Myokian Shoin and Tea Room (Taian)

The Only Surviving Tea Room of Sen no Rikyu

The Myokian Shoin and Tea Room (Taian) (妙喜庵書院及び茶室（待庵）) is the Momoyama-period shoin and tea room (Taian) of Myokian in Oyamazaki Town, Otokuni District, Kyoto Prefecture, which in 1951 were designated a National Treasure.

Kyoto Prefecture explains that Myokian was founded in the late Muromachi period by Shungaku Shiho of Tofukuji, and that its tea room Taian is thought to be the only one left by Sen no Rikyu.

The Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation says it is a small tea room built by Rikyu while he lived in Oyamazaki, summoned from Sakai by Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi when he built Yamazaki Castle.

The Tea Room

According to the federation, the building is gabled with a shingle roof and has a low window at floor level, unknown in other tea rooms.

Inside is a tiny space of only two mats, with a sunken hearth in the corner and a distinctive alcove with plastered walls and ceiling, the murodoko.

What to Look For

The federation notes that Rikyu's genius can be felt throughout the building, said to be the origin of sukiya architecture in Japan. Taian is counted with Joan in Inuyama and Mittan at Daitokuji as one of the three National Treasure tea rooms.

Notice the floor-level window, the plastered alcove and other devices within the two-mat space.

Visiting the Myokian Shoin and Tea Room (Taian)

The federation notes that visits require a reservation by return postcard at least a month ahead, on Sunday mornings only, for adults of university age and above, up to ten people, with an offering of 1,000 yen per person.

Kyoto Prefecture notes that it is right by JR Yamazaki Station or 5 minutes on foot from Hankyu Oyamazaki Station, with no parking. Enquiries: Myokian, 075-956-0103.