Galleries of Chuo
Shitamachi is home to some hidden gems of galleries that are off the beaten path. Nowhere is this truer than Chuo. Go with one of our expert, and friendly, guides on a private trip to experience this diverse collection in detail.
- Walk between some of Shitamachi’s most unique galleries
- Enjoy Japanese art from all eras at the Mitsui Memorial Museum
- Step behind a Queen Anne façade to stupendous art in the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum
- See the great collection of art from across East Asia at the Idemitsu Museum of Arts
Wonders of the 7th Floor
The Mitsui Memorial Museum, located within the headquarters of Mitsui Group, holds artworks – which include a Joan tea ceremony room – which offer a taste of Japan’s regard for functionality in a museum geared around the “beauty of form”. While many of the exhibits lack English translations, your expert guide will be happy to translate and leave you with an understanding of the art.
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum
Set within what was one of the first western-style office buildings in Tokyo, this gallery dates back to 2010. Networking with museums across the globe, it is known for high-class thematic exhibitions which focus on 19th century art.
Works of Nippon
Your guide will also take you to the Idemitsu Museum of Arts to see a fine collection of Japanese pieces, a number of which date back to the early Jōmon period, as well as pieces from China and Korea. Located on the 9th floor of the Imperial Theatre you can peer over the moat of the Imperial Palace to what lies beyond.
Touriocity Tip: Read up on the Japonisme movement, which is a driving force behind much of the artwork displayed in the aforementioned galleries. See how influential Japanese artistry has been within the Western world. We recommend the Tate introductory website as a starting point: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/j/japonisme
