Japan Closures 2027 by Date, and What to See Instead
For most trips, the closures change one stop rather than a whole city. The castle grounds in Hiroshima and Nagoya stay open, and both cities have other sights to fill the time. The two museum closures are harder to work around, because each museum is the main reason many people visit that part of town.
Japan closures 2027 at a glance
Every date below comes from the official notices. The table runs in date order, from the oldest closure to the newest. Where a museum or city gives an end date only as a plan, we mark it (planned).
| Dates | Place | City | What you can still see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2022 to Mar 2034 | Kofuku-ji five-storied pagoda | Nara | National Treasure Hall, Central Golden Hall |
| From end Oct 2023 | National Theatre of Japan | Tokyo | Reopening in fiscal 2033 is only a target |
| Mar 2026 to Nov 2027 (planned) | Maruoka Castle keep | Sakai, Fukui | Keep open during work, with limits |
| From 22 Mar 2026 | Hiroshima Castle keep | Hiroshima | Keep exterior |
| 7 May 2026 to fiscal 2028 (planned) | Tokyo Bunka Kaikan | Tokyo (Ueno) | Hall events at other Tokyo venues |
| Early Jul 2026 to late Jul 2027 | Himeji Castle, around the main keep | Himeji | Castle open, with scaffolding |
| 24 Nov 2026 to Mar 2027 (planned) | Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Corner C | Nagasaki | Rest of the museum |
| 6 May 2027 to Mar 2028 (planned) | 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art | Kanazawa | Kanazawa Machinaka Art Festival |
| 24 Sep 2027 to late Apr 2028 (planned) | Mori Art Museum | Tokyo (Roppongi) | Edo-Tokyo Museum, reopened 2026 |
| No date given | Nagoya Castle main keep | Nagoya | Reconstructed Honmaru Palace |
The places fall into three groups. Some are closed or about to close, such as the Mori Art Museum and the National Theatre. Some stay open while builders work next to the main sight, such as Himeji Castle and Maruoka Castle. A third group has just reopened or will open soon, such as the Edo-Tokyo Museum. The castle keeps of Hiroshima and Nagoya sit in the first group, but their grounds stay open.
Use the table to match your travel dates. If your trip starts on or after 6 May 2027, the Kanazawa museum is off the list. From 24 September 2027, the Mori Art Museum is off the list too. The Kofuku-ji pagoda in Nara stays hidden for every 2027 trip.
Museums and theatres closing: Kanazawa and Tokyo
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa closure notice says the museum plans to close for major repair work. The closure runs from 6 May 2027 until March 2028. March 2028 is the planned end, so the reopening month may move. If this museum is the reason for your trip, go before 6 May 2027.
The photo above shows the museum’s round glass building in central Kanazawa. While it is shut, Kanazawa City will hold the Kanazawa Machinaka Art Festival. The festival will use nearby cultural facilities and shopping streets in the city centre. The city says it will announce the programme and related events once they are decided.
Kanazawa itself stays easy to reach. The Tokyo to Kanazawa route runs on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. If you fly in, the Komatsu Airport to Kanazawa bus links the nearest airport with the city. Our Kanazawa month-by-month guide shows the weather in each season.
In Tokyo, the Mori Art Museum temporary closure notice gives a firm start date. The museum in Roppongi Hills closes from Friday 24 September 2027 for repairs to the building and its equipment. It plans to reopen in late April 2028. Plan any visit for before 24 September 2027.
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, the concert hall in Ueno Park, closed on 7 May 2026 for large-scale renovation. The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan renovation closure notice says it stays shut until some time in fiscal 2028. Japan’s fiscal 2028 runs from April 2028 to March 2029. From June 2026, the hall has run its own events at other venues around Tokyo.
The National Theatre of Japan has been shut longer. It closed at the end of October 2023 for rebuilding, together with the National Engei Hall. The Japan Arts Council page on National Theatre redevelopment quotes a government economic package from 21 November 2025. That package aims to reopen the theatre in fiscal 2033. It is a target, and no reopening date has been fixed. For other Tokyo ideas by season, see our Tokyo month-by-month guide.
