Outdoor Activities in Minato-ku (Tokyo)

Okura Shukokan Museum

Directly in front of the main entrance of Hotel Okura's parking lot, is Kihachiro Okura's contribution to the museum world. Set in an exquisite Japanese-style building and established in 1917, this private museum is notable for being the first of its kind in Japan. Changed seasonally, the eclectic collection includes screens, Noh masks and costumes, ancient books, paintings, ceramics and imposing sculptures. Admission: JPY700

Nezu Institute of Fine Arts

Here is another businessman's collection (Kaichiro Nezu 1860-1940) which has become a first-rate museum. Well represented are traditional Japanese art works. The museum is well known for its 14th century painting of "Nachi Waterfall", its screens (the irises by Korin) and its tea ceremony ware. There is also an excellent collection of Song and Yuan Chinese dynasty paintings.

Hikawa Shrine

Both nagare and gongen style architecture are represented in these austere buildings, reflecting the taste of Yoshimune Tokugawa, the shogun who is associated with this shrine. A pair of splendid gingko trees greets the visitor at the top of the stone-stepped approach. Kaishu Katsu, who was pivotal in the smooth transition of the Meiji Restoration, lived in the vicinity of the shrine and even used its name in the title of his memoir, "Hikawa Sewa" (Pure Talk from Hikawa).

Matsuoka Museum of Art

For many years this was a major venue in Japan to see Indian, Egyptian, Roman, Grecian and Chinese pottery. Even with the arrival of many other museums, Seijiro Matsuoka's collection is still worth seeing. Favorites are the Chinese embellished jades and Korean celadon. The balcony overlooking the exhibits is also an attractive feature. In the Western-art section, Millais, Chagall, van Dongen, Picasso and Renoir are all represented. Admission: JPY550

NHK Broadcast Museum

Opened in 1956, the focus is on displays depicting the history of broadcasting in Japan. The Emperor's famous broadcast at the end of the second world war is preserved on disk in a special case. Nostalgia buffs will appreciate seeing the evolution of Japan's broadcast technology on old television cameras. Admission: Free

Museum of Logistics

The field of logistics is pivotal to both daily living and to business. The Logistics Museum, which opened in 1998, inherited the collection of the Nippon Express Museum. More than 12,000 articles on transportation plus 40,000 pictures documenting the history of Nippon Express form the bulk of the museum's holdings. The history of Japan's logistics is displayed on the first floor while the second floor serves as both a reading area and a multimedia room. Do not miss seeing a leather-padded letter box pillow. Edo period messengers slept on these to prevent anyone stealing the confidential documents within!

Toraya Karyo Akasaka

Now into its seventeenth generation, Toraya has made traditional Japanese confectionery ("wagashi") for the imperial family since the 16th century. The museum opened in 1973 and the bulk of the collection comprises utensils and a myriad of different cake moulds for special occasions. There are also books on "wagashi" and detailed business records related to the company business. Also on display is an Edo period shop sign depicting Toraya's trademark tiger motif.

Minato City Local History Museum

A visit to this local ward museum will give you a chance to see ancient shards excavated from the Shiba area, some dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. These include fishing utensils, farming implements and various pottery and porcelain pieces. During the Edo Period, Tokyo pre-1868, the area from Toranomon to Akasaka was an exclusive samurai residential area and this can be seen in the style of some crockery pieces held in the museum collection. There is also a map from this period showing the various estates of former feudal lords, or daimyo.

Shiba Park

Shiba Park has within its grounds a large bowling center, a driving range for golf, a swimming pool, two baseball fields and four artificial turf tennis courts. The park is in a nice setting and includes the Tokyo Tower. The park is lit up until late at night and open 24 hours, though the sports facilities close at 10pm.

Shinagawa Prince Complex

Just outside Shinagawa Station on the Yamanote line there is a sports complex run by the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The facilities lie behind the hotel. There is a 100-lane bowling alley and large game room in one building. In another there is an indoor golf driving range, a putting green and several tennis courts. Lessons are available for both tennis and golf. Reservations recommended.

Institute for Nature Study

Take a stroll along the paths of this Institute for Nature Study or Tokyo oasis, a nature preserve, including forest and swamp land in Meguro. Administered by the Institute for Nature Study since 1949, the grounds formerly belonged to the Shirokane family. Material related to Tokyo's geological history is displayed in a small building. Do not miss the examples of ubiquitous Japanese dirt! It is open from 9 am , from Tuesday to Sunday.