Kyoto’s Meiji-era mansion opens a private tearoom with stained glass for just one day
A rare East-meets-West tea ceremony in a seldom seen tearoom. A country’s culture is often deep and never-ending, always with new facets to explore, but the point where two cultures meet and blend is no less fascinating. In the case of Japan, it has led to things like the tradition of yoshoku (Western dishes adapted […]
In Kyoto, a rare East-meets-West tea ceremony is being offered in a private tearoom at the Hotel Chorakukan, a landmark that blends Japanese and Western cultures. Built in 1909 during the Meiji era by tobacco industrialist Kichibei Murai, the mansion was originally designed for foreign diplomats and nobility. The tearoom, Chorakuan, is a replica of Zangetsutei, a historic tearoom from the Omotesenke school of Japanese tea ceremony.
This year, in celebration of the hotel's annual Art Festival 2026, visitors have the opportunity to experience a special Tea Serving Experience, known as "teicha," in Chorakuan, a normally private third-floor tearoom. The 30-45 minute session includes preparing matcha and serving seasonal sweets, with the tearoom illuminated by vibrant stained-glass windows depicting cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.
The event, held over six sessions between 10:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., requires advance reservations and costs 2,500 yen.
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