Hotel Chourakukan in Kyoto's Higashiyama district (Maruyama-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto; General Manager: Shigeto Yoshida) will hold a one-day-only event, the "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026," on September 27 (Sunday), 2026.
Now in its 5th year, this year's theme is "Architecture and Hospitality Culture."
The day's program includes a rare, one-day-only opening of the Onari-no-Ma, a normally private room within the Important Cultural Property Hotel Chourakukan; a special dialogue between Midori Uematsu, author of Teikoku Hotel Kenchiku Monogatari, and Reiko Sakata, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel Kyoto; a one-night-only collaboration dinner between Sapporo's three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Molière and Hotel Chourakukan's own FRENCH LE CHENE; a concert marking the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra's 70th anniversary; a tea ceremony in the normally private tea room Chorakuan; and more.
Through food, art, and traditional culture, the event offers a day to experience the hospitality culture that has been passed down at the Important Cultural Property Hotel Chourakukan.
Background
Built in the Meiji era by businessman Kichibee Murai, Chourakukan (an Important Cultural Property) served as a Kyoto guesthouse that welcomed distinguished visitors from Japan and abroad, bridging Japanese and Western culture. As part of an effort to carry that hospitality culture into the present, Hotel Chourakukan has held the "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN" every autumn since 2022, as an expression of gratitude to guests, producers, and the local community, and to promote art and culture.
Built as a guesthouse, Chourakukan retains the architecture and spaces designed to welcome distinguished visitors from Japan and abroad, along with the hospitality culture that has grown from them.
Program Overview
Food
- Mariage Event
- Festival-exclusive menu: "Three Teas Ice Cream"
- Festival-exclusive afternoon tea
- Restaurant Molière × FRENCH LE CHENE collaboration dinner
Art & Culture
- Special one-day opening of the normally private Onari-no-Ma
- Rika Terao solo exhibition, "Only Yesterday"
- Hayaki Nishigaki solo exhibition
- City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra 70th anniversary concert, "Music of the Western-Style Mansion"
- Special dialogue, "Architecture and Hospitality Culture — The Story Connecting Chourakukan and the Imperial Hotel"
- Melodies of soprano, violin, and piano
- Lobby performance by Kyoto City University of Arts students
Traditional Culture Experiences
- Shoyeido incense-making experience
- Tea ceremony experience
Onari-no-Ma (normally not open to the public)
Details of each program are introduced below.
Food
Mariage Event
A festival-exclusive mariage event held together with producers and brands from Kyoto and across Japan who continue to create by hand.
Guests can enjoy drinks crafted with care by producers and makers, including TSUBOICHI TEA PLACE's fermented tea drink "Japanese Craft Kombucha," cocktails and mocktails made with Shichijuni-ko's "Kyo-yuzu," Kinoshita International's Madeira wine, and craft beer from Dialektike (OBEER KYOTO).
These pairings can be enjoyed together with finger food and small sweets created by Hotel Chourakukan's head chef. At the venue, guests use a "Mariage Event Voucher" to freely explore and sample their preferred combinations.
- Serving venue: LIBRARY BAR MADEIRA / New Wing 1F, South Terrace
- Dining venues: Mariage Event eat-in areas
- Main Building 1F, FRENCH LE CHENE (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
- Kyugi-no-Ma (Games Room)
- LIBRARY BAR MADEIRA
- New Wing 1F, South Terrace
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- A Mariage Event Voucher (¥500 each) is required for each mariage menu item; the number of vouchers needed varies by drink.
Festival-Exclusive Menu: "Three Teas Ice Cream"
Darjeeling, Assam, and Earl Grey — a festival-exclusive "Three Teas Ice Cream" that draws out the distinctive aroma and delicate flavor of each tea. It is offered as a single item at the Mariage Event venue and as a drink set at Dessert Cafe Chourakukan, so guests can enjoy this festival-only flavor in their preferred style.
- Venue I: Mariage Event venue
- Three Teas Ice Cream (single item): ¥1,000
- Can also be purchased with two Mariage Event Vouchers (¥500 each)
- Venue II: Dessert Cafe Chourakukan
- Three Teas Ice Cream drink set: ¥1,870
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Festival-Exclusive Afternoon Tea
An afternoon tea made possible only by this one-day event, featuring seasonal fruits available in limited quantities. Guests can enjoy two flavors of festival-exclusive scones along with seasonal sweets and savories in the Main Building 1F Geihin-no-Ma (Reception Room).
- Venue: Main Building 1F, Geihin-no-Ma
- Time: Session I: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM / 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM; Session II: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM / 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM (each session lasts 2 hours)
- An event ticket is required.
