As anyone who has every dined, partied, or simply wandered around the city will attest, Tokyo marches to its own infectious beat. So it makes sense that the Japanese capital’s many museums are a far cry from the stodgy mausoleums of yesteryear. In lieu of squat buildings full of dusty dioramas, picture cutting-edge modernist structures by some of the country’s top architects. Many of the premier art spaces forego a permanent collection entirely in favor of a constantly rotating roster of high-profile shows by big-name local and international talent. Even the smaller collections strive to present their subject matter in clever, often wildly creative, ways.

Museums