Chourakukan’s eminent history began more than a century ago.
Built by Kyoto-born tobacco industry king Kichibei Murai as a
holiday villa in his hometown, it also boasts a cosmopolitan past as
a “private state guesthouse” for entertaining foreign dignitaries.
Guests have included a British crown prince, American business
magnate John D Rockefeller and countless other prominent figures.
Today the rooms they graced comprise our café and restaurant.
The building retains many of its original features and furnishings.
The main house, built in 1909, is designated as a
National Important Cultural Property. Mixing a variety
of architectural styles—a renaissance-style exterior and
rococo- and art nouveau-influenced rooms—the building
is a veritable architectural museum, each room with its
own unique and delightful character.
The Onari-no-Ma reception room on the third floor most deeply
reflects the essence of Chourakukan and its illustrious past.
Opulently combining Western elements such as Baccarat
chandeliers with traditional Japanese design features, this space
is befitting of the most splendid of occasions.
The north window bestows unrivaled panoramic views of Kyoto
that have beguiled generations of guests.
©Chourakukan Allrights reserved, 2024
