Two weeks ago, a friend and I visited Chourakukan to have afternoon tea. We wanted to make a reservation for the best reception room, but it was really difficult because of the Christmas season. Many people had the same thought as we do, so we tried many times.

Fortunately, we finally succeeded and had lots of fun.

Chourakukan was built in 1909 as a guest house in Kyoto by Kichibei Murai, who introduced tobacco for the first time in Japan. It became a National Important Cultural Property two years ago.

When we entered, a big Christmas tree greeted us at the entrance. Since we were allowed to look around the first and the second floors, we enjoyed exploring the magnificent building. I'm a huge fan of antiques, so I was especially excited.

We came across beautiful antique stained glass.

The first room we saw was decorated with Chinese furniture.

The second room had a more Western style.

A stunning piece of embroidery was framed and displayed on the wall.

All furniture had been imported when Chourakukan was built.

This gentleman is Kichibei Murai.

There were names of very famous and historically important figures such as Itō Hirobumi (Japan's very first prime minister) and Ōkuma Shigenobu ( a prime minister during the Meiji era) in the guest book. I thought it was amazing to be in the same building like such great Japanese leaders whom I had learned about in school.

The third room was featured the color blue.

The porcelain figurine looked like Meissen Porcelain.

There was nobody sitting in the next room, but it seemed like we could have afternoon tea there.

The porcelain tea sets are called One Thousand and One Nights by Meissen.

The stairs continued to the third floor, but we weren't allow to get in. Above the third floors are open only to overnight guests.

After enjoying exploring, we came back to our reserved room. We sat nearby a fire place, and I saw an elegant hand-painted antique clock. It was painted on some enamel pieces.

I looked around the room and figured out why that room was the most popular and hard to make a reservation. It was the most elegant.

Probably, those porcelain pieces were also by Meissen Porcelain.

The first tea cup we used was by Herend Porcelain Manufactory.

Everything in those plates looked so perfect!

Each time we ordered different flavored tea, the waitress brought a different cup for the tea. The next one was by Okura China from Japan.

The third one was by Meissen Porcelain.

The coasters were designed like old tobacco packages, and I loved the idea.

You can buy cakes and cookies there.

Having the afternoon tea at Chourakukan made me feel as if I had slipped back in time, and at the same time it also made me feel very special.

I'd love to go back there when my friend from Kyushu visits me next spring.

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