Kodo-kan (originally Yuuhisai Koudoukan) is a traditional house near the imperial palace in Kyoto dedicated to Japanese culture. It’s in a big Japanese garden, and includes two historic tea rooms and a formal incense ceremony room.

Visitors can attend tea ceremonies – often with a contemporary twist – and performances of traditional Noh dramas and imayo songs, art forms that originated nearly 1,000 years ago. It’s unique, sophisticated, and always different and surprising.

The house’s story began in 1806, when philosopher Minagawa Kien established his Koudoukan school for traditional arts on the land, which was once part of the imperial palace. Referred to as the first university in Japan, it is now owned by sweet master and cultural scholar Sotatsu Ota, who tends the beautiful moss garden himself.

The Kodo-kan hosts chaji tea ceremonies on 3, 4 and 5 April, plus one in English on 16 April, costing £16.75pp.
• Kyotographie runs in Kyoto from 18 April-10 May, and will exhibit the work of Lucas Foglia