Tucked away inside Kyoto Station is a café where visitors can enjoy matcha and wagashi while surrounded by digital art created by NAKED. Located on the seventh floor of the station building’s East Zone, its name is NIWA.
Digital Art Transforms NIWA as Night Falls
Stepping inside, the heat of the outdoors disappears and the mood shifts completely. A sculptural bamboo installation snakes across the ceiling and coils around the pillars, illuminated by streams of sky-blue light. Its design draws inspiration from the flowing waters of Kyoto’s Kamo River, while also representing the Azure Dragon, the guardian of the east in the traditional feng shui system known as shijin Seiryu.
Taking up much of the seating area is an open tea room called the Tea Room of Light “KIWA”. Roughly the size of three tatami mats, the space is enveloped on one side by projection-mapped imagery. Faint mountains appear in the distance, but most of the scene is a vast expanse of blue water, where concentric ripples emerge here and there before slowly fading away.
Beyond Hikari no Chashitsu Kiwa, projection mapping also brings several of the tables to life, with more colourful scenes inspired by Japanese landscapes shifting across their surfaces. Although the shape of the tables might bring a loquat fruit to mind, they are actually inspired by the tsukubai, a traditional stone water basin used for washing one’s hands before entering a tea room.
How NAKED Blends Digital Art and Japanese Culture at NIWA
Behind NIWA, which opened in March last year, is NAKED, the creative company known both in Japan and overseas for its large-scale digital art installations. Running a café may seem like an unusual direction for the company, but NIWA is actually part of a much broader project: NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO, created in collaboration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kyoto Prefecture and other partners.
The initiative aims to bring Kyoto together through collaboration that crosses conventional boundaries, from the public and private sectors to different religious traditions, traditional culture and cutting-edge technology. From this came NAKED ART STATION, with NIWA becoming its first project.
Its name comes from the Japanese word niwa, meaning “garden.” Behind it is the idea of creating a place that is never truly finished, but instead continues to grow together with everyone who becomes part of it.
As the sun goes down and the world outside grows darker, NIWA gradually fills with an ethereal glow. The best time to visit is around dusk, when the light outside is just beginning to fade.
Matcha, Wagashi and Japanese Cultural Experiences at NIWA
Of course, NIWA is not only about the art. The café also offers a menu of matcha, wagashi and other drinks and sweets to enjoy within the space. On my visit, I tried two of the recommended items: the Premium Matcha Latte and NIWA Ohagi. The matcha used in the latte is known as Zabōsai Iemoto Okonomi Matcha, meaning it has been specially selected by the head of the Urasenke school of tea. The flavour was quite different from the typical matcha latte you might find at other cafés, with a deep, rich umami that really stood out.
The NIWA Ohagi was equally surprising. Traditional ohagi is typically made with partially pounded glutinous rice, leaving some of the grains intact and giving it a distinctive texture. NIWA’s version, however, has very little of that graininess, with a much softer, chewier consistency. The matcha-coated version in particular reminded me of the smooth texture of mizu yokan, a chilled red bean jelly. I later learned that it is made with konnyaku mochi. The result was light and refreshing, making it especially well suited to the lingering late-summer heat.
According to the staff, kakigori has also been particularly popular during this year’s hot summer, with many visitors coming specifically to enjoy the shaved ice. Three varieties are available, but their recommendation is the NIWA Kakigori Matcha Zukushi. Built around a carefully selected matcha syrup and topped with matcha shiratama, azuki beans and matcha ice cream, it certainly lives up to its matcha zukushi, or “all things matcha,” name.
Unfortunately, the kakigori is only available during summer, but there are plenty of other sweets to try year-round, including Matcha Shiratama Zenzai and Matcha Basque Cheesecake served with matcha ice cream.
The drinks menu is equally varied, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Alongside staples such as coffee, beer and matcha lattes, there are more unusual choices like the Yuzu Honey Soda, making choosing a drink part of the fun.
But there is more to NIWA than simply eating and drinking. The café also hosts cultural experience workshops, with programmes changing throughout the year. Currently held every Tuesday and Thursday, the workshops vary by day and offer the chance to try traditional arts and crafts such as ikebana flower arrangement, Yuzen dyeing, gold leaf decoration, bamboo crafts and Kyoto-style armour making. Sessions last around 40 to 60 minutes, with same-day bookings available, making them an accessible way to experience traditional Japanese culture firsthand.
For travellers arriving in Kyoto, NIWA offers a quiet place to escape the bustle of the station and refuel before setting out. Then, on the journey home, you might return for a workshop and a moment to unwind while waiting for your Shinkansen. Tucked away within one of Japan’s busiest stations, that sense of retreat is part of NIWA’s charm.
NIWA
Address: 7F, East Zone, Kyoto Station Building, 901 Higashishiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori Shiokoji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
Hours: 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
Closed: Select days (check the official website or social media for the latest updates)
Website: https://niwa.naked.works/kyoto/en
Instagram: @niwa_kyoto
