Gotoh Museum: A Sanctuary of East Asian Art in Tokyo

The Gotoh Museum, established in 1960 by Keita Gotoh, the founder of the Tokyu Group, is a private museum located in Tokyo's Setagaya district. It houses Gotoh's extensive collection of Japanese and East Asian art, featuring paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and archaeological objects. The museum's collection includes five National Treasures and fifty Important Cultural Properties. The museum is particularly renowned for its sections of the oldest extant illustrated handscroll of 'The Tale of Genji,' dating back to the 12th century. These scrolls are a highlight, with public viewings typically held in the first week of May. The museum also features the 'Murasaki Shikibu Diary Picture Scroll,' showcased in autumn. The exhibits change several times a year, with six to seven exhibitions annually. The museum building, designed in the Shinden-zukuri style, reflects traditional aristocratic architecture. The 5-acre grounds include a Japanese garden with seasonal flowers, ponds, and Buddhist statues. Photography is allowed in the garden but prohibited inside the building. The museum also hosts lecture sessions and gallery talks.