Ueno Park is home to a number of world-class museums, renowned for their collections of fine art and marvels of natural history. However, no trip to a museum is complete without a visit to the gift shop. In this installment, we take a closer look at the irresistible wares offered at three museums, guided by stationery sommelier Misato Kan. Whether you’re a seasoned art connoisseur or a stationery cognoscente, read on to discover all the supplies that will surely grace your desk following your next sojourn in Ueno.
Museum gift shop fare tends to gravitate around predictable
postcards and the like. However, Ueno’s museums are a class apart, a true
treasure trove of innovative pieces of stationery that are themselves works of
art.
With so much to see, my excursion focused on
three museums: the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Tokyo Natural History
Museum, and the Ueno Royal Museum.
The first stop was the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s gift shop. As I succumbed to temptation right off the bat, here is my initial haul:
Stickers modeled after postage stamps, packaged in a small matchbox (￥495 for each box set).
In addition to Picasso, Vermeer, and Steinlen
(pictured above), the museum also offers sets featuring Alfons Mucha and other
major artists. I had to restrain myself from purchasing the entire series.
Vincent van Gogh bookmarks (￥1,320).
Tear on the perforated line, and voila, a van Gogh for any occasion.
Five post-impressionists make quite an
impression.
Magritte bookmarks (￥242 each).
The cover of this notebook (￥495) brings van Gogh’s sunflowers to life in 3D. The vase and flowers seem to jump out from the page.
At first glance, this next item looks like an ordinary Klimt postcard.
But you can tear on the perforated lines…
…and fold to make a flower petal form.
When you attach the petals to the accompanying metal ring…
…you’ve made a pair of earrings!
From the brand Otten, these origami paper
accessories (￥1,320) are wearable works of art.
Next, I headed to the Tokyo National Museum gift
shop, appropriately named, “The Museum Shop.”
First, my eyes were drawn to this samurai sword series. From left, the lineup includes a ticket holder (￥275), small stationery books (￥440), and a roll of masking tape (￥407).
The “Tachi sword. Known as‘Shishio’”
product set depicts an Important Cultural Property held in the Tokyo National
Museum. Although a neophyte when it comes to swords, I was drawn to the
design’s timeless elegance.
The stationery was designed to fit inside the ticket holder, making this a convenient set.
I’m going to save this masking tape for wrapping a large box, in order to fully appreciate the entire design.
Apart from the samurai sword motif, the Tokyo National Museum has a wide selection of stationery. In particular, this file folder caught my eye. At first, I thought it was an ordinary folder. But upon closer inspection…
…I realized that each of the folder’s three pockets was individually printed, the sum of these parts creating a 3D effect (￥330).
This single-pocket folder (￥275) was printed on both front and back. Even when you slip a ticket or piece of paper inside, you can still enjoy the print design from either side.
A tri-fold file folder (￥220). The top folds over to keep the contents securely in place.
As if the three folder types weren’t enough, the
series is also available in a wide variety of design variations. I could spend
all day debating my ideal combination of patterns and file types.
Perhaps saving the best for last, I visited the Ueno Royal Museum, where I found an original edition of the Tsubame Notebook (￥550), coveted throughout Japan.
An original design with a gold leaf cover.
The glimmering gold leaf is quite luxurious.
Speaking of gold, a museum gift shop is a true goldmine of stationery with an artistic flair. If you’re hunting for that unique piece to round out your collection, look no further than Ueno’s long roster of museum shops. Diehard stationery aficionados can even make a beeline straight for the gift shop at many (though not all) of the museums, bypassing the admissions counter. Of course, speaking from experience, while you’re there, you really ought to visit the museum galleries, and experience the inspiration for each type of stationery firsthand.
Text/Photos: Misato Kan *All prices listed include tax.
Misato Kan Stationery sommelier. After launching her career as a stationery insider, working behind the scenes in sales/procurement for a major department store, Kan has since established herself as a stationery consultant. Equipped with a specialist’s eye and acclaimed curatorial flair, her talents have been in demand as a buyer, product planner, sales strategist, consultant, television personality, and author. Her recent books include Watashi no Sukina Bunbogu no Himitsu (“A Few of My Favorite Things: The Secret World of Stationery”), Shigoto wo Koritsuka Suru: Bijinesu Bungu (“Efficient Business: Stationery that Works for You“), Mainichi ga Tanoshikunaru: Kirameki Bunbogu (“The Joy of Stationery: Items to Brighten Each Day”), and Bungu ni Koishite (“Stationery: A Love Story”). Kan is also a frequent columnist, whose articles can be found in many major newspapers and magazines. https://misatokan.jp
List of museum shops
◼︎Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Shop Address: 8-36 Ueno-Park Taito-ku, Tokyo Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on Fridays during Special Exhibitions) *Shop hours follow museum hours Closed: Every 1st and 3rd Monday *Closed when the Museum is closed. https://www.tobikan.jp/guide/museumshop.html
◼︎Tokyo National Museum Shop Address: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. on Saturdays) *Shop hours follow museum hours Closed: Monday *Closed when the Museum is closed. https://www.tnm-shop.jp
◼︎The Ueno Royal Museum Shop Address: 1-2 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo Hours: 10:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m (varies by season) Closed: Irregular closures may apply *Museum admission fee required. www.ueno-mori.org/shopcafe/
