See also:

Japan and Korea subject guide

SOAS Databases

Newsppaer Archives available in SOAS

Freely Available Ebook

General Resources on Japanese Arts

  • Digital Archives on Tobunken
    Compiled by Tokyo Research Institute for Cultural Properties provides a range of databases on Japanese Arts.
  • English Resource Guide for Japanese Studies and Humanities in Japan
    Compiled by NIHU (National Institutes for the Humanities), this resource guide provides a collection of links to useful English websites and resources pertaining to Japanese Arts and Crafts
  • e-Museum
    The site provides images of national treasures and important cultural properties owned by 4 national museums. Descriptions can be provided in multiple languages
  • Database of National Important Cultural Properties
    The database of Nationally designated cultural assets, provided by Agency for Cultural Affairs.
  • Tokyo Digital Museum
    A collection index site of “Edo-Tokyo Museum”, “Tokyo Photographic Art Museum”, “Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo” and “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum”
  • Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties Database
    A collection of various databases, compiled by Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Small number of English databases are included.
  • Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University
    The list of searchable databases of various resources about Japanese Arts and Cultures that are held in Art Research Center at Ritsumeikan University.
  • JADS database
    Japan Art Documentation Society’s reference database which has over 1500 reference sources.
  • International Research Center for Japanese Studies
    Nichbunken (International Research Center for Japanese Studies) offers various useful databases and publications which open for public.
  • Ukiyo-e Search
    A database of Japanese woodblock print images and metadata aggregated from a variety of museums, universities, libraries, auction houses, and dealers around the world.
  • Searching for Ukiyo-e Illustration
    National Diet Library introduce various tools to search for ukiyo-e illustrations by artist and other criteria
  • JAANUS: Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System
    An on-line Dictionary of Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology compiled by Dr. Mary N. Parent. It contains approximately 8000 terms related to traditional Japanese architecture and gardens, painting, sculpture and art-historical iconography from approximately the 1st century A.D. to the end of the Edo period (1868).
  • The Japanese Garden Database
    A well-designed site, including links, images, tools, books, glossary, organisations and forum related to Japanese garden.
  • Viewing Japanese Prints
    Comprehensive exploration of the history and technique of Japanese prints and printmaking, the work of famous printmakers, and images. Excellent FAQs.
  • Ukiyoe: the Pictures of the Floating World
    Online exhibition, arranged by artists, categories, artists' signature, guide to the Ukiyoe sites of the internet.

Useful Online Public Access Catalogue

  • Art Library Cross Search OPAC
    Art Libraries' Consortium consists of major libraries in museums and galleries in Japan. Users can crosssearch books, periodicals and exhibition catalogues held in 11 major art libraries in Japan.
  • NDL Search
    National Diet Library provides an integrated search service of catalogues and digital archives including libraries, archives, museums, academic institutes in Japan in addition to the National Diet Library.
  • CiNii Books
    A service that enables searching of information on books that are held in university libraries in Japan.
  • Aichi Arts Center Art Library
    OPAC of a comprehensive collection related to the arts, held by Aich Arts Center Art Library
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Library OPAC
    Cross-searching of books, articles and images held in the Tokyo Metropolitan Library and several other libraries

Online guide about Japanese galleries and Museums

Online Information on Japanese Artists

Information about Exhibitions

  • Art Commons
    The National Art Center, Tokyo offers up-to-date information about current exhibition in nationwide.
  • Artscape
    Providing exhibition schedules in Japan.
  • Tokyo Art Beat
  • Art exhibitions database at Tobunken
    The database offers information on Modern and Contemporary art exhibitions held in Japan between 1935 and 2013.
  • Hakurankai Shiryo Collection
    Searchable database for information on Art Expos that were held from Meiji period to present. The site contains official records, posters, tickets and official goods over 10,000 materials on Art expo held in Japan and abroad

Digital Image Archives

Art Centres in Japan

Art Organisations & societies

Academic Libraries in Japan covering arts