This art museum houses the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Collection, featuring graphic art and artefacts from the late nineteenth century. The Maurice Joyant Collection—a display of around 250 pieces of graphic art once owned by the famous French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec—is also part of the museum. The centre also hosts various special exhibitions throughout the year.
One of the more fascinating aspects of this museum is the building itself. It is a faithful reconstruction of the original 1894 Mitsubishi Head Office, which once stood on the same site but was demolished in 1968. The new building opened in 2010 and was built using many of the original architectural plans, both inside and out. It is remarkably difficult to spot differences—even in the materials used—between the old building and the new.
The museum’s Café 1894 is located in a hall that was originally occupied by the banking department. No detail was overlooked in its reconstruction; using old photos of the original room, even the teller windows were faithfully recreated—now serving as decorative room dividers.
The museum, like much of the land in Marunouchi, is owned by the Mitsubishi Group. It is located south of Tokyo Station and north of Yurakucho Station, just behind the Tokyo International Forum complex. Admission charges vary depending on the current exhibition, and the museum is usually closed on Mondays. See their website below for full details.
Official Website:
http://www.mimt.jp/english/
