and zoos in Tokyo have “free admission days” on specific dates throughout the year when entrance fees are waived.
Main Types of Free Admission Days:
Free Admission on National Holidays
On national holidays, many national and metropolitan facilities offer free admission. For example, on Culture Day (November 3), national museums and art museums are free, and on Greenery Day (May 4), metropolitan zoos and gardens can be enjoyed free of charge.
Tokyo Citizens’ Day and Anniversaries
On “Tokyo Citizens’ Day” (October 1), many metropolitan facilities are free to enter. This includes zoos, aquariums, and gardens operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Some facilities also offer free admission on their own anniversary dates.
Regular Free Admission Days
Some facilities have regular free admission days. During Silver Week in late September, some facilities offer free admission to visitors aged 65 and over.
About Free Admission Eligibility
Eligibility for free admission varies by facility. In some cases, only the permanent exhibitions are free while special exhibitions require a fee. Some facilities are always free for high school students and younger, and there are discounts for those aged 65 and over or for visitors with a disability certificate. Please check the conditions carefully.
By taking advantage of these free admission days, you can enjoy high-quality cultural experiences in Tokyo while significantly saving on sightseeing costs.
Monthly Calendar | 2026 Free Admission Days for Museums, Art Museums, Zoos, and More in Tokyo
Here is a month-by-month summary of free admission days at major facilities in Tokyo. Please check the official websites of each facility for the latest information before your visit.
| Month | Date | Facility Name | Free Admission Eligibility / Notes | Access |
| January | Every 3rd Wednesday | Edo-Tokyo Museum | Permanent exhibition admission is free for visitors aged 65 and over | 3 minutes on foot from Ryogoku Station |
| Same as above | Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum | Permanent exhibition admission is free for visitors aged 65 and over | 6 minutes by bus from Higashi-Koganei Station North Exit | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Photographic Art Museum | Permanent exhibition admission is free for visitors aged 65 and over | 7 minutes on foot from Ebisu Station | |
| Same as above | Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo | Permanent exhibition admission is free for visitors aged 65 and over | 9 minutes on foot from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station | |
| Usually a set period including the 2nd Monday of January (Coming of Age Day) | Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo | Free admission for new adults (those celebrating Coming of Age Day) | 7 minutes on foot from Kami-Igusa Station | |
| Every 2nd Sunday of the month | The National Museum of Western Art | Permanent exhibitions are free | 1 minute on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Every 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month | Adachi City Museum of Local History | Free admission | 1 minute on foot from Tobu Bus “Adachi Kyodo Hakubutsukan” bus stop | |
| March | March 20 | Ueno Zoo | Free admission on the anniversary of the zoo’s opening | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station |
| March 1, 2026 to April 5, 2026 (Welcome Youth 2026) | Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum | Free admission to the special exhibition “100 Years of Showa and the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum” for visitors aged 18 and under | 6 minutes by bus from Higashi-Koganei Station North Exit | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum | Free admission to the special exhibition “100th Anniversary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum: Swedish Paintings – The Light and Brilliance of Nordic Everyday Life” for visitors aged 18 and under | 7 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum | Free admission for visitors aged 18 and under | 7 minutes on foot from Meguro Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Photographic Art Museum | Free admission to “Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2026 Commission Project” for visitors aged 18 and under | 7 minutes on foot from Ebisu Station | |
| Same as above | Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo | Free admission to “Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2024-2026 Commemorative Exhibition ‘Wetlands’” for visitors aged 18 and under | 9 minutes on foot from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station | |
| April | Fridays and Saturdays during "Science and Technology Week" In 2025: 4/18 (Fri) and 4/19 (Sat) | Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation | Permanent exhibitions free of charge | 4 minutes on foot from Telecom Center Station |
| April 29 (Showa Day) | Showa-kan | Admission free | 10 minutes on foot from Iidabashi Station | |
| Same as above | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Admission free | 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station | |
| May | May 4 (Greenery Day) May 17 (Anniversary of the Park’s Opening) | Inokashira Park Zoo | Admission free | 10 minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station |
| May 4 (Greenery Day) | Ueno Zoo | Admission free | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Sea Life Park | Admission free | 5 minutes on foot from Kasai-Rinkai-Koen Station | |
| Same as above | Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens | Admission free | 3 minutes on foot from Yushima Station | |
| Same as above | Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens | Admission free | 1 minute on foot from Hamamatsucho Station | |
| Same as above | Kyu-Furukawa Gardens | Admission free | 7 minutes on foot from Kaminakazato Station | |
| Same as above | Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens | Admission free | 5 minutes on foot from Suidobashi Station | |
| Same as above | Koishikawa Botanical Garden | Admission free | 15 minutes on foot from Korakuen Station | |
| Same as above | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Admission free | 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station | |
May 4 (Greenery Day) May 5 (Anniversary of the Park’s Opening) | Tama Zoological Park | Admission free | 1 minute on foot from Tama-Dobutsukoen Station | |
| Same as above | Hama-rikyu Gardens | Admission free | 7 minutes on foot from Tsukiji Shijo Station | |
| Same as above | Rikugien Gardens | Admission free | 7 minutes on foot from Komagome Station | |
| May 5 (Children’s Day) | Printing Museum, Tokyo | Admission free | 8 minutes on foot from Edogawabashi Station | |
Between April and June (Spring Urban Greening Campaign) In 2025: May 11 | Showa Kinen Park (National Government Showa Memorial Park) | Admission free | 18 minutes on foot from Tachikawa Station | |
