Experience Traditional Tea Ceremonies In Japan

The Japanese traditional tea ceremony has been a staple of Japanese culture for hundreds of years. While some may fear this art form is going extinct, there are still several places where you can experience tea ceremonies in all their historical wonder, particularly if you happen to be staying in Kyoto, where the practice first began.

If your aim is to experience the tea ceremony from an interactive perspective, you may want to sign up for one of the workshops at Tea Ceremony Room Ju-An. The workshop, given in English, instructs guests in how to perform a tea ceremony themselves, and then they are given the tools and ingredients to prepare their own matcha tea. The location is also conveniently located near Kyoto Station and you can book your session online.

Also conveniently located in a busy tourist area, Camellia offers a relaxing and stress-free environment that is not too formal, as some other tea houses are, but still traditional enough to offer a sense of authenticity. Tea ceremonies begin every hour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and each lasts 45 minutes. They do not offer online reservations, but you can easily call or email to reserve your time.

For a combination of instruction and relaxation, make a reservation at En. You’ll be given a thorough introduction to the tea ceremony, then be served either privately or in a group and lastly create your own matcha powder. Make note before you go that this teahouse only accepts payment in cash, so be sure to have some on hand.