Minato-Aoyama

Near the busy Omotesando Street where luxury, expense and glamour are at their peak, it is hard to believe that just a few steps away is an oasis of tranquility that presents treasures of yesteryear in a serene environment. The 2009 construction and its exterior design allow us to unwind from the beginning since the access the Nezu Museum, a bamboo-lined passage is your first step towards the entrance to the museum.

Don’t be fooled, the contemporary style of the architecture perfectly combines traditional Japanese art.

Formerly a residence, the site is even the one that had, over time, collected works of art, some of which are now national treasures. Mr. Nezu Kaichiro (1860-1940) was an admirer of Japanese and East Asian art, a tea lover, a businessman in the railway sector and politically involved. Mr. Nezu wanted to make his collections public, and so the museum was born, whose charming garden is nicely landscaped with a café, a pond, and sculptures.

When it opened in 1941, the museum had over 4,600 works of art, all from Nezu’s collection.

Over time, the collection has grown and today it has over 7,600 pieces. The various pieces are related to the art of tea, displaying screens painted with floral motifs, Chinese bronzes, Japanese swords, Buddhist sculptures, textiles, paintings, ceramics, calligraphy and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. The museum is sometimes called the Nezu Art Museum and you will now understand why it bears the name of the collector.

Although the site suffered the repercussions of the violent Second World War, the collection was sufficiently protected and hidden outside the city to be preserved. As early as 1946, the collection was made available to the public again.

Among the works I have retained:

• Three squared he with taotie design – China Shang dynasty
• Double-Ram Zun
• Six-panel screens painted
• Decorative clocks

Walking in the garden paths is very nice with the pond and hills and you can see sculptures and a tea house.

Omotesando station is a 10 minute walk.

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