Tokyo | Rainy days are perfect for visiting the Nezu Museum designed by Kengo Kuma
If you like Japanese gardens and Kengo Kuma's designs, then the Nezu Museum located in Minami Aoyama is a must-visit.
This private museum, created by Kaichiro Nezu, is also a symbol of Japan's old wealth. He had a personal liking for antiques, bronzes, and Buddhist statues. The museum was originally Nezu's private residence, which was later redesigned by Kengo Kuma into a museum and opened to the public.
Apart from the museum's own collection, the Japanese garden is also a highlight, featuring a Japanese tea house surrounded by greenery.
However, many of the museum's collections are Chinese Buddha heads, which are quite thought-provoking to see.
☕️Nezu Cafe:
Many people visit Nezu, and a big reason must be for this tea house! This cafe, also designed by Kengo Kuma and hidden in the Japanese garden, is enveloped in greenery and is very photogenic. The seats by the window are the most popular.
The coffee and desserts here are decent without being exceptional, and the prices are not expensive.
📸Photography tips:
If you want to capture the Nezu Museum without any disturbances, look no further
✅Best time to shoot:
Weekdays, rainy days, just before closing or right after opening.
This timing is particularly important. On the day I visited, it was a light rainy weekday in Tokyo, so there were relatively few tourists.
✅How to get a shot of the usually busy Nezu cafe without people?
The tea house actually closes at 4:30 pm, so they stop serving customers after 4 pm. I was actually the last customer that day, and even the tables were already cleaned up. That's how I managed to take pictures freely.
✅Take a shot of the bamboo grove corridor at the entrance before leaving the museum to capture an empty scene
✅A light rainy day is ideal for shooting the garden, as walking with an umbrella in the Japanese garden is very pleasant. If you get tired, you can sit down in a small pavilion and listen to the rain.
🎫Ticket: No reservation needed, just buy on-site
⏰Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)
🌿Surroundings:
🔶Shopping:
After visiting the Nezu Museum, you can shop around Minami Aoyama. There are stores like Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Prada, Lelabo, etc. I also bought a limited edition flap shoulder from Issey Miyake here, which I haven't seen in China, so no worries about clashing bags. Omotesando and Roppongi are not far from here.
🔶Museums:
If you have an entire afternoon for exhibitions, you can also visit the National Art Center and the Mori Art Museum, with the Mori Art Museum being a perfect spot to end the day with a sunset or night view. (See other notes for details)
🔶Food:
After coming out of the Mori Art Museum, you can have dinner in Roppongi Hills or Omotesando, or take a stroll to the nearby Azabu Juban.
small but worth visiting this museum with beautiful gardens to stroll. it is best to wander around in the garden before heading to the museum to appreciate antiques pieces.
The architecture of the museum is stunning; especially the entrance with the bamboo. The collection did not disappoint either with some really interesting pieces collected over the years by Mr. Nezu. The highlight, however, was the garden. Large, playful, lush. If you love gardens like I do, then this place is a must in Tokyo. Definitely a romantic place worth exploring for all garden lovers out there. No making out in the bushes, tho... there are many cameras lurking
Genjin Art Museum is a very interesting venue, this museum's collection is also quite rich, the huge wooden structure limb building is very large, the internal space is very open, you can see the style of plants and venues combined, the visit is very interesting.
The gallery is very casually furnished, with green bamboo and green leaves, exhibits, and environment
The Genjin Museum of Art in Tokyo is comparable to the tourist attractions to punch in, not only because it has a fairly good collection, but also because it is an Art Museum designed by the famous architect Kengo Kumawa, so the building itself is worth seeing. Tickets are designed on the blueprint of the town hall's treasure, Shuangyangzun. Do you remember the town hall's treasure, Siyangfangzun, of the China Expo? Yes, Shuangyangzun, like Siyangfangzun, comes from Hunan, China. As a matter of fact, Hunan is an outstanding place for individuals. Currently on display include Japanese paintings and Chinese Buddha statues and so on. The outdoor part is a typical Japanese courtyard with flowing water, rockery, pavilions and pavilions. I always feel that Japanese gardens are much worse than our own in Yangzhou, Suzhou.