The Hoki Museum is Japan's first museum dedicated to realist painting. Founded in 2010, it is a world-class art museum with 400 works by 40 artists on permanent display. It has about 500 meters of gallery space divided between its one upper and two basement floors.

You can access the museum easily by train and bus.

Take the JR Sotobo Line to Toke Station. From the south exit, take the Bus Asumigaoka Brand New Mall five minutes to Asumigaoka Higashi 4-chome stop. Walk for one minute to the museum.

Most of the works of art at Hoki Museum are oil paintings in the realist style, which means they're painted the way the artist sees the world. These works take a great deal of time to create, and the result is an intimate, detailed and impressive work of art.

The museum itself is a work of art that's worth experiencing. The unusual architecture contrasts with the quiet residential neighborhood that surrounds it. The starkly modern building with its curved corridors was designed by Nikken Sekkei, the same architectural firm that designed Tokyo Sky Tree .

The museum is laid out in a way that's easy to understand. Move along the long, layered corridors, stopping to pause at each work of art as you go. Various spots in the museum offer scenic views of the lush greenery that surround it.

The area around is also the home of Showa No Mori Park.