Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art National Museum of Asian Art
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The Collections and Archives

Tours

A docent shows a tour group a shelf full of ceramics.

Take a guided tour through the museum, and encounter our collections through a new lens. Find the free tour that’s best for you—visit virtually, join a drop-in tour, or bring a group.

Plan your visit ahead of time and learn about our hours, visitor policies, public transportation, and parking.

Virtual Tours

Tour our museum from anywhere in the world with these online sessions. Register for a regularly scheduled tour or request a tour for your group of ten or more adults. Each virtual tour is about an hour long.

Guided Drop-in Tours

Join one of our in-person tours, no reservation needed.

Most of our tours are led by our docents, volunteers trained to provide you with an engaging museum experience. Select tours are guided by our curators, the art history professionals who lead the development of our exhibitions.

Ongoing Tour Series

  • Curator giving a gallery tour

    Curator Tours

    Get exclusive insights from the experts who develop our exhibitions.

  • Cast bronze sculpture of a resting bull.

    Highlights Tour

    Get an overview of our collections of Asian and American art, including must-see highlights like our famous Peacock Room.

  • Arts of Japan

    As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art.

  • Metal vessel with swirling designs.

    館藏精華導覽

    Highlights Tour in Mandarin

    Join a free walk-in tour in Chinese language and view highlights of the museum’s collections.

  • painting of a man in a turban working on a painting or drawing in his lap.

    Sketch & Discover Tour

    Sketch objects from our collections to understand art in a different way.

  • Painting of a woman dressed in kimono, holding a Japanese paper fan, in front of a folding screen.

    The Art of Women

    Discover untold stories of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors.

  • A colorful, softly painted watercolor scene of figures walking and pushing carts of flowers before a row of shopfronts.

    Whistler's World

    Experience American artist James McNeill Whistler’s works alongside his inspirations from Asian art.

PreK–12 Field Trips

Are you a teacher scheduling a trip for your students? We offer a variety Pre-K–12 programs, both in-person and online.

Reserved Group Tours

For groups of ten or more adult or university student visitors, schedule a private in-person tour. We also offer these tours in other languages: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, and Cantonese.

Self-Guided Group Visits

Experience the museum as a group on your own schedule and at your own pace. Request your visit at least one week ahead.

  • 1050 Independence Ave. SW
    Washington, DC 20013
    202.633.1000

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