- Guests under age 12 cannot use or accompany others at this event.
Restaurant Molière × FRENCH LE CHENE Collaboration Dinner
A one-night-only collaboration dinner between Hiroshi Nakamichi, owner-chef of Sapporo's renowned Restaurant Molière (awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido), and Kazuki Hashimoto, head chef of Hotel Chourakukan's FRENCH LE CHENE. Drawing on the appeal of ingredients nurtured by the climates of Hokkaido and Kyoto, the two chefs' sensibilities come together in a special course available only on this day.
- Contents: French dinner course with wine pairing (non-alcoholic option available)
- Venue: Main Building 1F, FRENCH LE CHENE (the former Dining Room)
- Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (reception opens at 5:00 PM)
- An event ticket is required.
- Guests under age 12 cannot use or accompany others at this event.
Mariage Event menu image
Three Teas Ice Cream
Left: Hiroshi Nakamichi; Right: Kazuki Hashimoto
Art & Culture
Special One-Day Opening of the Normally Private Onari-no-Ma
The Onari-no-Ma, a Japanese-style room normally closed to the public, was created within Chourakukan — built as a guesthouse — to introduce Japanese culture to distinguished visitors from Japan and abroad. It will be specially opened for this one day only.
Visitors can view a space where Japanese and Western aesthetics come together, featuring a raised, coffered ceiling, sliding-door paintings decorated with gold and silver dust, and chandeliers made by Baccarat.
- Venue: Main Building 3F, Onari-no-Ma
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Rika Terao Solo Exhibition: "Only Yesterday"
Illustrator Rika Terao travels through Europe as if living there, capturing memorable landscapes and favorite places through illustration and essay. A devoted lover of classic architecture and historic Western-style buildings, she will hold her first solo exhibition in Kyoto at Hotel Chourakukan. A newly drawn illustration of Chourakukan, created specifically for this exhibition, will also be on display. Terao also created the main visual for this year's "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026," bringing her signature style to the event.
- Venue: Main Building 2F, Bijutsu-no-Ma (Art Room)
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Hayaki Nishigaki Solo Exhibition
Hayaki Nishigaki studied Western-style painting through graduate school and now works in ink painting using traditional Japanese techniques, pursuing new possibilities of expression. Basing his compositions on classical paintings such as the "Scenes In and Around Kyoto" (Rakuchu Rakugai-zu) folding screens, he layers scenes from contemporary society to depict the timeless aspects of everyday life and society. His works will be on view for this one day only.
- Venue: Main Building 3F, East and West Japanese-style Rooms
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- Cooperation: H2O Retailing Corporation
City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra 70th Anniversary Concert: "Music of the Western-Style Mansion"
The 8th installment of "Miyako no Ongakukai" (Music of the Capital), part of the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra's 70th anniversary program, will be held at Chourakukan, featuring a duet by harpist Eri Matsumura and flutist Tomoko Ichikawa.
- Venue: Main Building 1F, FRENCH LE CHENE
- Time: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM (reception opens at 10:30 AM)
- Seated seating requires an event ticket (advance reservation); preschool-age children cannot use or accompany others in seated seating.
- To let as many guests as possible enjoy the music, the venue uses an open format. Guests holding a festival admission ticket may also listen freely from the back of the venue or the adjoining lobby.
Special Dialogue: "Architecture and Hospitality Culture — The Story Connecting Chourakukan and the Imperial Hotel"
A special dialogue between Midori Uematsu, author of Teikoku Hotel Kenchiku Monogatari, and Reiko Sakata, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel Kyoto. The two will discuss the little-known ties between Chourakukan's founder, Kichibee Murai, and the Imperial Hotel, along with the history behind the birth of Japan's modern hotels, the ideas woven into their architecture, and the thinking behind the opening of the Imperial Hotel Kyoto — exploring the appeal of architecture and Japan's hotel culture.
- Venue: New Wing 1F, Terrace Coral
- Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (reception opens at 12:30 PM)
- Preschool-age children cannot use or accompany others at this event.
Melodies of Soprano, Violin, and Piano
A concert featuring soprano Yukina Kodono, violinist Saya Ikeda, and Hotel Chourakukan pianist Kota Sakaguchi. A special concert in which beautiful vocals and violin resonate together with the rich tone of the Steinway, known as one of the world's three great pianos.
- Venue: New Wing 1F, Terrace Coral
- Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (reception opens at 3:30 PM)
- Preschool-age children cannot use or accompany others at this event.
Lobby Performance by Kyoto City University of Arts Students
Duets of flute and piano, and violin and piano, performed by students from Kyoto City University of Arts, will fill Chourakukan's Main Building lobby with elegant music.
