An Art Deco Residence With Gardens

At a Glance

The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum sits on a quiet hill in Shirokanedai, Minato. It is a rare museum where the building and gardens are the main exhibit—the 1933 Art Deco residence of Prince Asaka, converted to a public museum in 1983.

An Asaka Residence

Prince and Princess Asaka lived in Paris from 1925–28 and brought Art Deco home. The Japanese Imperial Household architect Gonkurō Kudō designed the house; Paris designer Henri Rapin handled the interiors. René Lalique's glass relief in the entrance and Max Ingrand's dining-hall glass are exceptionally rare European Art Deco works in Japan.

Highlights

• Lalique entrance with the goddesses relief.
• Main dining and salon — the best-preserved Art Deco interior in Japan.
• Private second-floor rooms mixing Japanese lacquer with French decorative art.
• The 2014 New Wing across a covered bridge for temporary shows on decorative arts.
• 25,000 m² of combined Western and Japanese gardens, busy in cherry-blossom and maple seasons.

Tips

Shirokanedai (Namboku Line) or JR Meguro. Admission ~¥1,400 with a special exhibition. Plan 1.5–2 hours. Pair with the adjacent Institute for Nature Study for a garden-focused day.