In the modern, well-equipped gallery rooms located on the first and second floors of the Urasenke Center building at Urasenke Headquarters in Kyoto, the Chado Research Center staff mounts two special exhibitions a year, one in the spring and one in the autumn, as well as other seasonal exhibitions.

For the special exhibitions, catalogs are published and leading experts are invited to deliver lectures. As a permanent installation in the second-floor gallery, there is a replica of the Yuin tearoom at Konnichian, the historical Urasenke home.

1st floor gallery

2nd floor gallery

January 7 (Sun) – March 31 (Sun).2024 | 2024 New Year’s Exhibition Charcoal Equipment Towards Achieving Delicious Tea

*The above exhibition dates are tentative. Depending upon the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the exhibition timing and availability of the tea service will be subject to change. Notifications will be posted when such changes occur.
The Chado Research Center asks for your support in engaging in preventative measures, including hand sanitizing, the wearing of protective facial coverings, and reduced visitor capacity.

Tea Service

Enjoy a traditional confection and bowl of matcha tea during your exhibition visit!

We welcome you to take some time during your visit to the Chado Research Center as an exhibition visitor, and be served a traditional Japanese confection and bowl of matcha tea ryurei-style, seated on chairs and not on the floor with shoes removed, in our tea-service room with its lovely view of the garden outside the room.

Because of the careful measures being observed at the Chado Research Center to protect exhibition visitors in regards the coronavirus, all those who plan to view Chado Research Center exhibitions are encouraged to make a reservation at least a day in advance through our reservations site (Japanese only). Those with reservations will be admitted first. Reservations may also be made by phone (weekdays 9:00-17:00 during the exhibition period: 075-431-6474).

Availability Go to the reservations site for calendar of availability.
Seatings 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. The length of time for the tea service is 30 min. Exhibition viewing is to be done after coming at the reserved time for the tea service.
Participants Maximum, 10 per seating.
Content Ryurei (chairs and tables) style tea service, with tea-preparation conducted as you watch. The traditional confections and articles being used change as befitting the season.
Fee Regular: ¥1,000. Students with student I.D., and pre-school children, ¥800. This is in addition to the exhibition admission fee.
Note The tea service is only for exhibition visitors. Reservations are not accepted only for the tea service.

Konnichian Library

The Konnichian Library was established in 1969 by the 15th generation Urasenke iemoto, Hounsai SEN Genshitsu (Director, Chado Research Center), for the preservation and research of the chado-related documents collected by the successive Urasenke iemoto through the generations. The book vault currently holds approximately 55,000 books, magazines, and other types of works related to chado history, literature, religion, architecture, gardens, arts and crafts, and cooking. The public may freely make use of the books, reference works, magazines, and DVD and video resources that are available in the reading room. There is no loan service; use of the works is limited to within the library.

Hours Tuesday – Friday 10:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M. (doors close at 4:00 P.M.)
Closed Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, August 13 – 16, and through the year-end and New Year’s holidays (December 27 – January 6).
*The galleries may be closed on other dates without notice in the case of severe weather.
Fee Free (tell the Urasenke Center receptionist that you have come to visit the Konnichian Library)
Location Urasenke Center, 2nd floor, 682 Teranouchi Tate-cho, Horikawa Teranouchi agaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto

Access

Horikawa Teranouchi bus stop on city bus route nos. 9, 12, and 67.
The Center building faces the east side of Horikawa street, 1/2 block north of Teranouchi street.
No visitors’ parking lot.

Chado Research Center Galleries

1st and 2nd floors Urasenke Center
682 Teranouchi Tate-cho
Horikawa-dori, Teranouchi agaru
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto