Nedzu Museum

The Nezu Museum was established in 1941 on the site of a private residence in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, to preserve and exhibit ancient Japanese and Eastern art collected by Kaichiro Nezu (1860-1940), the first president of Tobu Railway and a prominent businessman. Concerned about the outflow of art to overseas after the Meiji period, Kaichiro energetically collected a wide range of antiques, including paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and metalworks. In his later years, he took the pen name "Seizan" and actively focused on collecting tea utensils while enjoying the tea ceremony.

As of the end of March 2025, the museum's collection has surpassed 7,630 items, including seven national treasures, 93 important cultural properties, and 95 important artworks. While most of the collection was accumulated by the first Kaichiro, posthumously, it has been supplemented by purchased and donated items, making it a private museum with a remarkably broad and high-quality collection.

Although part of the museum was lost in wartime, it has since undergone restoration and expansions. In 2009, a new main building designed by architect Kengo Kuma was completed, combining modern elements with a sense of Japanese aesthetics. The museum features two stories above ground and one basement level, hosting a gallery for special exhibitions and six gallery spaces that accommodate diverse exhibits, including paintings, calligraphy, bronze vessels, and tea utensils. The exhibition environment is carefully designed considering the properties of the materials, using the latest lighting technology with LEDs and fiber optics to allow delicate artworks to be viewed under appropriate lighting conditions.

Throughout the year, approximately seven exhibitions are held, each introducing the collection with a different theme. The basement also houses an auditorium for lectures and workshops, emphasizing educational and cultural activities. In the museum shop, original goods inspired by the collection are available for purchase, enabling visitors to enjoy the museum’s charm in their daily lives.

Outside the main building, there is a Japanese garden spanning about 17,000 square meters, featuring four tea houses, where visitors can enjoy quiet walks in nature throughout the seasons. At the "NEZUCAFÉ" within the garden, guests can spend a peaceful time surrounded by greenery.

In 2009, a new logo was established featuring characters in clerical style from the Han Dynasty, along with designs inspired by the iris flower and bamboo for the letters "N" and "M." This logo won the German design award "Red Dot Design Award." It embodies the Nezu Museum's philosophy of respecting tradition while living in the present and connecting to the future.