There is a trend in Japanese interior architecture which fuses traditional houses with a clean modern design. It’s like modern zen meets traditional zen. The interior of the Leica Store in Kyoto is a fantastic example. Located in the traditional Gion neighborhood, the exterior of the store is harmonious with its surroundings. Step inside, however, and you are transported into a remarkable hybrid of modern and traditional, with an undeniable Japanese aesthetic.

The first floor has the only evidence that this is, in fact, a store. The familiar black Leica cabinetry with the red interiors artfully display cameras, museum-like. Scattered around in low-key piles are accessories and books.

The entire second floor is a gallery with a stylish sitting area.

The traditional ceiling is stripped away, revealing the original rough hewed roof supports. They become art-like against plain walls and ceilings.

Photographically, I like the soft blues and yellows which contrast gently within this calm space. I’ve emphasized the color difference, slightly, with increased saturation.

Of course, I’ve shot a lot of black and whites lately, and that works nicely too.

Finally, back on the first floor, this transition space with a simple garden. On the right, the store. To the left, a tatami room, which I did not visit.

As usual, during my entire Japan trip, I shot with two Olympus cameras. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Olympus PEN-F. As with all of my blog postings, on a computer with a mouse, hover over the photos to get the EXIF data and to see which camera and lens I used.