A complete guide to the Arashiyama Yusaitei (Somekobo) art gallery in Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Table of Contents
Overview
The Arashiyama Yusaitei, also known as the Somekobo Yume Yusai, is an unbelievable art gallery hidden on the hillside on the banks of Arashiyama's beautiful Katsura River. This 150-year-old building was built during the Meiji period and was originally used as an aesthetic retreat, serving as a restaurant, teahouse, and inn. It was a sought-after location among artists at the time, among them was Nobel Prize winning author Yasunari Kawabata, who stayed here while writing his novel The Sound of the Mountain.
The revolutionary fabric artist, Yusai Okuda, converted the property into a stunning art gallery that integrates the surrounding environment with installations, artworks, and stunning architectural design.
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Arashiyama Yusaitei features a variety of unique installations including reflective tables, carefully designed windows framing certain aspects of the environment, interactive water displays offering moving reflections, and an outdoor viewing area serving matcha tea. If you're lucky, there might even be the occasional artist playing the shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument that sounds similar to a banjo.
Autumn is when Yusaitei truly reaches another level. The combination of colours is unlike anything you've ever seen, the full spectrum of the Japanese maples - greens, yellows, oranges and reds - all mixed in with the emerald-green colour of the Katsura river and the golden sunshine coming through the trees.
Suffice to say, this place is truly amazing, and the best part? To prevent overcrowding during the autumn period, Yusaitei is by reservation only. Tickets cost ¥3000 ($20) and need to be purchased online to reserve your date and timeslot. However, it's important to note that even with the reservation system, Yusaitei is a small place, so it will still be crowded, but it won't be over-crowded. The earliest timeslots are the least busy, and there's no time limit for your visit.
Location & Access
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The Yusaitei gallery is located on the banks of Arashiyama's Katsura River, it takes about 15 minutes to walk there from Saga-Arshiyama Station.
🕗 Opening Hours
Normal Period: 10am - 5pm
Autumn Period: 8am - 5pm (16th - 30th November)
Autumn Reservations: Click here
📍 Location
Arashiyama, Western Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Normal Period: ¥2000 per person
November Autumn Period: ¥3000 per person
Seasons
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🌸 Cherry Blossoms
End of March
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid to Late November
☀️ Summer
June - August (rainy season)
Rainy days and lush green trees provide a cinematic atmosphere
Average temp. 32°C
❄️ Winter
December - February
Snowfall: 1-3 times per year
Interesting Facts & History
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Originally built 150 years ago as a culinary inn, it was a popular retreat for artists and geisha.
It's known as the location where Nobel Prize winning author Yasunari Kawabata wrote his novel The Sound of the Mountain.
Revolutionary fabric artist, Yusai Okuda, acquired the property to be used as his studio and residence. After a few years, in 2020, he turned it into a gallery and opened it to the public.
Yusai Okuda is known for creating some of the most elaborate and beautiful fabrics in the world. After years of researching a lost fabric dyeing technique, he developed his own and called it Yume Korozome.
The techniques used in Yusai Okuda's fabrics cause the colours to change when the clothing is exposed to light.
The name of the gallery, Yusaitei, translates to Yusai Pavillion.
The gallery's improper name, Somekobo Yumeyusai, was an interpretation error. Somekobo Yumeyusai literally means Dyeing Workshop Dream Yusai.
Nearby Attractions
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Arashiyama is an incredible area filled with gorgeous nature, beautiful temples, and lots of history. Some of the most popular highlights include the Bamboo Grove, the Okochi Sanso Villa, Jojakkoji Temple, and the Monkey Park. There's also some incredible accommodation options to suit all budgets.
It's way too much to cover in this section, so we've created a whole page for Arashiyama over here: A Complete Guide To Arashiyama
