Nishijin Lifestyle Museum Tondaya

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A nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, this museum speaks volumes about the cultures and traditions of Kyoto

Experience the traditions that live on in Nishijin in a machiya townhouse

Built as a large Nishijin kimono store in 1885, this museum is a machiya townhouse in the omoteya-zukuri style of construction, including six courtyard gardens, three storehouses, a tea ceremony room, an annex that can stage Noh dramas and a ten-meter passageway in red cedar.
People in Kyoto preserve many small customs such as making an offering to the “spirit” of the house every morning to start the day; thus, the city keeps traditions alive.
And, the Nishijin Lifestyle Museum provides visitors with the opportunity to experience certain aspects of traditional life while touring the townhouse. Thus, visitors can choose to wear a gorgeous, high-class kimono, take part in a tea ceremony and/or partake of a traditional bento lunchbox that is served in tea ceremonies. All of these experiences take place in surroundings furnished with décor and implements from more than 100 years ago, which add to the learning experience about life in yesteryear.