If the new Prime Minister's Official Residence was opened to the public, unknowing visitors would think they had stumbled into an art museum.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi moved into the residence in April 2002 and has "converted" it over the past several months into a museum filled with pictures and sculptures that match his tastes.
Unfortunately, due to the tight security, the Koizumi collection is basically off-limits to the public and, apart from his staff, can only be viewed by the handful of politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders who are allowed to enter.