Tea Ceremony with Homemade Wagashi Sweets in Yokohama

You can get matcha in just a few minutes almost anywhere in the world, but in Japan, where this frothy green tea has existed for centuries, making it the traditional way is no quick fix. During this Japanese tea ceremony experience, you will see how a skilled instructor prepares tea in a traditional way, a precise ritual in which every detail counts and every movement is rigorously contrived. The perfect cup requires that the water is boiled in a kama tea kettle over charcoal. Your host will show you sumi-demae, the traditional way of adding charcoal to the hearth to boil the water, one of the first steps of this process. You will also learn about the etiquette of tea drinking and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Japanese tea culture with a cup of expertly prepared matcha in hand. After the tea ceremony, you will learn hands-on how to make matcha yourself. Now, with help from your host, you will mix the matcha with a chasen bamboo whisk to make it frothy and smooth. After the tea is served, you will enjoy it with handmade traditional wagashi sweets. Ikuyo, your host, comes from a family of tea ceremony masters. From a young age, she participated in tea ceremonies as a guest and, later, as a tea master herself. During her time abroad, Ikuyo performed tea ceremonies in English to connect with others through this captivating part of Japanese culture. Now, she enjoys providing guests in Japan with the same graceful hospitality and intricate tea-making. Itinerary: -Attend a tea ceremony performed by Ikuyo, an experienced tea master -Make matcha with the guidance -Enjoy matcha with wagashi sweets