Sakura Sweets Making and Tea Ceremony in Ikegami Plum Garden

Cherry blossom season famously lasts only around two weeks, but its allure continues to captivate year-round. The draw of the ephemeral sakura is so powerful that it’s reflected in countless works of art, from paintings to poems, and, of course, also in traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi). In this sweets-making experience, you’ll make a moist wagashi called nerikiri and partake in a tea ceremony. Celebrated for their intricate motifs, which in this case will feature a delicate cherry blossom flower, nerikiri confectioneries are not too sweet, and, combined with their smooth mouthfeel, are said to complement matcha perfectly. The beauty of your sakura-shaped sweets will only be rivaled by that of the venue. This workshop takes place in a traditional Japanese-style room inside Ikegami Baien, a peaceful plum garden in Tokyo. Your host will be a wagashi instructor passionate about mindfulness and wellbeing. After a stroll through the garden, you’ll participate in a calming meditation overlooking the main pond before making confectioneries and participating in a tea ceremony. At the end of the experience, you will enjoy your sweet creations with matcha. Ikegami Baien Plum Garden in Southern Tokyo is perhaps known for being home to 350 plum (ume) trees, which bloom beautifully towards the end of February. While the garden is most busy during this time, its tranquil grounds are worth visiting year-round.