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.
Visit Us
We are located 15 minutes on foot from Subway Kitaoji Station, and 5 minutes on foot from Kyoto City Bus Daitokuji-mae stop.
10:00 – 17:00
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
Tel: +81 90 3334 1709
Email: thekuramonzen@gmail.com
Art Consultancy
We provide comprehensive art consultancy for museums, embassies, public institutions, corporate offices, and private residences.
Our services cover the entire process—from artwork selection and layout planning to transportation, framing, installation, exhibition design, and ongoing maintenance—delivering a seamless art experience tailored to each space.
Selected Projects:
- Relocation, reframing, and installation of artworks at a foreign embassy.
- Total production of an exhibition held in the embassy hall.
- Artwork relocation and display planning for the Osaka Expo Pavilion.
- Art coordination and advisory for private residences.
- Relocation and installation of a wooden sculpture at a temple.
- Loan of artworks to museums.
People Behind Kura Monzen
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
Coordinator
Yoshida Mikuru
Web management, Catalog production
Nishiura
Stock management, Customer relation