Tea Ceremony Experience with Precious Museum Collection Utensils in a Private Nagoya Tearoom

Residence of the Tycoon and Philanthropist Founder of a Leading Nagoya Attraction

Tamesaburo Furukawa was a leading business tycoon during the heady gilded days of the so-called 1980s "Bubble economy". His wealth and success earned him international renown, and he was featured on magazine covers with such foreign dignitaries as Queen Elizabeth II. A 1988 Forbes Magazine piece that described him as “the world’s oldest billionaire.” Today his former family residence is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan, and this Wabunka exclusive plan offers the chance to enjoy tea ceremony within – just as Furukawa himself did.

Furukawa used his business acumen to develop a variety of new ventures including theaters and restaurants, and pursued his love of art to amass an extensive collection.

The Tamesaburo Memorial Museum sits in a residential area just 15 minutes by train from Nagoya Station

The Tamesaburo Memorial Museum opened in 1995, reflecting Furukawa’s wish that “this house that I loved become a place of relaxation for many.” Since then, it has been a local fixture hosting special exhibitions and events.

Aside from its main hall, the Tamesaburo Memorial Museum also features a gorgeous traditional garden filled with the Japanese chinquapin trees Furukawa so loved, as well as a tearoom. It was registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2018 in recognition of its importance to be preserved for future generations. 

The museum’s interior is also a sight to behold

During the experience, participants can take a guided tour of the magnificent main hall, which perfectly fuses the aesthetics of a traditional Japanese manor with richly appointed Western-style furnishings, and get a sense of Furukawa’s unique and well-cultivated aesthetic sensibilities.

A Private Off-limits Tearoom

When the facility tour is completed, Wabunka visitors can move to the Chisoku-an Tearoom in the Museum’s garden.

Tranquility itself, nestled in wooded greenery

Like the main hall of the Tamesaburo Memorial Museum, Chisoku-an also stands preserved in its original 1934 form. Modeled in reference to Tearoom Jo-an in the eponymous castle of Aichi Prefecture’s Inuyama City – also a national treasure. This highly-regarded space, normally off-limits to the public, was also included in the national register of tangible cultural properties in 2018.

The compact interior is cleverly designed so that its wall scroll is visible from any seating position

All of the tea accoutrements in this experience are highly valued craft masterpieces from the private collection that Tamesaburo actually used.

The blue jug by 15th generation master Zengoro Eiraku (right)

An exemplary piece from the collection is an arresting blue jug by Zengoro Eiraku, 15th generation master of the Eiraku family of potters whose history stretches back across five centuries.

Tea from Vessels and Utensils Selected Personally for You

A qualified tea ceremony specialist from the museum will prepare your tea on the spot, using a method not based in the dictates of any particular school of tea ceremony, so that novices and first timers can be at ease.

The captivating splendor of ceremonial tea preparation right before your eyes

Highlights of the experience include an up-close look at ceremonial tea brewing and precious tea utensils, along with the wall scroll and other interior features of the tearoom. The vessels and utensils vary with each experience, chosen from the museum’s precious collection to suit each guest.

Neither tea ceremony training nor knowhow are necessary to enjoy the experience

Let your curiosity seize you as you ask away about the stories behind each vessel and utensil selected from Tamesaburo’s collection. Delight in seasonal sweets alongside your cup and luxuriate in traditional hospitality.

Traditional sweets from Umeya Mitsutaka, a confectioner’s with over a century of history in Nagoya and ties to Tamesaburo himself (confectionery offerings vary)

Getting to Know the Furukawa Museum of Art

Following the tea ceremony, stroll just two minutes on down the road to the Furukawa Museum of Art.

Tamesaburo spent years building an art collection to decorate his manor, and amassed some 2,800 pieces ranging from paintings to tea vessels. The Furukawa Museum of Art opened to showcase this collection and make it accessible to the general public.

The Furukawa Museum of Art is the only such art museum in Nagoya’s Chikusa Ward

Exhibits vary with the seasons, but generally feature Japanese paintings, ceramics, and other crafts. Museum staff are on site to offer details about the works displayed and features of the museum. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy unique masterworks not found anywhere else.

Uemura Shoen, Early Autumn, 1943

A Tea Ceremony Experience Offering a Taste of the Lifestyle of a Cultural Luminary

Tea ceremony places high value on the ephemeral encounters between individuals, places, and things. The tearoom, tea accoutrements, and the tea itself are created and curated with great care to forge an emergent harmony of hospitality.

A serene space unfolds

Even over a lifetime packed with the busy demands of business, Tamesaburo cherished beauty and hospitality. This plan offers the chance to step into that mindset for a while.