The timeline below lines up the key dates from November 2026 to April 2028, including both museum closures.
It starts with the full opening of the Sannomaru Shozokan on 3 November 2026. The Nagasaki museum’s Corner C closes on 24 November 2026. Kanazawa follows on 6 May 2027 and Mori on 24 September 2027. The last step is Mori’s planned reopening in late April 2028.
Castle keeps closed: Hiroshima and Nagoya
Two well-known concrete castle keeps are closed inside. In both cities the castle grounds stay open, so you can still walk up to the keep and take photos.
The photo shows the keep of Hiroshima Castle from outside. The City of Hiroshima page on the castle keep closure says the keep closed on 22 March 2026 after about 68 years. The reasons were deteriorating concrete and ageing equipment. The city has no plan to demolish it for now, and you can still view the exterior.
The keep’s museum role moves to the new Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum. Its first floor, with a guidance exhibition and a hands-on area, is due to open on 1 June 2027. The second floor, with permanent and special exhibition rooms, is due on 1 October 2027.
Reach Hiroshima on the Osaka to Hiroshima Shinkansen route. In the city, the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass covers all Hiroshima Electric Railway streetcar lines, including the Miyajima Line. Our Hiroshima month-by-month guide covers the weather through the year.
In Nagoya, the Nagoya Castle official main keep page marks the keep 閉館中 (heikan-chu), which means closed. The castle says it shut the keep because of its low seismic resistance. It gives no reopening date. The current keep dates from 1959, when it was rebuilt in steel-framed reinforced concrete.
The rest of Nagoya Castle stays open, including the reconstructed Honmaru Palace. The castle calls the original palace the finest of the early modern castle palaces. Step Nagoya, a hall on the grounds, holds a full-size model of one storey of the keep’s staircase. You can climb it and watch a VR film of the planned wooden keep.
For how to get to Nagoya Castle, start with our Tokyo to Nagoya route on the Nozomi Shinkansen. The Nagoya month-by-month guide helps you pick a season.
The illustration below sums up what each closed site still offers.
At Hiroshima you can see the keep from outside. At Nagoya you can tour the Honmaru Palace. At Kofuku-ji in Nara, covered in the next section, the National Treasure Hall and the Central Golden Hall stay open while the pagoda is hidden.
Open but under repair: Himeji Castle, Maruoka and Kofuku-ji
Himeji Castle stays open, but repair work sits right next to the main keep. The Himeji Castle official preservation repair page gives the period as early July 2026 to around late July 2027. The work covers the Ni-no-Yagura turret, the Mizu-no-Ichimon and Mizu-no-Nimon gates and nearby earthen walls.
The photo shows the white main keep from the castle grounds. During the work, scaffolding stands around these structures. The castle says the view of the main keep and the night illumination are affected. Parts of the visiting route are narrower, and works vehicles sometimes drive in. The castle opens 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00, and closes on 29 and 30 December.
From Osaka, the Osaka to Himeji route takes the JR Special Rapid. From the airport, the Kansai Airport to Himeji bus takes 2 hr 20 min and costs 3,700 yen.
Maruoka Castle in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, is under major repair too. The Sakai City Maruoka Castle keep repair notice lists the work period as March 2026 to November 2027 (planned). The work includes seismic reinforcement, roof repair and wall repair. The keep stays open inside, but the city may limit the open area or entry for progress or safety.
Entry changes month by month. The keep is open with parts closed from 1 October to 8 November 2026. The Sakai City Maruoka Castle repair schedule closes the third floor from 26 to 30 October 2026. Nobody can enter the keep from 9 to 30 November 2026 (planned). Scaffolding and sheeting also cover the keep for some periods, so check the latest schedule page before you go.
