Kikusumi Charcoal in Traditional Japanese Gardens- Machiya House Features
All About MachiyaKikusumi Charcoal in Traditional Japanese Gardens- Machiya House Features
Post Date：2025/07/23、
Last updated：
In many traditional Japanese gardens, you might notice small pieces of charcoal carefully placed in the soil. This is Kikusumi, a special type of charcoal named after its chrysanthemum-like pattern when cut (“kiku” means chrysanthemum in Japanese).
Kikusumi has been used for centuries, not just as a garden element, but also in the world of tea ceremonies. In gardens, it helps prevent rain from creating holes in the soil, improves drainage, and subtly enriches the earth.
Kikusumi is prized for its clean burn and gentle fragrance. Tea master Sen no Rikyu, who greatly influenced the Japanese tea ceremony, favored this charcoal for heating tea kettles. When burned, kikusumi produces a fine white ash, symbolizing purity and refinement in tea culture.
You can find Kikusumi quietly adding beauty to the inner Japanese garden at our Kyo-machiya holiday home, Hatoba-an.
Next time you stay at Hatoba-an or walk through the serene Kyoto gardens, take a closer look to spot kikusumi quietly enhancing the space, helping you appreciate the subtle details and harmony of Japanese gardens even more.
Experience an authentic Japanese stay at ‘Hatoba-an' enjoying its inner Japanese garden.
Recognize 'Hatoba-an' by its traditional architectural features such as the black latticework, unique roof tiles, and vertical "mushi ko mado" windows on the 2nd floor.
Step up into the elevated tatami room with lattice windows, reminiscent of a traditional Japanese shopfront.
Admire the shoji paper doors and wood-panelled ceiling. Open the doors into the fresh air, and view the inner garden from the veranda in the daylight or illuminated at night.
Enjoy a luxurious bathroom lined with aromatic ‘hinoki’ wood with a Japanese garden view.
Western style bedroom with sloped high ceilings with exposed architecture. Antique light fixtures cast a warm glow throughout the room.
Did you enjoy learning about this unique Japanese house (machiya) feature? If you’d like to experience these traditional elements in person, stay in a private, authentic machiya holiday house on your next visit to Kyoto, Japan.
Take a look at the official MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN website, where there are over 70+ renovated machiya holiday houses for you to choose from!
