Much of Japanese culture can be experienced at areas like Asakusa where you can see the highest concentrations of buildings from the Edo period, between 1603-1867. Or you can attend a kabuki theater. One of the most famous, Kabukiza, is located in the Ginza area, with matinee and evening shows most days. Shows are long, lasting three to five hours and English earphones can be rented for translation. But for really understanding the history and art of the country, you can enjoy many of the museums of Tokyo. Here are some of the best choices.

Okura Shukokan Museum

Japanís first private art museum holds about 2,000 works of art including many ancient Japanese and Oriental works. The most famous is "Samantabhadra on an Elephant." Some early-modern works of note are "Cherry Blossom Viewing at Night" by Yokoyama Taikan. The building is also unique, designed by Chuta Ito.

The Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan)

Many of these crafts that had been used in daily life have true beauty and worth. The Mingeikan collection has over 170,000 of these items made mostly by anonymous craftsmen of Japan. Here you can see pottery, textiles, metal work, lacquer ware, woodwork, bamboo work, stone work, paintings, stone rubbings, sculpture, glass, leather work, straw work and dolls.

Edo Tokyo Museum

This museum is housed in a large warehouse type building that covers about 30,000 square meters. Visited by an average of 1.7 million people a year, exhibitions showcase politics, culture and an insight into the lifestyle of Tokyo from the Edo period right up to today. Broken up into three major sections, the Edo Zone, The Tokyo Zone and the History Zone, visitors can find exhibits that fit their interests. On view are over 2,500 original prints, scrolls, kimonos, and maps.