The name 'Teien' translates to 'garden,' highlighting the significance of the 20,000-square-meter grounds.
Prince Asaka, who lived here, was an amateur of the arts and spent time in Paris, which heavily influenced the home's Art Deco aesthetic.
The iconic glass front door features relief sculptures by French designer René Lalique.
During World War II, the house served as the official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister for a brief period.
The mansion's interior uses rare materials like macassar ebony and marble, reflecting the lavish tastes of the 1930s Japanese imperial family.
The Japanese-style garden contains a historic teahouse named 'Kōka-sō' which dates back to the estate's early residential period.
The site was designated a National Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government in 2015.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is housed in the former 1933 residence of Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture. The structure was designed by Henri Rapin and G.L. Gélan, featuring interior decor by René Lalique and Raymond Subes. It operates as a contemporary art museum, frequently hosting rotating exhibitions within the historical rooms. The site includes both a Western-style garden with a lawn and a traditional Japanese garden with a tea house. The main building retains much of its original decor, including stained glass doors and cast-aluminum radiators. It is located in Minato City, situated within a gated estate that offers a contrast to the surrounding urban density. The museum complex also includes a modern annex gallery built for larger-scale displays.
The central lawn area offers a full perspective of the mansion's rear Art Deco facade and terraces.
Walk the garden paths separately from the mansion tour to fully appreciate the landscape design.
Check the museum's official exhibition calendar before visiting, as the galleries close between shows.
Visit on a weekday to avoid crowds in the narrow interior hallways of the historical mansion.
Attempting to visit during the transition periods between exhibition rotations, as the main museum building may be closed.
Closed on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month and during exhibition installation periods.
Visitors must remove footwear before entering the historic mansion and wear provided slippers; photography rules for the mansion interior change depending on the specific exhibition.
