Table-Style Tea Ceremony at a 100-Year-Old Machiya in Kyoto

Tea is a quintessential element of Japanese culture, and nowhere is that more evident than in Kyoto. One of the first places to cultivate tea in Japan, where many of its long-standing traditions developed, Kyoto keeps a vibrant tea culture. Experience it by participating in a tea ceremony, where a tea master assembles the perfect bowl of tea following ancient rituals and teaches you to make your own in simple terms. You'll first be given an overview of the tea-making process, before choosing a bowl and watching as Hiromi, your host, prepares tea with meticulous precision according to traditional practices. With over 30 years of experience in Urasenke (one of the three schools of Japanese tea ceremony), Hiromi follows the ryurei tradition of using chairs and tables instead of sitting on the floor. From the comfort of your chair, watch her precise movements as she prepares your bowl of frothy matcha tea! After her demonstration, you will learn to make matcha and enjoy tea with a traditional Japanese sweet (wagashi). Next, you'll get hands-on making a unique treat of your own — an edible miniature Japanese garden (hakoniwa). Using granulated sugar as sand and chocolate or cookies as rocks, you'll design your peaceful Zen garden to counter the bitterness of matcha. Bask in the whimsical atmosphere of this traditional machiya house that has been standing for over 100 years in Kyoto's Fushimi district, and seep into the fascinating world of Japanese tea. This experience is a great way to embrace Kyoto's tea culture with a local specialist!