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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: + 61 7 3186 8800
A quick note about our experiences: Our experiences are designed to be part of a complete, tailor-made travel package and are not available to book individually. This allows us to ensure every detail – from accommodation to transport – is perfectly coordinated for you. If you're interested in one of these experiences, we'd love to help you build a full itinerary around it!
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