A MONTH IN KYOTO
INSIDE A MASTER'S HOME
Not a tour. Not a workshop.
A genuine residency within daily Japanese cultural life.
In Residence
Daily Practice
Live Inside Japanese Culture
This is not a tour or a short cultural workshop. You live in the home of an ikebana master, with your own private room and around two cultural-practice sessions each week. Ikebana is at the centre; tea, zazen, and other encounters may be arranged separately depending on timing. Culture is not simply observed here. It is encountered through practice and ordinary daily life.
What WE PROVIDE
Stay in
a Master’s Home
Stay in a private room within the house where the teacher and resident students also live.
Practice Shaped Around the Month
Cultural practice is usually based on around two sessions per week and centred on ikebana. Beginners are welcome.
A Serene Environment
Your private room is simple and quiet, with shared kitchen, living room, bathroom, and laundry facilities.
Is This You?
You want more than a short workshop and can stay for about one month.
You are comfortable with quiet, unstructured time between sessions.
You value everyday proximity to cultural practice more than a fixed sightseeing itinerary.
a quiet month shaped around your own pace, spent close to a teacher's daily practice in Kyoto
Why This Residency Exists
Many people come to Kyoto to see its beauty.
But its deeper value is not only what you see. It is how life is lived.
Living more quietly here, I encountered masters whose way of life was shaped by attention, repetition, and care. I came to feel that Japanese culture is not something you simply observe, but something you live within.
This residency was created to offer that kind of proximity.
Not a tour, and not a hotel stay, but a place to spend time close to living culture and experience Kyoto through daily life.
Read the full story
A Month Shaped by a Teacher’s Practice.
Learn through scheduled practice, observation, and time in the house.
The residency does not follow a fixed daily curriculum. It creates a small number of deliberate points of contact across the month.
In the house, you can notice how flowers, tools, space, and the seasons are handled in everyday practice. Meals are not included, and the teacher’s daily availability is not fixed.
Cultural practice is usually based on around two sessions per week, with quieter time between them.
Meet Your Cultural Master
Koyama Yukiyo
Head of the expressive ikebana school
She is an ikebana artist and tea practitioner who has shared Japanese cultural practice with students in Japan and abroad for decades. Her work brings together classical ikebana, tea, and reflective dialogue. She has presented exhibitions and cultural programs internationally, including in Paris and Aix-en-Provence, and is the author of Floral Healing (Tankosha). At the Residency, she offers guidance in ikebana, spatial composition, and the cultural rhythm of the house.
WHERE YOU WILL LIVE
Experience the profound rhythm of Kyoto not as a visitor, but as an intimate guest within the daily environment of an Ikebana master’s traditional household.
TRADITIONAL TEA ROOMS FOR DAILY PRACTICE & CONTEMPLATION.
PRIVATE BEDROOM
FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN
PRIVATE INNER GARDEN
YOUR PRIVATE ROOM PROVIDES A QUIET PLACE TO REST AND WORK, WITH ACCESS TO SHARED KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LIVING ROOM, LAUNDRY, AND WI-FI.
Price & What's Included
Regular fee
¥650,000
/ month
from ¥500,000
/ month
Cultural practice
One month in residence
Included
・
Core practice: around two cultural-practice sessions per week, centred on ikebana
・
Spaces & Facilities: tatami room access; private room with work desk
・
Shared Facilities: kitchen, washing machine, bathroom, living room, Wi-Fi
・
Materials & Tools: basic materials for the sessions included in your plan; standard tools available
・
Arrival orientation and regular practical check-ins with the program team
・
Scheduling and basic guidance related to the residency
Optional Add-ons
・
Additional private lesson
・
Additional guidance or collaboration, agreed individually
・
Arrangements for temple access or studio visits, subject to availability
Not Included
・
Airport transfers and transportation within Kyoto
・
Meals and beverages
・
Additional material costs
・
Personal consumables
Included
・Lessons
Around two cultural-practice sessions per week, centred on ikebana
・Private Space
Private room with work desk
・Shared Facilities
Kitchen, washing machine, bathroom, living room, Wi-Fi
・Materials
Basic materials for the sessions included in your plan; standard tools available
・Support
1. Arrival orientation and regular practical check-ins
2. Scheduling and basic guidance related to the residency
Optional Add-ons
・
Additional private lesson
・
Personal guidance and collaboration
・
Arrangements for special temple access or studio visits
Not Included
・
Airport transfers and transportation within Kyoto
・
Meals and beverages
・
Additional material costs
・
Personal consumables
Optional Cultural Encounters (by prior arrangement)
A small number may be arranged individually; availability and any additional fee are confirmed before booking.
・
Kintsugi (traditional lacquer repair)
・
Zazen at a private temple
・
Calligraphy (shodō)
・
Pottery throwing and glazing
・
Wagashi (tea sweets) making
・
Machiya architecture walk / Private garden visit
Participant's Voice
A,t
IT・30y
"Through learning Kintsugi, I came to truly understand the idea of ‘embracing what is broken and creating new beauty from it.’
One of the most meaningful realizations was that even failures at work or turning points in life can be transformed into something uniquely my own—something with character and depth."
Why Kyoto, Fushimi
The residency is located in Fushimi, a historic area of Kyoto known for its quieter atmosphere, traditional culture, and local character.
While it offers easy access to major sites, it is removed from the crowded hotel districts, allowing you to experience a more lived in side of Kyoto.
How to Apply
Applying does not confirm your place. We always have a short conversation first. No payment at this stage.
1.
Apply for the residency.
2.
We review your interests and travel plans.
3.
We schedule a short video call.
4.
We design a suitable residency plan for you.
5.
Your dates are confirmed after the agreed payment and pre-arrival information are received.
※No payment until acceptance and questions will be addressed in a call after form submission.
Participant's Voice
A,t
IT・30y
"Through learning Kintsugi, I came to truly understand the idea of ‘embracing what is broken and creating new beauty from it.’
One of the most meaningful realizations was that even failures at work or turning points in life can be transformed into something uniquely my own—something with character and depth."
A Month at Your Own Pace
A month gives you time to practise, rest, work, walk, and notice the rhythm of the house and neighbourhood. Rather than a fixed sightseeing schedule, the stay leaves room for cultural practice and ordinary daily life to sit alongside each other.
Enquire About a Stay
Questions first? Message us on Instagram or Facebook Messenger.
WHAT A MONTH ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE
Most days do not have a fixed schedule. Cultural practice is usually based on around two sessions a week, centred on ikebana. Tea, zazen, or another encounter may sometimes be arranged separately, depending on the season, your interests, and instructor availability. The rest of the time is yours: walking, cooking, reading, working, or simply being in the house. Some weeks are quieter than others; this is a residency, not a daily lesson program.
FAQ
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