Nedzu Museum

Nezu Museum was opened in 1941 on the site of the former private residence in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, to preserve and exhibit the Japanese and East Asian antiques collected by Kaichiro Nezu (1860–1940), the first Kaichiro Nezu, a businessman who served as president of Tobu Railway and held other posts. Concerned about the overseas outflow of artworks from the Meiji period onward, Kaichiro actively collected antique works in a wide range of fields, including paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and metalwork. In his later years, he adopted the art name “Seizan” and also devoted himself to collecting tea utensils while practicing the tea ceremony.

As of the end of March 2025, the collection numbered more than 7,630 items, including 7 National Treasures, 93 Important Cultural Properties, and 95 Important Art Objects. While many of the works were collected by the first Kaichiro himself, purchases and donations have been added since his death, giving the museum, as a private museum, an exceptionally broad and high-quality collection.

Although part of the museum was destroyed in wartime air raids, it was later rebuilt and expanded several times. In 2009, a new main building designed by architect Kengo Kuma was completed, combining a contemporary feel with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere. The building, which has two floors above ground and one basement level, includes a gallery for special exhibitions as well as six gallery spaces suited to a wide variety of works such as paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, and tea utensils. The exhibition environment has been carefully designed with the characteristics of the materials in mind, and the latest lighting technology using LEDs and fiber optics allows delicate works of art to be viewed under appropriate light.

The museum holds about seven exhibitions a year, each time presenting its collection under a different theme. On the basement level, there is also an auditorium for lectures and workshops, reflecting the museum’s commitment to educational and cultural activities. The museum shop offers original goods inspired by the collection, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum’s appeal in daily life as well.

Outside the main building, a Japanese garden of approximately 17,000 square meters spreads out, including four tea houses, where visitors can enjoy a quiet stroll amid the beauty of the changing seasons. At NEZUCAFÉ in the garden, guests can spend peaceful moments surrounded by greenery.

In 2009, a new logo was adopted, featuring the museum name written in Chinese Han dynasty clerical script and an “N” and “M” design incorporating motifs of irises and bamboo. It received Germany’s Red Dot Design Award. This logo embodies Nezu Museum’s philosophy of respecting tradition while living in the present and connecting it to the future.