The Huntington Adds 320-Year-Old Japanese House to its Collection (Coming in 2023)NEW

The Huntington Adds 320-Year-Old Japanese House to its Collection.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California recently acquired a 320-year-old Japanese house from the city of Kanazawa. The structure is the first Japanese teahouse to be housed at a U.S.-based museum.

Date
Coming in 2023

The 16th century teahouse was originally erected in a temple complex in Kanazawa, Japan, and was later moved to the city’s Nagamachi district. It is believed to have been used for entertaining visitors and hosting special occasions such as tea ceremonies. The house measures 6 feet by 13 feet and is composed of two rooms: a reception room with platforms on each side, and an interior space known as the mizuya that served as a preparation area for tea and other refreshments.

The teahouse was donated to The Huntington after being painstakingly disassembled at its home in Nagamachi late last year. It has since been reassembled using traditional methods at The Huntington’s Japanese Garden, where it will be open to visitors beginning June 2019.

The Huntington’s acquisition of the teahouse further cements its commitment to providing an immersive experience of Japanese culture and traditions. Its new addition joins a number of traditionally made structures, including a pavilion, shrine, and multiple tea houses, that have been donated to the institution over the years.

The Huntington is proud to be adding this 320-year-old teahouse from Japan to its collection and hopes that it will serve as a reminder of the deep cultural connections between the United States and Asia. It invites all visitors to take part in this special journey through time when they visit The Huntington's Japanese Garden.