What this is
Woodblock prints depicting flowers and birds — a genre known in Japanese as kachō-ga — drawn from the Rockefeller Collection, one of the most celebrated private holdings of Japanese art assembled in the West. The Rockefeller family's deep engagement with Asian art, channelled partly through their support of institutions like the Asia Society, produced a collection of exceptional quality, and seeing these works in Tokyo rather than New York carries its own quiet irony. Expect refined, intimate works on paper rather than a blockbuster survey show.
Who should go
Woodblock print enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in Japanese nature art or the history of Western collecting of Japanese works. The Hokusai Museum's focused scale makes this a good fit for solo visitors or couples rather than families with young children.
Good to know
Tickets can typically be purchased at the Hokusai Museum box office or in advance via eplus.jp or pia.jp, both of which accept foreign credit cards; convenience store pickup at Lawson is the most straightforward option for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. The Sumida Hokusai Museum is a relatively small, modern facility — capacity is limited and timed-entry slots may apply for special exhibitions, so booking ahead is advisable. Photography policies for loan exhibitions from private collections are often restrictive; assume no photography unless signage indicates otherwise. The museum is a short walk from Ryogoku, a neighbourhood also worth exploring for its sumo stables and the Edo-Tokyo Museum area.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.