No trip to Kyoto is complete without experiencing the old capital’s traditions, and none quite compares to Kyoto’s tea culture. Home to Uji, one of Japan’s main tea hubs, Kyoto has been a point of reference in the art of tea making for centuries, and also happens to be where some of Japan’s most distinguished sweet makers are.

This experience includes a sweets-making workshop in which you can learn to make two kinds of sweets that pair wonderfully with matcha: ohigashi, dried delicacies made with fine-grained wasanbon sugar sourced from Southern Japan, and two pieces of nerikiri, moist and delicate confectioneries made of white and red bean paste from long-established shops in Kyoto. Following tradition, your sweets will reflect the themes and colors of the season. In Japanese tea ceremonies, these sweets are enjoyed before matcha to enhance the tea's creaminess and soften its bitter taste.

After all the hard work, it’s time for tea! You first get an overview of Japanese tea culture and its intricacies, then see how matcha is ground before the tea ceremony experience starts. Sit back and relax as the tea ceremony master prepares and serves you tea, and enjoy your matcha with the sweets you made earlier. You will also learn how to make matcha yourself so that you can always delight in this traditional Japanese tea.

Luckily for visitors, this sweets-making workshop and tea ceremony experience is conveniently located five minutes from Kyoto Station, making it the perfect addition to any trip.