Today I am going to take you way back in time when the Art of Flower Arranging was introduced in Japan. Ikebana arrived in Japan around 538 with Chinese monks. At the very beginning Ikebana was used for Buddhist rites but then it was more and more appreciated by the nobles and the aristocrats. Ikebana reach its peak around the 16th century along with others traditionals Japanese arts such as kodo, the incense appreciation and chado, the tea ceremony.
But what is Ikebana really about ?
Like every traditions, there is (of course) a meaning behind. Ikebana is not only the Art of Flower Arrangement but it’s also about finding harmony and balance in nature, and appreciate it. The goal is to create something harmonious with the elements of nature like flowers or branches and the space around like the tatami room, bathroom or the entrance. Most of the time the flowers used are seasonals like cherry blossoms (sakura), pine, bamboo, chrysanthemums and more.
Where can I learn Ikebana ?
Well, here in Japan, there is a thousand (if not a million) of Ikebana’s schools ! Each school has its own technique, style and philosophy. No worries, if you really want to learn some basics about the Art of Flower Arrangement, you won’t need to go at school during your holiday ! Indeed there is a lot of Ikebana’s classes here in Kyoto that will teach you some basic rules and the philosophy for an hour or two. In my opinion it’s really fun and relaxing at the same time.
Not every Ryokan does Ikebana in their guest rooms, most of the time you will see some in the entrance for example. At the Mitsuki Ryokan, you will find some flower arrangement made with fresh flowers in all of our rooms. We believe that it is part of omotenashi, which means hospitality and the best way to look after our guests. Omotenashi stands for the Japanese way of hospitality, where the guest needs to have the best experience possible during his stay.
Immerse yourself into the Japanese culture by staying with us at the Mitsuki Ryokan :