Located in a fashionable district of Aoyama in Tokyo, the Nezu Museum houses a collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art. Displayed across a two-storey museum building and surrounded by a beautiful 17,000m² traditional garden, including a stylish café, the Nezu Museum is one of Tokyo’s cultural highlights.

The museum was founded by the Industrialist Nezu Kaichirō in 1941, and the collection you see is his own personal collection of Japanese and Chinese art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, textiles and lacquerware. The museum holds around 7000 works of art, showcasing Eastern/Buddhist art in its permanent collection, which is rotated periodically and complemented by a calendar of special exhibitions through the year.

The traditional Japanese garden on site is worth a visit in itself. The garden is a serene space with walking paths, ponds and stone lanterns, all features of an authentic Japanese garden. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, then Nezu Museum’s garden is a fantastic place to do so whilst also soaking up some history and culture.

Nezu’s cafe offers visitors a relaxing atmosphere overlooking the beautiful garden through its bright and large windows. The cafe has a good selection of foods and drinks, including sandwiches, pies, stew, as well as coffee, teas and matcha. The cafe is open from 10:00am to 4:30pm, with last orders for food taken by 3:00pm, and drinks by 4:00pm.

While the museum first opened in 1941, the current museum building dates to 2006 and was designed by acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma and in itself is a pleasant and peaceful escape from the congestion of the surrounding city. If you’re interested in Kengo Kuma’s works, you can also see them at Akagi Shrine in Kagurazaka, the Meiji Jingu Shrine Museum in Shibuya, the Tourist Information Centre in Asakusa, and many more!

If you’re in Tokyo and looking for a museum that elucidates the beauty and skill to traditional Eastern crafts, the Nezu Museum is highly recommended.