Sumiya

A Banquet House of the Edo Period

The Sumiya (角屋) is a late Edo ageya, or banquet house, in Shimabara, Nishishinyashiki Ageya-cho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, which in 1952 was designated an Important Cultural Property.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the Sumiya Preservation Society as owner, with the Kyokubokutei pavilion, a tea room, a waiting room, three storehouses, ridge tags, a deed of sale, a painted plan and old drawings designated with the main house.

The Agency calls it the leading ageya of Shimabara.

The Building

The Agency records the Ajiro room with alcove, shelves and built-in desk on the ground floor, along with rooms for women's work and for serving staff, and an earthen area.

The preservation society explains that, as places for banquets, ageya always had a tea room on the garden facing the great reception room and a kitchen as large as a temple's.

What to Look For

The Agency notes that the garden is well preserved and keeps the look of former times. The preservation society describes it as the only surviving ageya, maintained by the family since Shimabara was founded.

With the tea room, waiting room and storehouses designated alongside the main house, the whole complex conveys how an ageya operated.

Visiting the Sumiya

The preservation society opens it for limited seasons as the Sumiya Hospitality Culture Museum, with guided tours of the ground floor at set times.

Opening seasons and admission are on the Sumiya group page.