Nezu Museum and Garden

We have visited Tokyo many times and never weary of visiting the same places each time. However, this was our first visit to the Nezu Museum, founded by Kaichirō Jr., to house the collection of his father, Kaichirō Sr. Kaichirō Sr was a successful business and one time president of the Tōbu Railway Co., Ltd, but also an avid collector of Japanese and East Asia pre-modern art. His aim was to preserve his collection for the public to eventually see.

Unfortunately, Kaichirō Sr passed away in 1940 before realising his dream, but his son created a foundation in his honour and the Museum in its current location in Aoyama in central Tokyo to house the collection. The various artifacts are displayed in rotation as the collection numbers around 4000 pieces. Fortunately, Kaichirō Jr. also had the wit to move the greater part of the collection out of the city, because the original Museum was bombed in 1945.

Kaichirō Sr was also a follower of the "Way of Tea" or as we know it, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, which is repesented in the much of the tea parrafinalia in the collection such as tea pots, stirring brushes and bowls, but also priceless hanging caligraphy scrolls (Tatejiku) with meaningful messages that prviously adorned the walls at some of the important formal tea association meetings (chaji).

The tea ceremony is heavily influenced by Zen Buddism and is regarded in Japan as one of the classical arts of refinement (Chadō). The others being the appreciation of incense (kōdō) and flower arranging (kadō).

The physical museum, now it's final incarnation from 2009, is situated in a stunning garden with paths that take you up and down and snaking in many directions surounded by creatively planted trees and bushes. There are picturesque ponds and streams with little bridges to take you over and appropriately, tea pavillions. At every turn, there seems to be either a statue or a stone pagoda or artefact. Such is the tranqulity, it is hard to imagine that you are in the heart of a city. And in many ways, the beauty of the garden overshadows the worthiness of the museum.

I took so many photos to try and capture the garden, but in truth, it is difficult to convey the beauty and if there is one regret, it is not to be there in the Autumn, when of the plants and tree turn from green to shades of gold, orange, and brown.