Travel App 'NEWT' Recommends Museums and Art Exhibitions for Rainy Season: Top 30 'Artistic Municipalities' to Satisfy Adult Intellectual Curiosity

Reiwa Travel Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Takaya Shinozuka), which operates the smart and affordable travel app 'NEWT', has announced the 'Top 30 Artistic Municipalities' to visit during the rainy season, designed to satisfy adult intellectual curiosity, based on a survey of 1,741 municipalities nationwide. This survey was conducted by the NEWT Research Department to rank 'artistic municipalities' across Japan that are worth visiting during the 2026 rainy season from multiple perspectives.

During the rainy season, people tend to hesitate to go out due to poor footing on rainy holidays, but there are actually places where you can have the best travel experience precisely because it's raining.

These are cultural tourism facilities, primarily museums and art galleries, that satisfy adult intellectual curiosity in a tranquil environment. We have selected 30 municipalities that are suitable as 'travel destinations,' not just as indoor facilities, but also considering the surrounding dining, hot springs, and walking routes.

This ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of municipalities nationwide from five perspectives (20 points each, totaling 100 points): museum richness, 'indoor comfort' during the rainy season, suitability for 'adult intellectual curiosity,' cultural tourism interactivity, and ease of access & feasibility of local transportation.

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Survey by 'NEWT (Newt)', a tour and hotel booking app for overseas and domestic travel

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■ Ranks 1-10: TOP 30 Artistic Municipalities to Satisfy Adult Intellectual Curiosity

1st Place: Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Museum Richness 20, Indoor Comfort 19, Intellectual Curiosity 20, Interactivity 20, Accessibility 19: Total 98 points

Provided by Matsumoto City Tourism Brand Division

Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture is an artistic city dotted with facilities that convey its unique culture, including the 'Matsumoto City Museum of Art,' which permanently exhibits works by Yayoi Kusama, a contemporary artist from Matsumoto, and the 'Matsumoto Mingei Museum.' The historical landscape of the castle town centered around the National Treasure Matsumoto Castle remains, and the charmingly atmospheric streets are further enhanced on rainy days. This space, where rich nature and art merge, deeply satisfies adult intellectual curiosity, earning it the top spot as a cultural tourism city that visitors will want to return to again and again.

Comment from Mr. Jun Ozaki, Tourism Brand Division, Matsumoto City Culture and Tourism Department

Thank you for ranking us first nationwide. Matsumoto City is a city where nature and culture harmonize. From the City Museum of Art and the Municipal Museum in the city center to the Mingei Museum and the Historical Village in the suburbs, diverse facilities that will satisfy your intellectual curiosity are scattered throughout the city. Many people associate Matsumoto with the National Treasure 'Matsumoto Castle Keep,' but about a 5-minute walk from Matsumoto Castle is another National Treasure, the 'Former Kaichi School Building,' which retains its strong characteristics of Western-style architecture and symbolizes Matsumoto as an academic city. This is also highly recommended.

2nd Place: Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture

Museum Richness 19, Indoor Comfort 20, Intellectual Curiosity 19, Interactivity 18, Accessibility 18: Total 94 points

photo by Pixabay

Toyama City, promoting itself as the 'City of Glass,' is a hub for world-class glass art. 'TOYAMAキラリ (Kirari)', designed by Kengo Kuma, houses the Toyama City Library and a cafe, allowing visitors to spend the entire day comfortably without getting wet. The interior, where the beauty of contemporary glass art coexists with a quiet reading space, offers a supreme art experience and an adult retreat that dispels the gloomy mood of the rainy season and soothes the soul.

3rd Place: Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture

Museum Richness 20, Indoor Comfort 20, Intellectual Curiosity 18, Interactivity 16, Accessibility 18: Total 92 points

photo by PIXTA

Naruto City, home to the 'Otsuka Museum of Art,' boasts an impressive scale where you can experience Western masterpieces from 26 countries at their original size on ceramic plates, all within Japan. As it is a vast, completely indoor facility, you can immerse yourself in art all day without being affected by the weather. The museum has three cafes and restaurants, and with the specialized guided tours, you can deeply learn about the historical background of the famous paintings, promising a supreme cultural tourism experience that strongly stimulates adult intellectual curiosity.

4th Place: Minato Ward, Tokyo

Museum Richness 19, Indoor Comfort 18, Intellectual Curiosity 19, Interactivity 20, Accessibility 15: Total 91 points

©The National Art Center, Tokyo. Provided by Minato Ward Tourism Policy Section.

Minato Ward in Tokyo is a treasure trove of cultural tourism, densely packed with Japan's leading art institutions such as 'The National Art Center, Tokyo,' 'Mori Art Museum,' and 'Nezu Museum.' Many museums are directly connected to subway stations, making it a major draw for smooth movement on rainy days without getting wet. After enjoying diverse exhibitions in spaces designed by world-renowned architects, you can spend an elegant time at the adjacent cafe, gazing at the collaboration of rain and natural scenery. The sophisticated urban cultural appreciation and comfortable accessibility provide deep relaxation.

Comment from Minato Ward Tourism Policy Section

We are greatly honored to be selected as the 4th place nationwide. Minato Ward is a district with excellent transportation access, where world-class museums, theaters, and historical sites are compactly gathered. Even on rainy or hot days, anyone can comfortably visit charming cultural facilities, experience diverse cultures and arts, and enjoy them casually. We also offer attractive culinary experiences through our experiential hometown tax program, so please visit Minato Ward, Tokyo.

5th Place: Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Museum Richness 19, Indoor Comfort 18, Intellectual Curiosity 19, Interactivity 18, Accessibility 16: Total 90 points

photo by pixabay

Dazaifu City, home to the 'Kyushu National Museum,' the fourth national museum after Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto, features exhibits that clearly explain the history of exchange with various Asian regions. It is adjacent to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and access is smooth even on rainy days via an underground tunnel. During the rainy season, the irises and hydrangeas in the shrine grounds are beautiful, allowing visitors to enjoy historical exploration and the charm of the rainy season simultaneously, making it an ideal oasis for intellectual curiosity for adults seeking to deepen their knowledge.

6th Place: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo

Museum Richness 18, Indoor Comfort 19, Intellectual Curiosity 18, Interactivity 17, Accessibility 17: Total 89 points

photo by Unsplash

The Kitanomaru Park area in Chiyoda Ward, home to the 'National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo,' which showcases the essence of Japanese modern and contemporary art, is attractive for its serene environment surrounded by the Imperial Palace's greenery, despite being in the heart of the city. Its excellent accessibility from Takebashi Station on rainy days is a highlight, and dining options at nearby cafes and restaurants are abundant. The high-quality exhibitions, which systematically teach the progression of Japanese art, offer depth suitable for an intellectual adult holiday and provide high-quality inspiration regardless of the weather.

7th Place: Koka City, Shiga Prefecture

Museum Richness 19, Indoor Comfort 16, Intellectual Curiosity 19, Interactivity 15, Accessibility 18: Total 87 points

Provided by Koka City Tourism Planning and Promotion Division

Nestled deep within the verdant Shigaraki Forest, the 'MIHO MUSEUM' is itself a monumental work of art. Its glass pyramid, reminiscent of the Louvre Museum