Despite the exhibition's high quality, my experience was quite frustrating since photography is not allowed. It's crucial for me to take time to view and understand the artworks during my visit to any museum. Consequently, I left the place rather quickly.
This museum is a delightful gem located in Harajuku, just behind the renowned Laforet mall. I found the exhibition well-curated and truly enjoyed the artwork and its presentation. The staff were also very welcoming and kind. However, I encountered a few minor issues that I will address. Many pieces had written commentary, but while some had English translations, many did not. Although this is Japan and I understand, I couldn't comfortably use my phone to translate due to the no photo policy. The museum can become quite crowded, which affected my experience. The specific route requires close viewing of the small art pieces, leading to long waits. In a larger museum, this wouldn’t be a problem, but here it’s difficult. I spent over 2 hours there due to congestion and felt I couldn't fully enjoy the art. If you're planning a visit, I recommend arriving early. I will return as I do appreciate ukiyo-e, but next time I'll arrive at opening.
An absolutely wonderful collection of artworks, but unfortunately, it was my worst museum experience ever, preventing me from truly appreciating or enjoying the pieces. The museum is small, but instead of limiting visitor numbers, staff prioritize allowing as many people inside as possible while just putting up a sign that states 'it may be crowded' as a justification. I found myself stuck in a very slow-moving line, constantly bumped by others. My advice to the museum: stop prioritizing profit and limit the number of visitors. I'm very disappointed as I was looking forward to this collection, but the management has deterred me from returning.
This small private museum specializes in Ukiyo-e, traditional Japanese woodblock prints. It's compact but offers a great collection that can be appreciated in about 30 minutes to an hour. Please note they only accept cash for entry fees and items like books and postcards. There is no ramp or elevator for the basement and second floors. On the basement floor, there is a small shop selling Tenugui, which are beautiful Japanese cotton handkerchiefs in various colors and traditional designs.
It's 2025, and a significant museum like this still refuses to accept credit cards or Suica, which is commonly accepted throughout Japan. I had difficulty withdrawing money from the nearest ATM. Additionally, the area was extremely crowded with visitors heading to flashy shops. Tokyo has a variety of outstanding museums where you can explore amazing art without navigating through the shopping crowds of Omotesando.
