The Nezu Museum is a cultural and scenic highlight of Tokyo's fashionable Aoyama district, combining sweeping modern architecture with elegant traditional landscaping, surrounded by ponds, streams, garden lanterns and well-preserved tea houses. The museum was originally commissioned by Kaichiro Nezu, a Japanese industrialist and passionate art-lover and collector, and opened its doors for the first time in 1941. Numerous private donations of works have since added to the collection's size. The reconstructed building, which opened in 1990, was designed by internationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The two-story museum building was rebuilt in 2006, and is a large airy, atmospheric space where selections of the Museum's approximately 7,400 pieces can be enjoyed along with special exhibitions throughout the year.
The Museum collection covers many genres of arts and crafts created by ancient calligraphers, ceramicists, metalworkers, textile makers, painters, lacquerware craftspersons, sculptors and others, and includes many historic archaeological artifacts. The garden behind the Museum is as memorable as the museum itself. Occupying a small, beautifully landscaped valley, the garden's undulating paths are lined with ancient statues and monuments, mainly of stone, ponds, waterfalls and picturesque tea house where tea ceremony-related exhibits can often be seen. The garden, carefully restored after its wartime destruction, is a serene oasis, with its water features and natural wildlife, far removed from the modern shopping mecca of Omotesando, just a short walk away, and the delicious Yanmo Minami-Aoyama Restaurant which specializes in fish caught just hours before it's served from the nearby Izu Peninsula.
The modern entrance to Nezu designed by internationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma
Tsuki-No-Ishibune, moon shaped stone boat with inset water bowl
The modern interior of Nezu with its use of simple materials of wood and glass
Head of Seated Buddha made of sandstone from the 8th-century Tang Dynasty
Stone pathways meander through the Nezu gardens with features such as stone lanterns
and sculptures marking the journey
Japanese pines in the glorious Nezu gardens
The site of the Nezu museum and garden used to be the private residence of Nezu Kaichiro,
which he bought in 1906
Old Japanese boat on the pond
Water to purify one hands before entering the tea house
Stepping stones over water to the Ushibeya Tea House
Ushibeya, one of four Tea Houses are all nestled over the grounds,
which are used for private tea ceremonies
Seikeitei Tea House
Gardener keeping the Nezu gardens as well tended as they are
The hilly garden has two ponds that are connected by small streams and winding paths
The garden level entrance to Yanmo, a short walk from the Nezu Museum
Interior of Yanmo Minami-Aoyama which specializes in fish caught just hours before it's served
from the nearby Izu Peninsula
Place setting with bamboo mat, chopsticks, napkin and fan which was wonderful given the hot sweltering days Tokyo was experiencing
The Japanese menu at Yanmo
Cold Kirin beer
Salad with bonito flakes
Sashimi of tuna, flounder and yellowtail
The menu is set on the catch of the day and what ingredients are in season,
such as the beautifully grilled Saba Misozuke - miso-marinated mackerel
Grilled Salmon
Steamed rice
Pickled daikon and cucumber
Shirasu-Boshi: Baby Sardine Salad
Tempura Udon, a classic Japanese dish of thick udon noodles in a savoury hot broth garnished with crisp pieces of tempura vegetables and shrimp
Miso Soup Bowl
Miso with tofu
Passionfruit Sherbet
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