Myōki-an, Buddhist temple in Ōyamazaki, Japan
Myōki-an is a Buddhist temple in Ōyamazaki that houses the celebrated Tai-an tea room, which measures two and a half tatami mats. The walls are plastered with black mud, and small reed lattice windows allow filtered light into the space.
A monk established the grounds between 1492 and 1501 during the Muromachi period. The tea room was created later in the 16th century and became the model for all subsequent small tea houses in Japan.
The name of the tea house reflects principles of simplicity and restraint that continue to shape the ritual today. Guests enter the room through a low opening that forces them to bow, demonstrating humility in the process.
Reservations are required approximately one month in advance to view the tea room. The nearest train stations are JR Yamazaki and Hankyu, from which the temple can be reached on foot.
The tea room is the only surviving creation of Sen no Rikyū, the founder of the modern tea ceremony. The structure is recognized as a National Treasure and stands at the origin of the minimalist tea house tradition.
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