Sumiya Motenashi Cultural and Art Museum

4.5

One often hears of geisha quarter “Shimabara” in Kyoto period dramas. Now it is Nishishinyashiki Ageya-cho, and what remains of that time is the Sumiya Motenashi Museum of Art and Culture. Sumiya was a high-class pleasure house built at the beginning of the establishment of Shimabara in 1641. The wide garden facing the tatami room has a tea house, and the place was used not only for parties but tea ceremonies and gathering of haiku poets too. In 1952 it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan as a place retaining the culture of feasts and hospitality.

Spot details

Sumiya Motenashi Cultural and Art Museum

Address: Kyoto Kyoutoshi Shimogyou-ku Nishishinyashikiageyachou 32 Map
Area: Around Kyoto Station Area
Phone: 0753510024
Hours: [3/15-7/18, 9/15-12/15]10:00-16:00
Closed: Monday(The day following if it falls on a public holiday)
Fees: [Admission fee] [General] 1,000yen [Junior high school students/High school students] 800yen [Elementary school students] 500yen * Excluding the special opening fee Friday on the 2nd floor
Parking Lot: Available(4spaces)
Credit Card: Not available
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Not available
Can be enjoyed even on a rainy day: Yes
Estimated stay time: 30-60 minutes
Wheelchair accessible: Available (only possible to transfer to the hotel's wheelchair)
Infant friendly: Yes (accompanied by a guardian)

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Review

Stunning preserved ageya with great history

Reviewed : 2018.04.05

This place is a real find and usually off the beaten tourist track for non Japanese. To get the best its advisable to have the benefit of an interpreter. We hired a Japanese tour guide for the day as...
Old Kyoto architecture

Reviewed : 2017.08.24

This was one of the best things we saw in Kyoto. The house was in the entertainment district of Old Kyoto. The architecture is unique and dates back 300 years. Little details like the sword cuts made...
Just amazing

Reviewed : 2017.04.13

This property has been owned by the same family for many generations and was built in the 1700s , the family has preserved it well and run it as a walk through museum. Unfortunately there is limited...