This hidden house, with its Japanese-inspired architecture, is unveiled for the 2026 Night of Museums.

The Night of Museums is back with a full lineup of exceptional late openings across Paris and the Île-de-France region on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Offbeat visits, after-dark strolls, and discoveries are on the agenda for this springtime cultural highlight.

For this event, on the grounds of the Hôtel d’Heidelbach, an annex of the National Museum of Asian Arts – Guimet, we discover a place that remains discreet for many visitors. Behind this elegant address in the 16e arrondissement lies a singular site, initially the private residence of Alfred-Samuel d’Heidelbach and his wife Julie Picard, before being attached to the Guimet Museum in 1991. Since then, this standalone outbuilding of the great Parisian museum offers a more intimate, almost confidential experience, which pleasantly contrasts with the image of the monumental museum.

Hidden at the back of the building is an unusual secret: a Japanese tea pavilion tucked into a Japanese-style garden. Donated by Japan in 2001, this pavilion was designed by architect Nakamura Masao and crafted by Japanese artisans under the guidance of master carpenter Yamamoto Takaaki. Here, we enter the spirit of the chashitsu, the traditional Japanese tea house: architecture conceived for sobriety, attention to materials, discretion, and a tranquil relationship with the garden.

• To be read
• The best things to do in Paris and Île-de-France, November 9–15, 2026

The Night of Museums 2026 program at Maison Guimet, in the heart of the Hôtel d'Heidelbach in Paris

• Discovering Maison Guimet and its garden The splendor and refinement of the Heidelbach Hotel

  Open continuously from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

  Situated in the Hôtel d’Heidelbach, Maison Guimet invites you to step into a unique immersion at the heart of the splendor and refinement of Asian arts. Built in 1913 and attached to the Guimet Museum since 1991, this exceptional venue now houses a prestigious collection of ceremonial furniture, along with remarkable ensembles devoted to the arts of living in China and Japan.

  Let yourself be drawn to sumptuous imperial Chinese furniture, a testament to exceptionally fine craftsmanship, and to striking lacquered screens, whose intricate motifs unfold a world rich in literary and symbolic references.

  Then extend your visit with the Japanese tea art: from precious utensils to the simple, refined architecture of the tea pavilion, completed in 2001 in the garden by master artisans from Japan.

  Participation terms: Free | No reservation required

  Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM

Maison Guimet - Hôtel d'Heidelbach : this hidden gem of Asian treasures reopens its doors
The Guimet House, the new jewel in the former Hôtel d'Heidelbach, will reopen to the public on 23 May 2026, on Avenue d'Iéna in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. Imperial Chinese furniture, a Japanese garden, a tea pavilion, guided tours and tea tastings are on the agenda. We went to discover the place and tell you about its unsuspected treasures. [Read more]

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