| May 18 (International Museum Day) | The National Museum of Western Art | Permanent exhibitions free of charge | 1 minute on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo | Admission free | 3 minutes on foot from Takebashi Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo National Museum | Tokyo National Museum Collection Exhibition (Regular Exhibition) free of charge | 10 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | National Museum of Nature and Science | Admission free | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| June | The Saturdays and Sundays before and after June 5 (Environment Day) In 2025: June 7 (Sat) and June 8 (Sun) | Shinjuku Gyoen | Free admission | 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station |
| July | July 9 (Anniversary of Opening) | Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation | Permanent exhibitions free of charge | 4 minutes on foot from Telecom Center Station |
| July 12 (Anniversary of Opening) | Subway Museum | Free admission for junior high school students and younger | 3 minutes on foot from Kasai Station | |
(Tachikawa Festival Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival) In 2025: July 26 | Showa Kinen Park | Free admission | 18 minutes on foot from Tachikawa Station | |
| August | August 15 (Day to Mourn War Dead and Pray for Peace) | Showakan | Free admission | 10 minutes on foot from Iidabashi Station |
| September | September 15 to September 21 (Senior Citizens’ Week) | Inokashira Park Zoo | Free admission for those aged 60 and over and one accompanying person | 10 minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station |
| Same as above | Ueno Zoo | Free admission for those aged 60 and over and one accompanying person | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Sea Life Park | Free admission for those aged 60 and over and one accompanying person | 5 minutes on foot from Kasai Station | |
| Same as above | Rikugien Gardens | Free admission for those aged 60 and over and one accompanying person | 7 minutes on foot from Komagome Station | |
| Third Monday of September (Respect for the Aged Day) | Tokyo National Museum | Free admission to the Tokyo National Museum Collection (Permanent Exhibition) | 10 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| October | October 1 (Tokyo Citizens’ Day) | Inokashira Park Zoo | Free admission | 10 minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station |
| Same as above | Ueno Zoo | Free admission | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum | Free admission | 6 minutes by bus from Higashi-Koganei Station North Exit | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Sea Life Park | Free admission | 5 minutes on foot from Kasai Station | |
| Same as above | Kyu-Furukawa Gardens | Free admission | 7 minutes on foot from Kaminakazato Station | |
| Same as above | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum | Selected exhibitions free of charge | 7 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
Sundays in mid and late October (Urban Greening Month) In 2025: October 5 and October 19 | Showa Kinen Park | Free admission | 18 minutes on foot from Tachikawa Station | |
| November | Days of the Rooster in November In 2025: November 12 (Tue), November 24 (Mon, public holiday) | Asakusa Hanayashiki | Free admission for those who bring a “Kumade” purchased at the Tori-no-Ichi festival | 3 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station |
| November 3 (Culture Day) | Printing Museum | Free admission | 8 minutes on foot from Edogawabashi Station | |
| Same as above | National Film Archive of Japan | Free admission | 1 minute on foot from Kyobashi Station | |
| Same as above | National Museum of Nature and Science | Free admission | 5 minutes on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | The National Museum of Western Art | Permanent exhibitions free of charge | 1 minute on foot from Ueno Station | |
| Same as above | The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo | Free admission | 3 minutes on foot from Takebashi Station | |
| Same as above | Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation | Permanent exhibitions free of charge | 4 minutes on foot from Telecom Center Station |
Notes:
- Most special and temporary exhibitions require a fee
- You may be required to show proof of address on Tokyo Citizens’ Day
- Some facilities require advance reservations even on free admission days
- Facilities may be closed for maintenance or renovation
- Please check the official website of each facility for the latest information
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Many Spots in Tokyo You Can Enjoy Sightseeing For Free. Tips For Making the Most of Free Admission Days
Strategies to Avoid Crowds
On free admission days, the number of visitors is expected to be two to three times higher than usual. In particular, Culture Day and Tokyo Citizens’ Day are extremely crowded. On Tokyo Citizens’ Day, public schools in Tokyo are closed, so more families and children visit, which leads to even more congestion. If you arrive 30 minutes before opening and enter as soon as the doors open, you can enjoy the exhibits while it is still relatively empty. In the afternoon, waiting times to enter can exceed one hour.
Tips for Online Reservations and Preparation
Advance Reservations Are Required
Many facilities require reservations even on free admission days. Reservations for popular facilities start to fill up about two weeks in advance, so be sure to book early.
Plan an Efficient Route to Visit Multiple Facilities
In the Ueno Park area, there are several major institutions including the Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, The National Museum of Western Art, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. If you plan your route in advance for Culture Day, you can enjoy several free facilities in one day. When estimating your time at each facility, allow for about 1.5 times longer than usual due to crowds.
Check Official Apps and Websites
Some facilities allow you to check real-time crowd levels using their official apps. You can adjust the order of your visits based on the congestion on the day.
Money-Saving Tips for Days Other Than Free Admission Days
Take Advantage of the Grutto Pass
If you want to visit many museums and art galleries in Tokyo, the “Grutto Pass” is highly recommended. This convenient sightseeing pass can be used at about 100 cultural facilities mainly in Tokyo. It includes admission tickets and discount coupons for participating facilities and is valid for two months from the date of purchase.
Take Advantage of Discount Programs
There are various discount programs available, such as student discounts, senior discounts, discounts for disability certificate holders, and group discounts. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can also be used by international students and tourists from overseas.
Evening Discounts
Some museums offer discounted admission on Friday evenings when they are open late. This is convenient for making use of your time after work or before dinner.
Other Free Tourist Spots in Tokyo
In addition to free admission days, there are many tourist spots in Tokyo that you can enjoy for free at any time.
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