Kura Monzen Gallery

Nestled in the historic Kita Ward of Kyoto, our gallery serves as a bridge between traditional Japanese aesthetics and contemporary artistic expression.

The Kura began in 1995, initially providing works to Japanese auction houses. This quickly grew into dedicated sourcing—actively seeking pieces for collectors and specialized buyers. In 1998, we became officially licensed and opened our first sales space in the historic sake-brewing district of Fushimi, in southern Kyoto.

That same year we launched our first website, updating it the following year and steadily expanding our online presence. In 2004, we relocated to northern Kyoto, shifting our focus further into the collector market.

In 2010, the gallery moved into a former inn beside the plum garden of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, where it remained for over a decade and continues to serve as a special exhibition space.

In 2022, we moved again—this time to a three-story building on the east side of Daitokuji Temple—doubling our display area.

We select objects based on three key criteria: Rarity, Exceptional Quality, and Story. When a piece embodies more than one of these qualities, it becomes essential.

If there is a specific piece you'd like to view, we'll be happy to prepare it—just let us know before your visit as not everything is on the floor.

Our director, Robert often travels for artist visits and collection research; those wishing to meet with him are encouraged to arrange an appointment in advance.

 

Visit Us

Access

We are located 15 minutes on foot from Subway Kitaoji Station, and 5 minutes on foot from Kyoto City Bus Daitokuji-mae stop.

Hours

10:00 – 17:00
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

 

Art Consultancy

ギャラリーでの活動に加え、ロバートはアートコンサルティングおよびキュレーション業務も行っており、個人コレクターや各種機関、特別プロジェクトに対して専門的なサポートを提供しています。

 

People Behind Kura Monzen

Robert Mangold

Robert Mangold

Gallery director

After more than 25 years living in Japan, he continues to travel extensively to discover works of rarity and character. His careful selections form the foundation of Kura Monzen Gallery’s collection.

Suga Misaki

Suga Misaki

Coordinator

Yoshida Mikuru

Yoshida Mikuru

Web management, Catalog production

Nishiura

Nishiura

Stock management, Customer relation