In this first edition, I guide you to Arashiyama Yusai-tei in Kyoto, a place of ethereal beauty that reveals its true grace when visited in kimono.
On a misty afternoon, raindrops glistened on emerald leaves as I walked along the Katsura River in Arashiyama, a resort for the nobility since the Heian period. There, hidden among the greenery, stands Arashiyama Yusai-tei. The 150-year-old building rests on the site of the former Kamiyama Palace, once a villa for Emperor Go-Saga and Emperor Kameyama nearly 800 years ago. Originally a ryokan, it later became a sanctuary for writers. Here, Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata once stayed and completed The Sound of the Mountain, a work chosen among the world’s 100 greatest literary masterpieces. Today, it lives on as the atelier and gallery of dyeing artist Mr. Yusai Okuda.
Mr. Okuda captivates the world with his unique dyeing method, Yume-koro-zome, which changes color depending on the light. In his gallery, the union of Japanese beauty and nature creates an extraordinary atmosphere where stillness sharpens the senses, as if every sound and breath of the forest were magnified.
The highlight of Yusai-tei is its room with a round window—an opening to a world of contemplative beauty. In traditional Japanese architecture, round windows are rooted in the Zen concept of ensō, a circle that reflects the enlightened mind. Through this window, the four seasons unfold like living paintings: cherry blossoms in spring, vibrant greens in summer, fiery leaves in autumn, and snow-laden trees in winter. A stillness transcending time envelops the viewer, inviting a quiet dialogue with nature and the self.
Yusai-tei also houses a traditional tea room where visitors can enjoy tea and sweets. Gentle rays of sunlight filter through the trees, softening the moment into one of quiet healing. It is a space where Japanese aesthetics, nature, and hospitality unite—an intimate pause within the flow of life.
See Also : The Masterpiece of Beauty Vol.1: “Korozen” by Yusai Okuda | Kyoto
Arashiyama Yusai-tei
6 Saga Kamenoo-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
＜Hours＞ 10:00 – 18:00 (closes at 18:00)
＜Closed＞ Thursdays
＜Admission＞ 2,000 JPY
Official Website＞＞
