Sumiya Pleasure House Central Kyoto

A beautifully preserved ageya (geisha entertainment house) in the south-west part of central Kyoto, Sumiya is a truly sublime showcase of Japanese architecture, design and decorative traditions.

[Sumiya Pleasure House — Central Kyoto — image © Damien Douxchamps]

Sumiya is one of the last remaining examples of ageya in Japan. An ageya is a traditional entertainment house where geisha and taiyu (another type of geisha) entertained elite guests in refined surroundings. Sumiya dates back to 1641, but parts of the buildings are more recent additions. It’s located in the old Shimabara pleasure district, of which very little remains.

You can tour the first floor for ¥1,000 without an appointment during opening hours. However, you must make a reservation (in Japanese) and pay ¥1,800 to tour the second floor. The tour of the second floor is given in Japanese but it’s well worth taking the tour, even if you do not understand Japanese. It is truly sublime and will give you a sense for the incredible wealth of pre-modern Japan.

If you’re a fan of Japanese gardens, architecture, design or history, don’t miss Sumiya!

English address:
32 Nishishinyashiki-Ageya-cho, Shimogyo-ku

Japanese address:
下京区西新屋敷揚屋町32

Opening hours:
10am-4pm, closed Dec 16-Mar 14, Jul 19-Sep 14 and Monday, tours of second floor by appointment only (phone the number below in Japanese)

Admission: ¥1000 to first floor, ¥1800 for second floor tour

Non-smoking area: Yes

Nearest Transport:
7min walk from Tambaguchi Station, JR Sagano line

Nearest Hotels:
See hotels near to Sumiya Pleasure House on Agoda.com

Telephone: 351-0024

Website: Official Website (English)

Where Is This Place Located?

• Open the Kyoto map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Near To Here:
Sumiya Pleasure House is located in Central Kyoto. See our complete list of things to do in Central Kyoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

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