In Nara, the five-storied pagoda of Kofuku-ji is out of sight. The Nara Prefecture Kofuku-ji five-storied pagoda repair page sets the repair from June 2022 to March 2034. The pagoda now sits inside a protective building, and you cannot see it until the work ends. It is the first big roof repair since 1900.
The screenshot above comes from the Nara Prefecture Kofuku-ji pagoda repair status page. It is the prefecture’s progress report in Japanese, with photos of the spire coming down. It also notes that the finished cover now hides the pagoda. The Kofuku-ji Temple pagoda repair notice says the National Treasure Hall and the Central Golden Hall stay open as usual.
Reach Nara on the Osaka to Nara train or the Kyoto to Nara train. The Nara month-by-month guide shows the weather by season.
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum stays open while it renews its permanent exhibition in stages. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum partial closure notice lists the screened-off areas. Corner C closes from 24 November 2026 to March 2027 (planned). Part of Corner B closes from late December 2026 to March 2027, and Corner D from January to March 2027.
Most of Corner B, which holds items from the bombing, stays open as usual. Areas outside the work zone stay open too. From the airport, take the Nagasaki Airport to Nagasaki Station bus.
One more Tokyo date matters for 2027 plans. The teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM official page lists its run as 7 July 2018 to the end of 2027, with no exact closing day. If it is on your list, see our guide to teamLab Planets tickets.
Reopened and new: Edo-Tokyo Museum to Ghibli tickets
Some long closures have ended, and a few new openings fall in 2027. The table lists them in date order.
| Date | Place | City | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2026 | Edo-Tokyo Museum | Tokyo (Ryogoku) | Reopened after closing on 1 Apr 2022 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | Hirosaki Castle | Hirosaki | Event to pull the keep back opened |
| 19 Sep 2026 | Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine | Dazaifu | Worship at the main hall front resumed |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Kurobe Gorge Railway | Toyama | Whole line reopened; Keyakidaira limited |
| Nov 2026 entry | Ghibli Museum | Mitaka, Tokyo | QR tickets, 110 yen fee per ticket |
| 3 Nov 2026 | Sannomaru Shozokan | Tokyo | Opens in full |
| 19 Mar to 26 Sep 2027 | GREEN×EXPO 2027 | Yokohama | International Horticultural Expo |
| Spring 2027 | Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue | Tokyo Disneyland | New indoor ride |
| 1 Jun 2027 (planned) | Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum | Hiroshima | First floor opens |
| 2027, no date yet | Space Mountain Earthrise | Tokyo Disneyland | Rebuilt roller coaster |
The Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku had been closed for large-scale renovation since 1 April 2022. The Edo-Tokyo Museum history page records its reopening on 31 March 2026. It is open again for 2027 trips.
In the north, Hirosaki City opened an event on Friday 21 August 2026 to pull the Hirosaki Castle keep back toward its original spot. The event, called Hippare Keppare Hirosaki-jo, is part of the stone wall repair project.
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka reopened worship at the front of its main hall on 19 September 2026. It is the first time in about three and a half years. For the trip from Fukuoka, the FUKUOKA TOURIST CITY PASS (Fukuoka City and Dazaifu) gives one day of rides.
The photo shows the shrine’s main hall, where visitors can pray from the front again.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway in Toyama resumed its whole line between Unazuki and Keyakidaira on Thursday 1 October 2026. Because of restoration work, visitors at Keyakidaira cannot go beyond the station building and the visitor centre for now. Get there on the Tokyo to Toyama Shinkansen route.
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, opens in full on Tuesday 3 November 2026. It stands in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Ghibli Museum tickets change too. The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka new ticketing notice says tickets for November 2026 entry use a new QR-code system. Those tickets went on sale on 10 October 2026. Each ticket now carries a system fee of 110 yen, tax included. You book on the Lawson Ticket website, then show an e-ticket on your phone or print a paper ticket at a Loppi machine in a Lawson store. Our Ghibli Museum tickets guide covers the sale dates, the phone rules and the ID check.
