Hidden Tokyo: A Guide to Yanesen ( Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi )
Art & Culture
Experience Yanesen’s creative side through its galleries, studios, and cultural spots. From traditional crafts to contemporary art, inspiration is everywhere.
ASAKURA Museum of Sculpture
Here’s something we wish more visitors knew: just a few steps from Yanaka Cemetery and the famous mud walls of Kannonji lies one of the neighborhood’s true hidden gems — the Asakura Museum of Sculpture. Many travelers walk right past it, which is a real pity. This small public museum was once the home and studio of modern sculptor Fumio Asakura, and stepping inside feels like entering a serene world where a concrete atelier and a traditional Japanese residence blend beautifully. The courtyard, the airy “Natural Mind” room, and the sunlit “Sunrise” room reveal just how refined Japanese domestic architecture can be.
If you have even a spark of interest in art or Japanese aesthetics, don’t miss this place — it’s one of Yanaka’s quiet masterpieces.
💡Tip: Some areas require removing your shoes; easy-to-slip-on footwear helps.
📍Address: 7-18-10 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line)
⏰Opening hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (Entry until 4pm), Closed Mon and Thu (following weekday if a national holiday), and Dec 29–Jan 3.
🎟️Admission: ¥500 for adults; ¥250 for elementary, junior high, and high school students.
SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
Housed in a beautifully restored former public bathhouse, SCAI THE BATHHOUSE is Yanaka’s most internationally recognized art space. Inside its minimalist galleries, you’ll find contemporary works by leading Japanese and global artists—far beyond what you might expect from a quiet neighborhood. Locals love how the building’s old sentō spirit still lingers, giving the exhibitions a calm, meditative atmosphere. It’s an easy stop to add to your walk, and one of the few places where you truly feel Tokyo’s old and new blending seamlessly.
💡Tip: Exhibitions change from time to time, so it’s worth checking the official website (English) before you visit to see what’s currently on view.
📍Address: 6-1-23 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 9 min walk from Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line), 11 min walk from Sendagi Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: 12pm-6pm, closed Sun & Mon, and public holidays.
Sugiyama Art Room
Tucked away in a quiet lane of Nezu, the Sugiyama Art Room showcases the ballpoint-pen works of Koichi Sugiyama—a Tokyo artist whose finely detailed style has earned growing recognition across Japan, yet still feels like a hidden gem in Yanesen. His intricate black-ink drawings capture the city’s nostalgic backstreets with a warmth and precision that feel almost cinematic. Set inside a modest traditional house, the gallery offers an intimate look at his creative world—one locals treasure and genuinely hope more international visitors will discover.
💡Tip: Postcard sets featuring Sugiyama’s pen-drawings of Nezu Shrine make excellent Yanesen souvenirs.
📍Address: 2-25-1 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: 11am-5pm, closed Mon
Ueno Green Club
(Japan Bonsai Cooperative Site)
Just outside the Yanesen area—literally across the road from Nezu—Ueno Green Club serves as the main site of the Japan Bonsai Cooperative and one of Tokyo’s best destinations for anyone curious about this traditional art form. The permanent shop carries everything from starter trees to highly developed, mature bonsai specimens, along with specialized tools, artistic pots, and books that reveal the depth of this traditional art. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, making it easy for beginners to browse without pressure. Several major bonsai exhibitions are held throughout the year, offering visitors the chance to see master-level work up close and in person.
💡Tip: After visiting, consider exploring the nearby Nezu Shrine or continuing your walk into Yanaka for a relaxed cultural afternoon.
📍Address: 3-42 Ueno park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 4 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: 9am-5pm, closed irregularly.