View and Touch Historical Art at a Kyoto Antique Dealer – Enjoy Tea Ceremony and Fine Sake With Precious Utensils

A World of Beauty Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Furumonzen Street in Gion, Kyoto, is lined with art dealers and located close to Chion-in Temple. Although near downtown and tourist attractions, it maintains a tranquil, historic atmosphere. Founded in 1907, Nakanishi Shohoken on Furumonzen Street specializes in tea ceremony utensils from various eras and curates a selection of Japanese and international art.

Among the many art dealers on the street, Nakanishi Shohoken stands out, attracting cultural figures from across the country

In 2017, Nakanishi Shohoken opened ART MON ZEN KYOTO on the same street as their store. It’s a hotel designed to feel like a "relaxing space in a museum" with carefully selected art pieces throughout. In this experience, you'll explore the gallery at Nakanishi Shohoken and ART MON ZEN KYOTO, with insights provided by the staff on the displayed art pieces. Then, enjoy a tea ceremony in the Japanese "Tengai" space using precious tea utensils, and taste cocktails in antique cups and glasses.

The hotel's interior features a unique design where the specialized techniques of tea room carpenters are incorporated into modern architecture

The first floor of Nakanishi Shohoken’s gallery incorporates traditional tea ceremony culture into a modern atmosphere. At its center is a tsukubai (hand-washing basin), and the dim lighting creates a serene space, evoking the quiet focus of a tea ceremony. View contemporary art that marries tradition and innovation, including free-spirited paintings by young artists using Japanese pigments and objects created by long-established Kyo-yaki artists, stimulating your senses.

Contemporary art lines the first floor of the gallery. When the lights are dimmed, light from the third-floor skylight illuminates the tsukubai’s water surface

View Iconic Kyoto Art Up Close

The atmosphere transforms completely on the gallery's second floor, revealing a Japanese-style space showcasing sukiya-zukuri (teahouse style) techniques. Notice the architectural beauty in details like the shikidai platform at the entrance and the seamless earthen walls.

A Japanese space with teahouse architecture, where you can immerse yourself in Japanese culture and history

The hall features Nakanishi Shohoken's collection of antiques, with each piece's history, characteristics, and key details explained in an easy-to-understand manner. The highlight is the Rakuchu-Rakugai-zu Byobu, a folding screen painting that captures daily life in early Edo period Kyoto. This is a rare chance to observe the details of this folding screen that vividly depicts the ancient capital's prosperity.

Admire the screens with the same grace as those in the past, who covered their mouths with a fan to enjoy the art

Also on display are Kyo-yaki tea utensils, colorful and shimmering and embodying the ideals of wabi-sabi. You can touch these pieces, a unique opportunity offered by antique art dealers. When handling them, please remove rings or necklaces and view from a low angle.

Kyo-yaki pottery features a variety of motifs like animals and books (exhibits change seasonally)

Experience the Four Seasons Through Antique Art in an Elegant Space

After exploring Japanese antique art, walk a short distance to ART MON ZEN KYOTO. As you enter through the red pine door, an antique Baccarat chandelier welcomes you. The interior, built using sukiya-zukuri techniques, is a work of art in itself. Art from various eras, both Japanese and international, is displayed thoughtfully to ensure optimal viewing angles.

The antique Baccarat chandelier, bought in France by Nakanishi Shohoken's representative, makes a strong impression

In a corner of the building, the elegant "Tengai" space, separated by traditional misu blinds (used in palaces and temples), offers the next experience. Though artworks like hanging scrolls are traditionally viewed on tatami mats, this room is designed for viewing from a chair, so no need to worry about sitting on the floor. Learn about the seasonal shitsurai (decorations and furnishings arranged for the season or celebration) and the artworks, and immerse yourself in the Japanese tradition of elaborate hospitality.

Seasonal artworks greet guests. In summer, enjoy Gion Festival decorations and hanging scrolls of waterfalls that evoke a sense of coolness

Experience a Luxurious Tea Ceremony with Precious Utensils

As the saying goes, "You can only truly appreciate a painting by seeing it and a tea bowl by using it," Nakanishi Shohoken gives you the chance to see, touch, and use artworks. This experience includes grinding matcha with a stone mill, tasting seasonal Japanese sweets, observing a tea ceremony, and drinking tea from an antique tea bowl.

Enjoy the tea ceremony from a chair, and you can also request thick tea if you prefer

Even if you've had matcha before, you might not have seen it ground in a stone mill. Grinding matcha carefully produces a fine, uniform powder that’s important for a frothy, smooth tea. If you like, you can even use a tea whisk and make tea with your group for a fun, hands-on experience.

Enjoy a blissful moment learning about the history and characteristics of the tea utensils while savoring matcha in your favorite piece

It's a rare chance to drink tea from a historic work of art. You'll also receive a lecture on the utensils’ history and tea-drinking etiquette, but don't worry about the formalities. Simply enjoy the experience of interacting with authentic pieces that only an art dealer can offer.

Enjoy Fine Sake in Antique Sake Cups and Baccarat Glasses

Another highlight of this experience is drinking sake from antique cups. On weekend nights, Tengai transforms into a sake bar, offering a curated selection from across Japan. Your guide, Ritsuya Segawa, is knowledgeable about not just antiques, but also tea ceremony and sake. Enjoy a pleasant chat as you learn about the vessels, sake, and the makers behind them.

Notice the collection of sake vessels. Enjoy an exceptional experience drinking sake while reflecting on their history

If you’d like to enjoy sake in vessels besides ceramic cups, antique Baccarat glasses or lacquer sake cups by contemporary artists are also available. You can also order cocktails made with Japanese gin and rum—feel free to make a request.

Enjoy sake and cocktails in Baccarat glasses, cherished by Japanese tea masters, for a refined experience

The tea ceremony is said to be a pinnacle of Japanese culture, blending various art forms into one. This experience lets you enjoy art and seasonal displays in a refined setting, guided by an art tea ceremony expert. Enjoy the timeless beauty of antique art with all your senses.