A Blank Space for the Five Senses

The Quiet Luxury of Kyoto — Part I: Wagashi Afternoon Tea at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO

In this first chapter, we invite you into the quiet “Yohaku” we discovered in Kyoto —a spacious stillness that refines the senses and lingers in memory.

Ⅰ. The Philosophy of Yohaku in Travel

Is the purpose of travel always to see something new, to collect movement, or to fill time?True luxury, we believe, resides in the space we choose not to fill — the “Yohaku,” the blank margin where the senses are quietly restored.

We encountered this Yohaku in Kyoto, a city where ancient sensibilities meet the refinement of modern hospitality. Our visit began at HOTEL

THE MITSUI KYOTO, a property known for its thoughtful architecture, serene garden views, and a natural hot spring drawn from deep beneath the city.The hotel’s dignified entrance, centered around the Kajiimiya Gate — a registered cultural property — sets a tone of gentle solemnity.

The Kajiimiya Gate

In this first installment, we share how the hotel’s special Wagashi

Afternoon Tea, experienced in an atmosphere of stillness, invites a deeper state of awareness.

II. Aesthetic of Space and the TWG Ritual

Stepping into the lounge, the world narrows naturally. The soundscape softens, and the senses shift inward.Through wide glass windows, the garden reveals its quiet transitions of season and light. The placement of furniture, the textures of wood and fabric, the soft glow diffused across the room — all serve to encourage a slower, more deliberate arrival of thought.

It was here, in this curated stillness, that the afternoon tea experience began.

Nijo Castle. Serene lounge where light and water interweave

A staff member approached with a TWG Tea selection trunk, a beautifully arranged case of blends from around the world. Choosing tea became its own small ceremony — a brief return to intuition. Among the offerings, we selected three blends that resonated with the moment, including the sakura-inspired Sakura! Sakura! and the elegant Geisha Blossom.

TWG tea case: The time spent choosing becomes "yohaku."

A single choice of tea, made slowly, can become a form of Yohaku.

III. The Elegance of Wagashi in a Contemporary Ritual

HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO × Tsuruya Yoshinobu (Founded 1803)

This afternoon tea was a special, limited-time collaboration with Tsuruya Yoshinobu, one of Kyoto’s most renowned confectioners, founded in 1803 and carrying more than two centuries of tradition.(A detail based on the author’s personal visit and firsthand experience.)

To savor a wagashi-focused afternoon tea inside a Western-style luxury hotel is more than an intriguing contrast—it offers a quiet moment to rediscover the depth and subtlety of Japanese culture.

Savories with a Kyoto Touch

The savory selection showcased a thoughtful and creative use of Japanese flavors:

• Walnut Miso Monaka (Monaka: crisp mochi-rice wafers typically filled with sweet bean paste)

• Colorful Inari Sushi (Inari sushi: vinegared rice wrapped in sweet simmered tofu skin)

• Shrimp Fishcake Fried in a Crisp Arare Coating (Arare: small crunchy rice crackers, used here as a coating)
  

Each bite reflected Kyoto’s refined culinary techniques paired with a sense of elegance and playfulness.

An Elegant Collaboration with Hotel The Mitsu and Tsuruya Yoshinobu

Wagashi Meets Patisserie

At the heart of the experience were:

• Seasonal Fresh Wagashi (by Tsuruya Yoshinobu)

• Special Kashiwa Mochi with Cherry-Infused Red Bean Paste (Kashiwa mochi: rice cake with sweet bean paste wrapped in an oak leaf)

• Pavlova Accented with Yuzu Mochi

• An-Butter Madeleine Crafted with Tsubu-an

These selections beautifully intertwined traditional Japanese ingredients with contemporary Western pastry craftsmanship.

Traditional ingredients transformed into refined modern bites.

More than simply delicious,the experience revealed a new aesthetic sensibility born from the meeting of Kyoto’s culinary heritage and modern creativity.

As we quietly focused on the beauty before us, the outside world slipped away—creating a true “blank space for the five senses.”

IV. A Quiet Closing — and What Comes Next

This afternoon tea at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO offered not simply flavors, but a concentrated moment of presence.A merging of heritage, contemporary design, and refined service created a rare experience of Yohaku —the blank space where the five senses quietly awaken.

In the next chapter, we will visit The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, renowned for its collaboration with Pierre Hermé.There, we will explore how the expression of “modern artistry” contrasts with the “traditional tranquility” we found at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO.

Two hotels, two philosophies, two interpretations of serenity.We look forward to sharing where each path leads.