In Yokohama, the International Horticultural Expo 2027 (GREEN×EXPO 2027) runs from Friday 19 March to Sunday 26 September 2027. It takes place on the former Kamiseya Communication Facility site.
At Tokyo Disneyland, the Tokyo Disney Resort new Tomorrowland 2027 page lists two new rides. Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue, an indoor ride themed on Wreck-It Ralph, opens in spring 2027. Space Mountain Earthrise, a fully rebuilt indoor roller coaster, opens in 2027. The park gives no date for either. Our guide to Tokyo Disneyland attractions covers the rides open now.
Japan closures 2027 by city: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and more
If you plan by city, here is what is shut and what you can still see in each place. The chart below gives the short version for four cities.
Tokyo. The Mori Art Museum closes from 24 September 2027, and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan is shut until fiscal 2028 (planned). The National Theatre stays closed. On the open side, the Edo-Tokyo Museum reopened on 31 March 2026. The Sannomaru Shozokan opens in full on 3 November 2026, and teamLab Planets lists its run to the end of 2027.
Kanazawa. The 21st Century Museum closes from 6 May 2027 to March 2028 (planned). The Kanazawa Machinaka Art Festival fills the gap in the city centre. The Hokuriku Shinkansen still brings you in from Tokyo.
Hiroshima. The castle keep is closed inside, but you can still view its exterior. The Sannomaru History Museum opens its first floor on 1 June 2027 and its second floor on 1 October 2027.
The screenshot shows the City of Hiroshima’s notice in Japanese. Its headline says the keep closed on 22 March 2026, and the page explains the new Sannomaru History Museum.
Himeji and Nara. Himeji Castle is open, with scaffolding near the main keep until around late July 2027. In Nara, the Kofuku-ji pagoda is hidden until March 2034. The National Treasure Hall and the Central Golden Hall stay open.
Nagoya. The main keep is closed with no reopening date. The Honmaru Palace and Step Nagoya are open.
Fukui and Nagasaki. The Maruoka Castle keep stays open during repairs until November 2027 (planned), apart from set closures such as 9 to 30 November 2026. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum stays open, with Corner C screened off from 24 November 2026 to March 2027 (planned).
Before you go: dates to check for a 2027 trip
Dates marked (planned) can move. The Nagasaki museum says it will update its schedule if the work runs differently. Sakai City says Maruoka Castle may limit entry for progress or safety reasons. Check each official notice a few days before you travel.
The checklist covers four things. Read the official notice, treat (planned) dates as soft, check the Maruoka schedule for your day, and add the 110 yen Ghibli fee to each ticket.
Match closures with holidays too. The Kanazawa museum closes on 6 May 2027, right after the Golden Week holidays. Compare your dates with our Japan public holidays 2027 calendar before you book. Himeji’s repair work runs until around late July 2027. Mori closes on 24 September 2027, so summer and early autumn trips need both checks.
FAQ
When does the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa close?
The museum plans to close from 6 May 2027 until March 2028 for major repair work. The end date is a plan and may change. Kanazawa City will hold the Kanazawa Machinaka Art Festival in the city centre while it is shut.
Can you still visit Himeji Castle during the repair work?
Yes. Himeji Castle stays open while repair work runs from early July 2026 to around late July 2027. Scaffolding near the main keep affects the view, parts of the route and the night illumination.
Can you go inside Nagoya Castle or Hiroshima Castle?
You cannot enter either keep. Hiroshima Castle’s keep closed on 22 March 2026, and Nagoya Castle’s main keep is closed with no reopening date. You can still see Hiroshima’s keep from outside and tour Nagoya’s Honmaru Palace.
How do Ghibli Museum tickets work from November 2026?
Tickets for November 2026 entry use a QR-code system and went on sale on 10 October 2026. Each ticket adds a 110 yen system fee, tax included. You buy on the Lawson Ticket website, then show an e-ticket on your phone or print a paper ticket at a Loppi machine.
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