What a nice little gem! I went to see the exhibition on the tea ceremony utensils from the Hosokawa family’s collection. The museum itself is small, but the treasures on display are impressive and some of them are designated as national treasures and important cultural assets. Please note that, although you will be given a leaflet with an overview in English, most exhibits are in Japanese only. Overall, I really enjoyed it and the location is quite beautiful, perfect for a weekend stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Also, admission is free with the Grutto Pass!

If you're interested in Chinese ceramics then this is the place to come. It's the private collection of the Hosokawa family. On display are beautiful items covering the period from the Han dynasty all the way through to the Qing dynasty. There is an general information leaflet (English) on the origin of the collection, and also a sheet listing all 56 items with descriptions. I enjoyed these lovely ceramics and think it was worth the ¥1000 entry fee. No photos inside unfortunately.

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I would recommend even though it’s out the way a little, it’s very relaxing and the workers are very friendly and knowledgeable.

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Two stars for the building and the setting (nearby garden) but, if I wanted to see the bric-a-brac of a wealthy dilettante, I can swipe around Instagram for free. The Hosokawa family really needs to think carefully about its curatorial choices here: not a single one of the items listed in the English guide (including a national treasure and several culturally significant works) were on display but, sure, include betting tickets, restaurant menus, luxury train passes and store welcome cards from Louis Vuitton, Christofle and others from a trip to Paris in the 1920s. Add a minor Cézanne, some dried-up palettes and a Le Coultre clock and that is half of what is on display today. Again, I cannot understand the ¥1000 adult entry fee for museums like this given the paucity of the collection. Avoid unless you feel like a nice walk from the streetcar across the river to the garden and up the hill in spring or autumn.

The artworks on the scrolls is beautiful and interesting to watch, but i feel that this is a museum for the japanese themselves, as there i very limited information translated and it can be quite a nightmare to get any sense of the exibitions. Think twice about spending the 1000 yen if you cannot read the kanji.