Special Experience
Kyoto
View and Touch Historical Art at a Kyoto Antique Dealer – Enjoy Tea Ceremony and Fine Sake With Precious Utensils
Overview
Discover Edo-period (1603-1868) art guided by an art tea ceremony expert at Nakanishi Shohoken, an art dealer specializing in Japanese tea ceremony utensils. Then, head to ART MON ZEN KYOTO, a hotel by Nakanishi Shohoken, where you can enjoy a tea ceremony using historical antiques and sip Japanese sake from antique cups and glasses. Experience a luxurious tea ceremony with precious utensils, and enjoy the timeless beauty of antique art with all your senses.
Key Features
・View Edo period folding screens and Kyo-yaki (traditional Kyoto ceramics) tea utensils in Gion, Kyoto, and learn the proper etiquette for viewing art
・Experience a tea ceremony with antique teaware at ART MON ZEN KYOTO, a hotel decorated with antique Baccarat chandeliers and seasonal artworks
・Enjoy the unique experience of drinking sake from antique vessels. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available
Kyoto
from
¥38,000 /person
1 - 8 participants
120 min
Available in English
Cancel free up to 4 days before
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 76,000
Details
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nakanishi Shohoken / ART MON ZEN KYOTO
Nakanishi Shohoken / ART MON ZEN KYOTO
Nakanishi Shohoken
Nakanishi Shohoken, founded in 1907, deals in Japanese antiques, tea ceremony utensils, and international art. The current third-generation owner believes in drawing inspiration from contemporary trends. In addition to uncovering emerging modern artists, they are also exploring innovative projects like art-themed hotels.
ART MON ZEN KYOTO
A luxury hotel by Nakanishi Shohoken, designed as "an art gallery you can stay in." Enjoy fine art in a space crafted with Japanese architectural techniques. The elegant "Tengai" space and the Japanese-Western fusion restaurant are popular with both guests and visitors. Conveniently located near Yasaka Shrine and Kodaiji Temple.
Location
ART MON ZEN KYOTO
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Request for booking
* Required
November 2024
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17
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17
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If your first choice is not available, we will confirm your booking based on your other preferred dates and times.
Experience fee
Minimum fee JPY 38000 × 2 participants
JPY 76,000
*Minimum: 2 participants; JPY 38,000 × 2 will be charged for bookings below the minimum.
Price may change after date is selected.
Additional options fee
Interpretation in English
JPY 0
Other
Service fee (5%)
JPY 3,800
Total Price
JPY 79,800
tax & service fee incl.
Extra charges may apply for the following
- ・Interpretation / Dependant on experience schedule and language
- ・Optional add-ons / Souvenirs, delivery, etc.
Kyoto
from
¥38,000 /person
1 - 8 participants
120 min
Available in English
Cancel free up to 4 days before
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 76,000
Things to know
Contact Us
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We also accept bookings from corporate clients and travel agencies.