- Venue: Main Building 1F, Lobby
- Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM / 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra (photo: Yoshikazu Inoue, Inoue Photo Office)
Rika Terao solo exhibition, "Only Yesterday"
Special dialogue: left, Midori Uematsu; right, Reiko Sakata
Traditional Culture Experiences
Shoyeido Incense-Making Experience
An incense-making experience by Shoyeido, a long-established Kyoto incense maker. After a talk about incense ingredients and types, guests choose their favorite scent and drawstring pouch to create an original incense sachet, which they can take home.
On the day, "Kotokoto Wagon," a rare mobile incense sales vehicle in Japan, will also appear, letting guests try and purchase Shoyeido incense.
- Venue: Main Building 2F, Setsugu-no-Ma (Reception Room)
- Time: ① 10:30 AM–11:10 AM ② 11:30 AM–12:10 PM ③ 12:30 PM–1:10 PM ④ 2:30 PM–3:10 PM ⑤ 3:30 PM–4:10 PM ⑥ 4:30 PM–5:10 PM
- Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes.
- An event ticket is required.
Tea Ceremony Experience
A tea ceremony experience hosted by the Omotesenke Tokiwakai in the normally private tea room Chorakuan. Located on the 3rd floor of the Western-style building, Chorakuan is said to be modeled after the Zangetsu-tei, a teahouse of the Omotesenke school. Guests can enjoy an authentic tea service in this tranquil, normally closed tea room. Tokiwakai members guide guests through the etiquette, so even first-time visitors can take part with ease.
- Venue: Main Building 3F, Chorakuan
- Time: ① 10:30 AM–11:15 AM ② 11:30 AM–12:15 PM ③ 1:30 PM–2:15 PM ④ 2:30 PM–3:15 PM ⑤ 3:30 PM–4:15 PM ⑥ 4:30 PM–5:15 PM
- Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes.
- An event ticket is required.
- Preschool-age children cannot take part; elementary school-age children must be accompanied by a guardian.
Shoyeido incense-making experience
Omotesenke Tokiwakai tea ceremony experience
Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026 Overview
- Date: September 27, 2026 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (Collaboration Dinner only: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM)
- Venue: Hotel Chourakukan
- Reservations: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/chourakukan-dessert-cafe/reserve?menu_lists[]=66cfe57ba891ac2c9daf8adb
- Tickets: An admission ticket is required to enter the festival (excluding guests of elementary school age and younger, who may enter without an admission ticket but must be accompanied by a guardian). Some programs also require an event ticket or Mariage Event Voucher, and some programs require advance reservation.
Festival Admission Tickets
- Admission ticket: ¥1,000
- Admission ticket + 2 Mariage Event Vouchers (¥500 each): ¥1,500
- Admission ticket + 6 Mariage Event Vouchers (¥500 each): ¥3,000 (advance sale only)
Event Tickets
- Collaboration Dinner (includes admission ticket): ¥33,000
- Festival-exclusive afternoon tea (includes admission ticket): ¥7,800
- City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra 70th Anniversary Concert, seated seating (includes 1 Mariage Event Voucher)
- With admission ticket: ¥1,500
- Without admission ticket: ¥500
- Incense-making experience
- With admission ticket: ¥2,500
- Without admission ticket: ¥2,000
- Tea ceremony experience
- With admission ticket: ¥2,500
- Without admission ticket: ¥2,000
Other
- Mariage Event Voucher: ¥500 each
All listed prices include consumption tax; items subject to a service charge include the service charge. Some tickets are available for advance sale only, and event tickets will stop being sold once capacity is reached. Guests who have already purchased an admission ticket, guests with a complimentary ticket, and guests of elementary school age or younger should purchase the "without admission ticket" event ticket option. A festival admission ticket is also required to use Dessert Cafe Chourakukan on the day. Event details are subject to change without notice.
About Hotel Chourakukan
Hotel Chourakukan is a boutique hotel centered on its Important Cultural Property main building, Chourakukan, which houses a restaurant, cafe, sweets boutique, and bar, along with an adjoining New Wing offering six guest rooms in total. As a member of the global hotel brand Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), it welcomes guests from Japan and abroad.
Chourakukan (the former Murai family residence) is a modern Kyoto building constructed in 1909 as the private residence of Meiji-era businessman Kichibee Murai, known as the "Tobacco King." Notable for its design incorporating architectural styles from around the world, it was designated a national Important Cultural Property on December 9, 2024.
Hotel Chourakukan
- Address: 604 Maruyama-cho, Yasaka Torii-mae Higashi-iri, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0071
- Website: https://www.chourakukan.co.jp/
Business days and hours are subject to change; please check the official website for the latest information.
