Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto
The Namikawa Cloisonné Museum in the Okazaki district of Kyoto is the Meiji Period house, studio and garden of the cloisonné master Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927).
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto 並河靖之七宝記念館
The Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto, in the Okazaki museum district of Kyoto, is the former house and garden of cloisonné master Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927) and was built in 1894.
The museum includes the artist's studio and kiln, with the tools of his trade also on display along with 130 pieces of his exquisite craft.
Cloisonné is the art of decorating metal objects with enamel, which is incredibly time-consuming. Namikawa's work was much appreciated overseas and in consideration of his many foreign guests he had the lintels of his reception room raised to higher than the Japanese-norm to accommodate his taller visitors.
The house and furnishings are a mix of Japanese and western styles, popular at the time.
Look out for the rare imported glass shoji windows and at the end of your visit you will be allowed into the narrow kitchen with a lovely high ceiling and original Meiji Period fittings.
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum, Okazaki, Kyoto
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum, Okazaki, Kyoto
The delightful garden is a highlight of the Namikawa Cloisonné Museum and was designed by the renown Japanese garden designer Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933), who was also responsible for the gardens at nearby Heian Jingu and Murin-an.
Relax on the engawa (veranda) or sit on the tatami and admire the tranquil carp pond, low cropped hedges, bushes and stone lanterns.
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum (www8.plala.or.jp/nayspo)
388 Horiike-cho
Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto
605-0038
Tel: 075 752 3277
Open 10 am-4.30 pm; closed Monday and Thursday. The museum is generally open from April to the end of July and then again from mid-September to mid-December. Also closed on Mondays and Thursdays except national holidays when the next day is closed.
Admission: adults 800 yen, students and people over 70, 600 yen, high school and junior high school students, 300 yen.
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum Garden, Okazaki, Kyoto
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum Garden, Okazaki, Kyoto
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum Access
From JR/Kintetsu Kyoto Station (Kyoto-eki-mae boarding area A1); Kyoto City Bus No. 5 (toward Iwakura Soshajo). Get off at Kyoto Higashiyama Station or Jingu michi.
From Hankyu Karasuma Station/Kawaramachi Station or Keihan Sanjo Station Kyoto City Bus No. 5 (toward Iwakura Soshajo). Get off at Higashiyama Station on the Tozai subway line of the Kyoto subway (Exit 1) or Jingu michi.
Alternatively take the Raku bus 100, or any of the Kyoto city buses 201, 202, 203 or 206 to Higashiyama-sanjo bus stop.
Located in the Okazaki museum quarter of Kyoto, other places to see near the Namikawa Cloisonné Museum include the Heian Shrine, the Hosomi Museum, the Kanze Kaikan Noh Theater, Kyoto City Zoo, the Kampo Museum, and the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts in Miyako Messe.
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum Garden, Okazaki, Kyoto
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum Kitchen, Okazaki, Kyoto
