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Traditional townhouse visit
Try on a kimono and take part in a tea ceremony at a beautifully preserved merchant house in Kyoto.
Kept in the same family for 13 generations, the Tondaya is a classic example of a Meiji period machiya town house. Located in Kyoto's Nishijin textile district, the house was built as a textiles shop with living quarters stretching far behind. There are three storehouses, six small gardens reflecting the seasons, a tea ceremony room and an annex where noh performances were once held.
Today the machiya is set up as a living museum and visitors can take part in hands-on cultural experiences which InsideJapan can book as part of any Kyoto visit. You'll start with a tour of the beautifully preserved machiya and its antiques before having the chance to choose an exquisite kimono to try on. While wearing the kimono, you can take part in a short tea ceremony and later a bento lunch is also included.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
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