Refine Your Perception: A Sumi-e Ink Painting Experience in a Serene Japanese Garden Teahouse

Uncover the Splendor of Keio Mogusaen Where the Spirit of Edo-Period Japan Remains Alive

Keio Mogusaen’s history began when Jushoin, the principal wife of the lord of Odawara Castle, rebuilt Shoren-ji temple as a memorial to the eldest son of Tokugawa Ieyasu after he passed away during the Edo Period. Within the garden stands the “Jushobai” plum tree, said to have been named and planted by her. In early spring, 500 other plum trees of 50 varieties bloom here. The plan starts off with a guided tour of the garden at your own pace, enjoying historical landscapes and the beauty of seasonal flowers.

Once featured in “Edo Meisho Zue,” a popular 19th-century illustrated guide to famous Japanese locales in and around Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Keio Mogusaen has long been popular with everyone from commoners to famous figures like the poet Bokusui Wakayama. On clear days, the garden’s 140-meter-high observation point offers spectacular views of Tokyo Skytree, the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, and Mt. Fuji. Through a 30-minute guided stroll that includes information about the garden known only to professionals, you will leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind and prepare your mind for sumi-e ink painting.

The Peace and Tranquility of the Sanreki-an Teahouse

The Sanreki-an teahouse, where the sumi-e experience takes place, is an authentic structure built from solid Akita cedar. Located in a quiet area away from the garden paths, its atmosphere is rich in Japanese sensibilities and offers a special, private venue for an encounter with the country’s traditional culture. Within this tranquil traditional setting, you’ll experience a seamless harmony between the garden’s natural beauty and the meditative art of sumi-e.

Sanreki-an is enveloped by lush maple trees. In autumn, the vivid vermilion shades of the foliage and a carpet of fallen leaves beneath the guests’ feet become the area’s major attractions. Gazing at this seasonal, uniquely Japanese garden scenery from inside Sanreki-an is an equally memorable experience. In a tranquil teahouse shaped by refined Eastern aesthetics, your brush will harmonize with the breath of nature and result in a deeply personal and expressive ink painting.

Learn the Essence of Ink Painting from an International Sumi-e Association Instructor

Leading this experience is an elite group of instructors from the International Sumi-e Association that promotes ink painting and fosters international cultural exchange. Among them, Mitsuki Muramatsu stands out as a highly accomplished artist thanks to her numerous accolades, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Award. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive direct guidance from such a seasoned professional.

Ink painting originated in China between the 5th and 6th century. It was introduced to Japan alongside Zen Buddhism in the early Kamakura Period (late 12th to early 13th century) where it has continued to evolve within a distinctly Japanese aesthetic framework. What the instructors seek when they paint is “Kiin Seido,” a state of refined elegance and a rhythmic sense of life flowing from every brushstroke in the finished work.

Rather than focusing on skill, this experience is more about turning inward and journeying within yourself. By relaxing and enjoying the fragrance of the ink and the feeling of the brush sliding on paper, even beginners will find their minds opening up and venture into a world of pure expression. Through the beauty created with just ink and brush, you’ll capture the changing seasons and the quiet beauty hiding in everyday life on paper, and, through it, broaden your horizons.

Learning the Fundamentals: Grinding Ink and Harmonizing Your Mind with the Tools

At the start of the experience, you’ll be introduced to the basic tools of ink painting, including the brush, ink, inkstone, and paper. Each of these implements offers a vast array of nuances. Paper, for example, differs depending on the raw materials, methods of production, and place of origin. With this introduction, you’ll gain an appreciation for sumi-e tools and how they shape the art of ink paintings. And by handling these carefully chosen implements under the master’s guidance, you will gain a deeper appreciation for this traditional Japanese art passed down through the ages.

Next comes an essential step: grinding the ink. The faint sound of the ink being ground against the inkstone and its refreshing fragrance will transport you to another place away from the noises of everyday life. Once the ink is ready, you will observe a demonstration by the instructor up close. Afterwards, using practice paper, you’ll do a few test brushstrokes, gradually developing a natural feel for the techniques of ink painting.

Create Unique Artwork by Painting Seasonal Flora on a Traditional Shikishi Art Board

After learning the basics, it’ll be time to finally create your own sumi-e ink painting on a shikishi art board. During the experience, each group can choose between bamboo and seasonal flowers or plants.

Bamboo, with its simple brushwork, is easy to paint even for beginners, making it ideal for those aiming for balance and refinement in their first ever ink work. Alternatively, seasonal flora (plum blossoms from February to March, hydrangeas from May to July, or autumn leaves from October to December) allows you to experiment with color pigments to capture Japan’s changing nature in a more vivid and expressive fashion.

The time spent creating an ink painting is special. It’s when you can see a reflection of your very mind on paper. Rather than thinking of it in terms of precision and realism, guests are encouraged to let the brush move freely to unleash their own uniqueness. Embracing strokes that do not go as planned can actually bring guests closer to the principles of Zen. Facing a sheet of pure white paper can become a meditative moment that brings one face to face with their inner self.

As you work with brush in hand, the instructor will advise you the entire time to help you complete the painting. Along the way, be sure to enjoy the rich and subtle nuances of black ink or the vibrancy of color pigments. The moment your work is finished, you’ll be taken by a sense of accomplishment unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Your completed ink painting will be fitted with a special display mount and given to you that same day together with a carry bag so you can take it home with you as a memento of this singular experience.

A Time to Connect with Nature and Gaze Within Yourself

Through this plan, you’re sure to experience a feeling of mental fulfillment. As you journey within yourself surrounded by the natural beauty of Keio Mogusaen and the gentle scent of ink, you will also have a chance to rediscover who you really are. Finally, by working with plant motifs, you’ll start to notice the quiet, everyday beauty of nature that too often goes overlooked. This experience teaches you proper painting techniques but is more than an art class. It’s an entry into the enriching world of East Asian art where beauty is found in empty spaces and expression can be achieved through restraint.

After the experience, you’ll be free to go on a leisure stroll and take in the atmosphere of the Keio Mogusaen garden. This special program, defined by a master instructor’s exceptional skill and historic surroundings, is a wonderful opportunity to step away from everyday life into a world of refined art. By the time you leave the garden with your finished work in hand, you’ll likely find yourself feeling calmer and more centered after having experienced Japanese culture with all five senses.