FUL, a music lounge in Kyoto's Kiyamachi district, offers a space designed for ultimate comfort. The project team behind its creation, which meticulously crafted the space and its narrative, includes a stellar lineup of creators, notably Tomoyuki Tanaka of FPM. It's a place that embodies the essence of Kyoto, a city where tradition meets avant-garde sensibilities.

Kyoto has flourished as Japan's capital since the Heian period. Imperial families and nobles established numerous shrines, often surrounded by 'chinju no mori'—sacred groves. These groves, rooted in nature worship, provided solace and a spiritual anchor for worshippers.

While the 'chinju no mori' of Shimogamo Shrine's Tadasu no Mori is a prime example, many such groves have disappeared in modern times due to declining faith. Kyoto, having preserved its traditions through a long history, possesses a unique mystique that captivates people.

The music lounge "FUL" is a music bar conceptualized as a "sound forest." Located in the heart of Kyoto's bustling downtown, it offers guests an escape from daily stress, much like a sacred grove, providing supreme healing and tranquility.

The name "FUL" was chosen to convey messages of "Mindful" and "Peaceful," reflecting the desire to offer guests a sense of inner calm.

The interior, incorporating natural elements, evokes the feeling of being within a forest. Designed to resemble a "chinju no mori," it masterfully blends natural materials like earth, iron, wood, and stone, creating a space that is both modern and sophisticated, yet warm. A large symbol tree, crafted from reclaimed wood, stands at the center, watching over the guests.

The space is divided into three distinct areas: a lounge with sofas, a counter bar with high chairs, and dining tables. This allows guests to choose the setting that best suits their mood or group size. The sofa lounge area includes semi-private booths for a more intimate experience, while the counter bar offers a casual, drop-in option. The dining area is perfect for enjoying a meal with friends or family.

The sound system features ten 1 SOUND speakers installed in the ceiling, creating an auditory experience where music seems to rain down from the trees, enveloping every part of the space. This acoustic design maintains a powerful sound pressure that resonates throughout the body, yet ensures conversations flow uninterrupted.

Within this environment, guests can enjoy a diverse selection of ambient music, including jazz, post-rock, electronica, and classical, as well as natural sounds like birdsong and forest ambiance.

The drink menu is extensive, featuring approximately 120 types of natural wines curated in the cellar. These wines are carefully selected from around the world, offering a remarkable variety that belies the establishment's location in Kyoto.

The menu also includes original cocktails centered around aroma. "COLORFUL" (¥1,800) is a unique blend of tequila infused with the aroma of Saga-grown saffron, paired with yuzu and Pinot Noir, presented as a visually stunning drink. Additionally, "GRACEFUL" (¥2,000) offers a coffee cocktail made with sweet potato shochu imbued with the aroma of pu-erh tea, captivating the palate with its intriguing flavors.

The food menu is equally diverse, offering a wide array of updated Japanese street food as bar snacks. Highlights include "Instant Pressed Shrimp Crackers with Harissa Mayonnaise" (¥700), "Dashimaki Tamago Sandwich" (¥1,200), and "Sukiyaki Spring Rolls" (¥1,350)—each a unique dish worth trying. From light bites to substantial meals, the menu caters to a broad range of preferences.

"FUL" offers a sanctuary that liberates guests from daily stress, providing a space of supreme healing and tranquility akin to a power spot. This new environment, where music and nature harmonize, is poised to become a beloved haven in Kyoto, allowing visitors to experience the city's culture and traditions anew.

FUL
Address | 1F Forum Nishiki Building, 67-3 Daikoku-cho, Sanjo-sagaru, Kawaramachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Hours | 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Tuesday - Sunday) (Last Order 11:30 PM)
Closed | Mondays
Seating | 78 seats (Bar: 22, Dining: 28, Lounge: 28)
Instagram |@ful_kyoto

PROJECT TEAM

■PRODUCE
Tomoyuki Tanaka (Musician / Producer)
Under the name of his music project FPM (Fantastic Plastic Machine), he has released eight original albums. He has produced and remixed numerous artists, and provided music for domestic and international films, dramas, and commercial facilities. With DJ experience in over 100 cities worldwide, he frequently performs at major international festivals such as Coachella. He served as the music director for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. He is also a visiting professor in the Department of Acoustic Design at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.

■CO-PRODUCE
Aya Kominami (Producer)
After studying business management at New York University, she gained experience in launching new projects at foreign-luxury hotels and TRUNK HOTEL in Tokyo. Currently, she advises on various store developments and directs community building initiatives.

■INTERIOR DESIGN
Hiroyuki Matsunaka (DESIGN ROOM 702)
Based in an atelier in Megami-yama, Nishinomiya City, he handles architectural and interior design for commercial facilities, as well as product design, both domestically and internationally. He is also active as an interior designer, antique buyer, curator of international artists, and event and space director.

■SOUND SYSTEM
Satoru Tochihōri (eastaudio inc.)
He has produced sound systems for music festivals such as Rainbow Disco Club, rural, and ULTRA JAPAN, as well as sound installations for nightclubs like ZOUK TOKYO, RAISE, and SEL OCTAGON. He designs, manufactures, and sells original speakers, and imports and sells audio equipment from overseas.

■PLANT DESIGN
Takeshi Kasetani (MAESTRO)
Since 2009, he has been active in Kyoto as a "seasonal expressionist" with MAESTRO. His concept is to create forms that imbue the colors of life, such as flowers and greenery, onto a canvas. He is a fully proposal-based florist who creates a rich life intertwined with flowers, greenery, and nature through his unique concepts. His floral arrangements and decorations for luxury brands, hotels, department stores, and corporations have all received high acclaim.

■PLANT DESIGN
Atsushi Takeoka (Shochikuen)
In 1995, he began importing and selling foreign plant seedlings and seeds for plant producers in Japan. Based in Thailand, Southeast Asia, he frequently travels abroad as an "overseas plant buyer." He handles orders for plants from Japanese plant enthusiasts, sells and directs rare plants to retail stores nationwide, and exports plants from Japan overseas.

■NATURAL WINE CURATOR
Kei Tashiro (Wine Consultant / Sommelier)
He is the director and head sommelier for a group including Chi-Fu, a one-Michelin-starred Asian fusion restaurant. As a wine director, he also creates wine lists and pairing menus for restaurants in Japan and abroad. He serves as the Japan Ambassador for Star Wine List, a platform that introduces wine lists from restaurants and wine bars worldwide.

■COCKTAIL PRODUCER
Keita Saito (LIQUID WORKS)
In his early twenties, he transitioned from an auto mechanic to a bartender, and in 2015, he won 3rd place in the world at a global competition representing Japan. He founded the bartending service and fashion brand for bartenders, "LIQUID WORKS," and in 2019, opened "LIQUID FACTORY," a bar for cocktail development, in Udagawa-cho, Shibuya. Within a year, it was ranked among ASIA'S 50 BEST BARS.

■DRINK & FOOD ADVISOR
Dai Matsuo (Gourmet & Wine Conductor)
As a founding member of "FESTIVIN," a natural wine event that began in 2010, he was involved in planning, organization, and hosting, holding the event in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Sendai. After working as an editor for the gourmet site "dressing" on Gurunavi and the official Michelin Guide website "Club Michelin" starting in 2015, he is now involved in PR and product development.