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Nezu Museum

Nestled amid the chic streets of Aoyama, the **Nezu Museum** is a hidden oasis that invites families and curious travelers to explore the heart of Japanese artistry and nature. Established in 1941 to showcase the remarkable collection of Nezu Kaichirō—a visionary businessman and passionate art lover—the museum holds over 7,000 treasures spanning **pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art**. Step inside the strikingly modern building, redesigned by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, and wander through airy galleries featuring ancient calligraphy, exquisite ceramics, samurai armor, and even a certified national treasure from the 8th century. But the experience doesn’t end with art. Beyond the galleries, a lush Japanese garden unfurls, dotted with teahouses and winding paths—perfect for children to roam and families to relax together. The museum’s tranquil setting and hands-on tea culture displays offer a peaceful retreat from the city’s buzz, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors. Whether you’re marveling at centuries-old masterpieces or strolling beneath bamboo and maple trees, the Nezu Museum promises an inspiring journey through history, creativity, and serenity.

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Nezu Museum

7,400 ancient artworks live inside this bamboo-fenced building in Tokyo's Omotesando district - that's like your whole school bringing treasures from across Asia! Railway president Nezu Kaichirō built his collection on this exact spot where his family home once stood. Inside Kengo Kuma's modern design, you'll find seven National Treasures including 3,000-year-old Chinese bronzes from the Shang Dynasty. The coolest secret? Every single piece survived World War II because they were all secretly moved to safety before bombs hit Tokyo in 1945!

Did You Know?

  • The Nezu Museum is built on the former residence of the Nezu family, and its gardens and tea houses survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II firebombings, making it a rare oasis of historical tranquility in modern Tokyo where visitors can experience authentic Edo-period atmosphere and architecture—a legacy that even the nearby Nezu Shrine shares as a survivor of Tokyo’s tumultuous history.
  • The museum’s architectural redesign in 2009 by Kengo Kuma features innovative use of glass walls and a tiled ceiling that blend the indoors with the lush, traditional Japanese garden outside, employing the ancient garden design principle of 'borrowed scenery' (shakkei) to create a harmonious experience between art, architecture, and nature.
  • Among its 7,400-piece collection—including national treasures—is an 8th-century handwritten Buddhist text (Konpon Kyakuichikonma), a rare artifact that offers a direct glimpse into the rules and daily life of priests in Japan’s Nara Period, making the museum not just a showcase of beauty, but a portal to ancient Japanese spirituality and scholarship.
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