I went to see the "Utsushiyo Murakami Yutaka Exhibition." Murakami Yutaka is apparently turning 83 this year and is still active. Admission 500 yen. I was happy to get a card that gives you free entry once you collect 4 stamps. Makes me want to come again. Unlike famous big art museums, there are fewer visitors, so I could enjoy it thoroughly and at a relaxed pace. If you get tired, there's a rest area in the back where you can see the greenery of the garden. There are also tables outside. The famous St. Mary's Cathedral Tokyo is right nearby, and it was nice to be able to visit it as well.

While strolling along Mejiro-dori toward Edogawabashi, I discovered the Kodansha Noma Memorial Museum near Chinzanso. They were holding a somewhat highbrow exhibition called Kodansha's "Publishing Culture Materials Exhibition," so I went in, and it turned out to be interesting. Besides the Noma Collection, they had rarely seen items on display such as covers of pre-war Kodansha books, original artwork for frontispieces, magazine supplements, and illustrations. It happened to be the last day (December 21), so although it was by chance, I was lucky. The building is also the renovated former residence of the first president, Noma Seiji, and the garden in particular is wonderful; sitting in a chair on the veranda of the rest room looking at it, you're seized by the urge to keep looking forever. Admission is 500 yen. A beautiful receptionist will welcome you. Maybe because transport access isn't great, it wasn't very crowded, so it was a facility to my liking, as I hate crowded places. I'll go again.

Though compact, the masterpieces from the Taisho to early Showa periods collected by the founder are captivating. At this time of year, weeping cherry trees welcome visitors. Recommended for those who want a place where time somehow flows slowly.

(Currently closed, October 2019) A small art museum where you can enjoy delicate Japanese-style paintings. Just right for a visit while out on a walk.

A private art museum near the luxury hotel "Chinzanso." It mainly displays works collected by Kodansha's founder, Noma Seiji, during the Taisho to early Showa periods. However, the collection is so impressive it's hard to believe it was put together by one individual, featuring masters from Japanese-style painters Kawai Gyokudo, Yokoyama Taikan, and Hayami Gyoshu to Western-style painters Fujishima Takeji, Nakamura Tsune, and Okada Saburosuke. It's a small museum, but I think the number of works on display is relatively large. There's a free rest room where you can eat and drink, from which you can view the splendid garden, and there's also terrace seating. I think being able to experience all this for 500 yen is quite a good deal.