Asakura Sculpture Gallery

Asakura Sculpture Gallery Review

Outsiders have long since discovered the Nezu and Yanaka areas of Shitamachi—much to the dismay of the handful of foreigners who have lived for years in this charming, inexpensive section of the city. Part of the areas' appeal lie in the fact that some of the giants of modern Japanese culture lived and died here, including novelists Ogai Mori, Soseki Natsume, and Ryunosuke Akutagawa; scholar Tenshin Okakura, who founded the Japan Art Institute; painter Taikan Yokoyama; and sculptors Koun Takamura and Fumio Asakura. If there's one single attraction here, it's probably Asakura's home and studio, which was converted into a gallery after his death in 1964 and now houses many of his most famous pieces. The tearoom on the opposite side of the courtyard is a quiet place from which to contemplate his garden.

From the north wing (Nishi-guchi/West Exit) of JR Nippori Station, walk west—Tenno-ji temple will be on the left side of the street—until you reach a police box. Turn right, then right again at the end of the street. The museum is a three-story black building on the right, a few hundred yards from the corner.