Overview
Tokyo's largest city by size, Ota City Ward is home to a vibrant community art culture along with an ample number of museums celebrating the city's long cultural heritage. Here is an introduction to some of the museums and galleries of Ota and how to reach them.
Katsu Kaishu Memorial Museum
The Katsu Kaishu Memorial Museum pays tribute to Katsu Kaishu, sea ship captain of the first Japanese delegation to the United States and who helped negotiate a last-minute surrender of the Tokugawa Shogunate that marked Japan's entry into the modern world. A JPY300 admission fee sees memorabilia from the life of this extraordinary man.
A 5-minute walk from Senzolu-ike Station on the Tokyo Ikegami Line.
Mizoe Art Gallery
Set within a beautiful residential home, the contemporary artworks displayed during regular exhibitions at the Mizoe Art Gallery help create an incredible atmosphere of elegance and sophistication. Complete with a tranquil Japanese garden, a tour of this high-end 'home' gallery offers a feeling unique to the art appreciation world.
A 6-minute walk from Den-en-chofu Station on either the Tokyu Meguro or Toyoko lines.
Omori Nori Museum
Nori seaweed is about as representative a food of Japan as you can get and at the Omori Nori Museum, visitors actually get a fascinating look at the history of nori cultivation and manufacture. The free admission only makes the museum's three floors of traditional nori making tools - including the last nori boat used in sourcing the seaweed - an absolute steal.
A 12-minute walk from Heiwajima Station on the Keikyu Main Line.
Ota Folk Museum
Free for visitors, the two stories of the Ota Folk Museum feature history and culture from the area's early settlements, traditional costumes as well as literary works from local writers, nori seaweed cultivation and even a section on Ota's modern Haneda Airport. An English-language brochure is on hand for non-Japanese literate visitors.
A 7-minute walk from Nishi Magome Station on the Toei Asakusa Line.
