Six National Museums to Raise Collection Exhibition and Screening Fees, Up to 2–3 Times Current Prices
Six national museums in Japan will raise fees for collection exhibitions and screenings to 2–3 times current prices starting October 2026.Summary
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the National Crafts Museum, the National Film Archive of Japan, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Museum of Art, Osaka—six institutions under the Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art—have announced revisions to their fees for collection exhibitions and screenings. The changes will be implemented sequentially from exhibitions starting in or after October 2026, with prices rising to two to three times the current rates. For example, at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the general admission for collection exhibitions will go from 500 yen to 1,000 yen, and university students from 250 yen to 500 yen; at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, it will rise from 430 yen to 1,000 yen for general admission and from 130 yen to 500 yen for university students. At the National Film Archive of Japan, screenings will increase from 520 yen to 1,000 yen for general admission, and from 310 yen to 500 yen for university and high school students and those aged 65 and over, while elementary and junior high school students will remain at 100 yen. The revised fees will take effect at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto on October 24, 2026; at the National Museum of Art, Osaka on December 1, 2026; at the National Film Archive of Japan on January 5, 2027; at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo on February 9, 2027; at the National Museum of Western Art on March 20, 2027; and at the National Crafts Museum on June 22, 2027. The museums cite rising costs for transportation, security, and installation due to inflation and higher energy prices as reasons for the fee revision, while also stating their commitment to enhancing the viewing environment—such as improving exhibitions, digital support, and accessibility—to provide broader opportunities to appreciate the national collection. They also plan to enhance visitor services, including thematic appreciation events, educational programs for children and students, improved lighting and display cases, digital device usage for artwork explanations, multilingual guidance and pictograms for accessibility, and better cafes and museum shops. Free admission will continue for high school students and younger, those under 18, those aged 65 and over, and persons with disability certificates plus one accompanying caregiver. The benefits of the National Museum Campus Members program for university students and various museum membership and annual passport programs will also remain available. Group rates will be set by each museum, and admission fees for special exhibitions will continue to be set per exhibition in consultation with co-organizers.
(Source：Tokyo Art Beat)