Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Art Deco museum in Shirokanedai, Tokyo, Japan
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is an art museum inside a former residence in Shirokanedai, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, presenting a white exterior with symmetrical lines and geometric ornaments. A maintained Japanese garden surrounds the main house and connects traditional landscaping with the modern architecture of the thirties.
A member of the imperial family commissioned the construction of this residence in 1933 after spending time in Europe. French craftsmen worked with Japanese architects to create rooms using imported materials and furnishings.
The building preserves its original interiors and shows how Japanese aristocrats adopted Western styles during the 1930s. Visitors walk through rooms where original lighting fixtures and wall coverings remain in place.
Access is via the Yamanote Line to Meguro, from where the grounds are reachable after a short walk. The ground floor with cafe and sales area can be entered without a ticket, while the upstairs exhibition rooms require admission.
The main staircase features a wrought iron banister with floral motifs imported from France. The princess dressing room contains a hidden passage leading directly into a private garden section.
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