"Y GION" is a multi-tenant building that suddenly appeared in the Gion entertainment district of Kyoto. The space, once packed with snack bars and bars, has been completely renovated and rebranded, breathing new life into the complex under the concept of a "creative multi-tenant building." The project was directed by creative director Takuma Inoue. Here we introduce the event space on the fourth floor and the rooftop on the sixth floor, which soft-opened at the end of October.

On the fourth floor, an event space called "Lounge" has opened, featuring a spacious island-style kitchen and sound equipment. The same floor is scheduled to host art exhibitions, pop-up shops, workshops, cooking classes, and more, making it a community space where people can experience creativity in a variety of genres. Prior to the opening, a pop-up of "VOU" in Shijo, Kyoto will be held (currently closed). As a second step, from November 14th to 21st, an exhibition and pop-up called "AGING by Waza to Eda" will be held by Takeshi Kasaya, owner of "MAESTRO," a completely proposal-based non-store flower shop in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto Prefecture.

Drinks are served in the open kitchen space.

A look at the "VOU" pop-up held in the gallery space (now closed) ©Mitsuru Wakabayashi

On the 6th floor rooftop overlooking the Kamo River, "Sour Garden," by Sour, a pioneer of fruit chuhai (Japanese shochu highballs) and a nationwide pop-up chain, is open until November 22nd. The bar offers fresh sour drinks made with lemon, grapefruit, and other seasonal fruits, carefully pressed using a hand juicer. The gentle sweetness and tartness of the fruit itself makes them easy to drink, even for women, and the cute fruit decorations make them a delight. For a limited time only, they will be offering limited edition sour drinks that can only be enjoyed here. Yoga events and other events will also be held on the same floor. Overlooking the Kamo River, you can enjoy the magnificent view as day turns to night.

View of the 6th floor rooftop
Pomegranate Sour (800 yen)

Creative Director Inoue says he wants to spread new culture from Kyoto, a city that attracts people from Japan and abroad. He says he wants to create content that is constantly changing, making it a place that visitors to Kyoto will want to return to again and again. Over the next year, tenants such as Asian restaurants, galleries, and music bars are scheduled to move in. This "mixed-use building" is poised to become a new Kyoto spot for a new era.



■Worldwide FM "WW KYOTO" Public Live Broadcast
Dates: Second Monday of every month
"Worldwide FM (WORLDWIDE FM)" is an online radio station started by radio/club DJ Gilles Peterson, esteemed as a "music evangelist." Headquartered in London, this globally acclaimed online platform has expanded to LA, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels, Tokyo, Paris, and Berlin, and is finally launching a Kyoto satellite. Led by DJ Shuya Okino, a Kyoto-based DJ crew will be broadcasting the "stylishness of Kyoto" to the world via London, along with a selection of high-quality music. ■ "AGING by Waza to Eda" Dates: November 14th - 21st This is an exhibition and pop-up by Takeshi Kasaya, owner of "MAESTRO," a non-storefront florist based in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto Prefecture. Branches bent at impossible angles by the strong winds at high altitudes. Branches with a hard, thorny texture. Branches with flexible lines bent under the weight of fruit. This exhibition and pop-up shop, presented as part of the artist's personal project "Branches and Techniques," explores the diverse, natural forms of branches and expresses them from a completely new perspective.

■ "BAKIBAKI x Daijiro Hama Two-Person Exhibition"
Dates: December 1st - 10th
Artist BAKIBAKI, aka Kohei Yamao, and Kyoto-based Daijiro Hama, who paints voids in monochrome. This exhibition showcases the unique works created through the collaboration of these two artists, who share a unique connection.

"y gion"
Address: 19 Benzaiten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Prefecture
Hours: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM (irregular holidays)
http://www.ygion.com

編集部