2014 saw the completion of the museum’s annex, its galleries in the modern ‘white-cube’ style complementing and contrasting with the historically rich spaces of the main building. Of all the residences realized by the Works Bureau of the Imperial Household Ministry, the museum’s main building, with its principal rooms designed by key Art Deco figures such as Henri Rapin and René Lalique, is certainly the most distinctive. In recognition of this, the building was officially designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government in 2015. The gardens (or teien, which give the museum their name) remain virtually unchanged from the time when the grounds served as an imperial residence. The open expanses of grass and the Japanese garden with its pond and miniature hills provide the ideal spot to savour the delights of the changing seasons, such as the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.