Nezu Museum 根津美術館

Nezu Museum Is An Oasis of Green in a Shopping Paradise

Nezu Museum has a vast Japanese garden and seven national treasures and is located in Amote-Sando, Tokyo’s trendiest shopping district.

Information

Address:

6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
Contact:

03-3400-2536
Open hours:

10am – 5pm (entry until 4:30pm)
Closed:

Mondays (the following weekday if it falls on a public/substitute holiday), during exhibition installation, the year-end/new year holidays
Entrance fee:

Adults ¥1,100 – ¥1,300, students (high school student or above) ¥800 – ¥1,000 (entrance to the museum is required in order to view the garden)

Flower Calendar

Feb. : Japanese apricot, Apricot
Mar. – Apr. : Camellia chrysantha, Stachyurus praecox, Buttercup winterhazel, Cherry, Azalea, Viola yedoensis, Japanese andromeda, Wisteria, Chinaberry, Japanese water iris (late Apr.)
May – Jun. : Japanese water iris (early May), Peony, Japanese snowbell, Hydrangea, Kousa dogwood
Jul. – Aug. : Water lily, Gold-banded lily, Tall swertia
Sep. – Oct. : Toad lily, Orange osmanthus
Nov. – Dec. : Sasanqua, Camellia, Leopard plant, Maple, Ginkgo

Table of Contents

1. Background and History of Nezu Museum
2. Features and Sights to See
2.1 Land formation
2.2 Japanese water irises
2.3 Autumn Leaves

Background and History of Nezu Museum

Based on the collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art built by the renowned entrepreneur Nezu Kaichiro I, the Nezu Museum was opened in 1941 in Minami-Aoyama. The museum holds 7 exhibitions annually, displaying 7 National Treasures and 87 Important Cultural Properties from a collection of over 7,400 works. The vast and verdant Japanese garden of approximately 17,000m² combined with the architecture designed by Kumi Kengo creates a delicate and uniquely Japanese atmosphere of serenity. 4 tea houses dot the garden grounds that comprise the remnant of Kaichiro’s private residence, and Japanese water irises in early summer and maple leaves in autumn make or plenty of sights to see in all seasons.

Features and Sights to See

Land formation

Nexus Kaichiro I purchased this land, which he liked for its hills and dales towards the pond, in 1906 to build his private residence and the garden. Even after the garden was restored after destruction by air raids during the Second World War, it remains as it originally was with the pond at its center.

Japanese water irises

“Irises” screens, a National Treasure, is on display from mid-April to mid-May every year during the high season of water irises in the garden pond at Nezu Museum. You can enjoy the Ogawa Korin’s masterpiece harmonizing with nature.

Autumn Leaves

Kaichiro II hoped to keep the original concept of creating scenes of nature at Nezu Museum. The garden has been so arranged that visitors can fully enjoy seasonal foliage especially in fall. As you walk through the stone-paved paths, incredible scenes open up ahead: tea houses surrounded by maple leaves in crimson. No one would expect to find such a beautiful scenery in the middle of a modern city.

About the Author

Pjechorin

I have lived and worked with my family in Japan since 2005. For many years I have been interested in the very practical and creative side of Japanese culture. In my free time I travel around, enjoy hiking in the countryside and cities, and just generally seeing and doing new things. This blog is primarily a way for me to focus my energies and record and teach others about what I have learned by experience constructively. I am interested in urban development, and sustainable micro-economics, especially home-economics, and practical things everyday families can do to survive and thrive through these changing times.