Raku Museum — Attraction in Kyoto

I was expecting to see information on the physical process of Raku-style firing, which is quite different from modern kilns. Some discussion on process and development would have been welcome.

Unfortunately this museum is entirely focused on the Raku family, and is highly self-congratulatory whilst showing off a fairly limited selection of old pots and tea bowls. Without including details of the process or discussing the complexities of the glaze it's hard to be impressed by, for example, blotchy and incomplete glazes, or sooty stains on red clay.

At 1200 yen per person this is a VERY expensive visit to a VERY small exhibit that's focused largely on self-aggrandizing the Raku family legacy without making much effort to educate the visitor.

They offer a Raku-family-authored book (for 4400 yen) that goes into more detail on the things I expected to be part of the exhibit, but it continues the self-congratulatory tone: "the Raku family never use thermometers in their firing; instead the practitioner has to feel the process with every part of their being". One has to wonder that perhaps if they'd stooped to use a more controlled process they might have ended up with better results with their glazes.

Disappointed; not what I expected. Probably should have read the other reviews more closely first.

There's a good reason they don't let you take photos in...

Expensive tickets for just a few tea cups. Granted, they are from the same artisan house for 14 generations, and the cups are all very well presented with excellent English explanations.

However, on the quality of the pieces themselves I have a LOT more reservations. I find them all too ugly and way too unwieldy for the tea ceremony. I find their boasting of the stylistic link with tea master Rikyu somewhat disturbing.

For some MUCH better and polished samples, go to the Gallery of Kyoto Traditional Arts & Crafts where students and their teachers display their works (like tea cups), and the marvelous Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts...

A very interesting small private museum about the creative output of the Raku Family. Very refined, and elegant vessels to admire. I loved it, but I loved less that there was very little seating in the exhibition rooms and that photographs are not allowed, but I kind of understand it.

Is the price of about 1200JPY steep? Well, perhaps, but it is a private museum and not exactly overrun with visitors. It was an almost private experience. I recommend for any one interested in Japanese/ Kyoto ceramic arts. Makes a good contrast to the more contemporary...