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Just minutes from Omotesando in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, the Nezu Museum offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Specializing in pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art, the museum opened in 1941 to preserve and exhibit the precious collection amassed by Kaichiro Nezu, a businessman and tea practitioner whose career included being president of the Tobu Railway. It houses seven national treasures and works in a wide range of genres with an extensive collection of tea utensils and Buddhist art.

The main building, designed by Kengo Kuma and completed in 2009, sits on a vast 20,000-square-meter grounds and features a Japanese garden where visitors can enjoy the scenery that changes with the seasons. After viewing the artworks, stroll along the stone-paved paths of the garden. You’ll encounter stone Buddha statues and four teahouses nestled among the trees, offering a peaceful respite where you can feel the essence of Japanese aesthetics.

Located in a quiet residential area of Setagaya, Tokyo, the Gotoh Museum houses a vast collection of ancient Japanese and East Asian art, including national treasures and important cultural properties. The museum's 6,000-tsubo (approximately 20,000 square meters) grounds are lush with greenery, making you forget you are in the heart of the city. The museum, opened in 1960, was conceived by Keita Gotoh, the founder of the Tokyu Group. It features many valuable art pieces collected by Gotoh alongside his railway business. One of the highlights is the National Treasure “Tale of Genji” picture scroll, displayed for a week each spring – an absolute must-see!

The garden takes full advantage of Musashino's natural slopes, creating the sensation of walking through a mountain village. Scattered throughout the garden are stone Buddha statues, such as the Dainichi Nyorai, and seasonal blooms like azaleas and weeping cherry trees.

The Eisei Bunko Museum is Tokyo’s only museum located on the site of an Edo-period daimyo residence. Situated in Mejirodai, the museum was once the administrative office of the Hosokawa clan, who ruled Kumamoto. It houses a wide range of artworks and historical artifacts passed down through the Hosokawa family for over 700 years, including modern Japanese paintings. The museum hosts themed exhibitions throughout the year.

After exploring the Hosokawa family's collection, stroll through the adjacent Higo-Hosokawa Garden. This garden preserves the grounds of the Hosokawa family’s former secondary residence. It features a pond and strolling paths utilizing the slopes of the Mejirodai plateau, offering dynamic views and the chance to appreciate the seasonal flora. Experience the grandeur of the great daimyo's legacy as you enjoy both the garden and the masterpieces, providing a comprehensive experience of Japanese beauty.

The Hakone Museum of Art, located in Gora, is renowned for its impressive collection of medieval Japanese ceramics. Established in 1952, it is the oldest museum in Hakone, an area known as an art treasure trove. The museum’s permanent exhibits include earthenware from the Jomon period, such as flame pots and Haniwa clay figures, as well as jars and urns from Japan’s six ancient kilns and Edo-period pottery, allowing visitors to experience the long history of Japanese ceramics.

The museum also features a garden called Shinsenkyo. On the second floor of the main building, the lobby offers a breathtaking view of what is said to be one of Tokyo’s most beautiful moss gardens, as well as the surrounding Hakone mountains and Sagami Bay. After exploring the historical artifacts, visitors can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets in a teahouse overlooking the garden.

The Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture boasts a remarkable collection of 20th-century masterpieces. Designed by Japan’s prominent modernist architect Ichiro Ebihara, the museum opened in 1990 within the grounds of the DIC Corporation's central research laboratory. The collection features works ranging from 17th-century Rembrandt and Impressionist Monet to modern art by Picasso and contemporary American artists like Stella and Rothko.

One of the museum's highlights is its garden, which harmonizes with the natural surroundings of the Hokuso Plateau. The garden features a relaxing lawn area and a pond reminiscent of Monet's water lily paintings. Additionally, six outdoor sculptures are placed throughout the grounds, allowing visitors to experience dynamic artworks set against a backdrop of natural beauty.