
Nezu Museum found in Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, boasts a private collection of Japanese and Oriental arts. This museum, which was established by Mr. Nezu Kaichiro, the founder of Tobu railway company in Tokyo, is one of the oldest private art museums dating back to the years before the Second World War. A national treasure 'Kakitsubata Byobu' (Folding paper screen of rabbit-ear irises) painted by 'Ogata Korin', a leading Japanese-style painter in the 18th century, is a main attraction of this museum, and is opened to the public just in April and May to match the flowering time of the real irises in the garden. This Japanese garden, which was designed to make the most of the rolling landscape, originally was a private garden of the founder of this museum, and is dotted with four old tea houses. In April and May in particular, many rabbit-ear irises in the garden are outstanding having to do with the well-known masterpiece of the greatest painter.
Licensed tour guide/travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
