Suigian

A feast for the eyes, ears, and of course the tastebuds, Suigian is a traditional Japanese restaurant, tearoom, and performance hall, all in one venue. Hidden underground at Nihonbashi’s Fukutoku Shrine, the secret passageway opens to an open area with sophisticated decorations and a grand stage at its center. The gentle green of the pine tree on its backdrop was painted by a painter of the Kano school in the Edo era, and is said to be worth the visit alone. It is on this stage that professional actors stage traditional performances, from noh plays to gagaku court music to kyogen comedy. Three plays are performed at every service, spanning the gamut of the Japanese theatrical canon's most famous works. Just as exquisite as Suigian’s performances is its cuisine. Using fresh ingredients, Suigian offers intricate kaiseki course menus that draw inspiration both from the seasons and from Japanese noh theater, each one as intricately decorated as the art forms from which it is inspired. As the seasons change, so do the menus and the ingredients used therein, ensuring each visit is as exciting as the last. Even the tableware is exquisite, handed down from the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras from a famed establishment in Nagasaki. Three seating options are available. Those looking for a more conventional dining experience can opt for table seating. But for those who want to be as close to the stage as possible, stageside sofa seating — on plush Missoni sofas and Nabeshima Dantsu rugs from Saga — is an option, while larger groups or those looking for the most comfortable experience should choose the large sofa option.