Irises in Nezu Museum

During this year Golden Week, I had visited the Nezu Museum while the 'Irises and Wisteria Screens' special exhibition was holding. The exhibition last for about a month, from April 19 - May 18, which is almost the same time for the Irises in the garden to bloom.

I had visited the museum several times before this exhibition, I have to say, the Irises and Wisteria Screens' has totally won my heart for its beauty, complexity, delicacy, subtleness, and all. Not only the magnificent screens in the exhibition, but the real thing blooming in the garden was breath-taking too.

Nezu Museum was opened in 1941 after Nezu Kaichiro, Tobu railway industrialist and president, has passed away. The museum intention was to preserve his personal collection and it was his private residence site at Aoyama where the museum located. Due to his passion in 'the way of tea', the museum is considered especially strong in arts related to tea. Not only the exhibition, but the museum also included a very beautiful garden with tea houses too.

In 2006, Nezu's grandson commissioned Kengo Kuma to remodel the buildings and design a new in the garden which one now a Nezu Cafe. Kengo Kuma is a very well-known architect these days, not only in Japan, but his name is famous all over the world too.

'It is an attempt to design a museum as an urban design, rather than a single building. The avenue of Omotesando, where high-end brand shops and boutiques are jostling one another, begins with the woods of Meiji Jingu Shrine, and concludes in the south end with Nezu Museum abundant in green.
...
We want the new museum to be linked naturally with its surroundings by the shade from the gentle slope of the roof, located between the busy commercial area and the wood. 
...'

The architecture itself is subtle in my opinion. Tons of details, usual for Japanese architects, but still admirably. The lighting in every exhibitions, too, very considerate, very specific, very impressive.

It doesn't matter if you are interested in Art or Architecture or not, the museum is worth a visit if you go around the venue. The cafe in the garden was very nice, it is located for viewing the beautiful garden, plus green tea latte was good too. Stroll down the garden for a while and you'll forget those boutiques outside.

Note: Photograph is not allowed in the exhibition.
Direction: Omotesando Station Exit A5
Walk up the stair and turn right, go straight until you see the museum.
Price: 1,200yen/ 1,000yen for student