Rebecca in Japan: Inspiration and Travel Blog – Nezu

Nezu is a museum and art gallery with an ancient garden. This was the first Japanese Garden I visited in Japan, and I was completely seduced. So many careful details: trees are wrapped with a rush-like mat, like a tree bracelet. There is no grass! instead, there is bare earth or moss or stones, raked gravel The planting was meticulous, water plays an important role and there were connecting pools, bridges and incredible views.

The garden at Nezu is in a valley, with winding stone paths edged with moss leading down to the small lake, tea houses are tucked into the design, so that each turn leads to a new careful composition of a vista. Ancient stone sculptures are arranged amid the planting, sometimes lining paths, sometimes nestled into a bush. I appreciated seeing these sculptures placed so harmoniously within an environment which was so simpatico. Koi thrived in the lakes, and back at the top of the valley gardens, a giant bronze bell presided over the view. 

The collections at Nezu were similarly sublime, carved heads of Buddha, set in stone and bronze, were displayed with dignified space around them. I saw a collection of paintings in the ground floor galleries, “Paintings created as sets” the work had a huge impact, the quality of brush strokes, black and coloured ink sometimes on a gold leaf background, it was exquisite. 

http://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/en/#5

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