- Culture
- Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Mansion museum that conveys the beauty of Art Deco style to the present day
Originally built as the residence of Prince Asaka in 1933, the main building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum opened as an art museum in 1983. The building itself is a work of art, imbued with the essence of beauty that Prince and Princess Asaka brought back after their long-term stay in France. After various renovations in recent years including the construction of the Annex and maintenance of the garden, the museum was fully opened in 2018.
Main building: Salon
The Art Deco movement swept through Europe in the 1910s to 1930s. Prince and Princess Asaka were introduced to Art Deco during their stay in France and were fascinated by its stylistic beauty. After returning to Japan, they actively adopted the essence of Art Deco for the construction of their residence, and the interiors of the main rooms were designed by famous French designers such as Henri Rapin and René Lalique, as well as by the Construction Bureau of the Imperial Household Ministry, which was in charge of the palace’s construction.
Main building: Great Dining Hall
Completed through the combined efforts of Japanese and French designers, engineers and craftsmen, it is not an exaggeration to say that the building itself is a work of art, as the residence is filled with the utmost attention to details in design, decorations, materials, and techniques. It is designated as a National Important Cultural Property for its value as one of the finest residential architecture by the Construction Bureau of the Imperial Household Ministry.
The gardens
Though located in the city center, the museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens rich in greenery, which gained the museum its name. The expansive lawn space and a Japanese garden with a tearoom, designated as a National Important Cultural Property, have been handed down since the days as the residence of Prince Asaka. These two gardens and the Western-style garden welcome visitors with varying atmospheres for each season. You can also enjoy dining at the French restaurant surrounded by greenery on the museum premises.
Location
| Name | Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/ |
| Address | 5-21-9 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Access | Approximately 7 minutes' walk from East Exit of Meguro Station on the JR Yamanote Line Approximately 7 minutes' walk from Front Exit of Meguro Station on the Tokyu Meguro Line Approximately 6 minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Shirokanedai Station on the Toei Mita Line or Tokyo Metro Namboku Line |
| Business Hours | 10:00 to 18:00 (Last admission: 17:30) |
| Closed | every Monday (open if it is a public holiday, closed the following day), year-end and New Years |
| Inquiries | TEL: 03-3443-0201 (Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum) |