Tea Ceremony Kyoto

An authentic tea ceremony at a Japanese home near Kinkaku-ji Temple, guided by a licensed Urasenke tea master.

• Everything you get: 45-minute tea ceremony experience; entry to a tatami-lined tea room; English-speaking Urasenke tea master; matcha-making demonstration and tasting of your own hand-whisked tea with some sweets by the side, take a tour of the tea house and small garden with photo ops in a traditional Japanese setting.
• Why choose this: Learn centuries-old tea rituals in a calm, small-group setting; perfect for travellers who want to experience Kyoto’s traditions in an intimate way.
• Upgrades: Wear a kimono during the ceremony and capture photos throughout the house with an optional upgrade.

Inclusions

• 45-min Tea ceremony session by Urasenke tea master

• English-speaking guide

• Matcha-making and tasting experience

• Introduction to tea room etiquette

• Photo opportunities inside the traditional home

• Access to the Japanese garden

• Kimono dress-up during the tea ceremony (optional upgrade)

What to bring

• Your booking confirmation or voucher (digital or printed).
• Comfortable clothing — there’s no specific dress code.
• Socks, as shoes must be removed inside the tea room.

What’s not allowed

• Arriving more than 30 minutes before your scheduled slot.
• Loud conversations or behaviour that disturbs the ceremony’s quiet atmosphere.
• Large groups expecting dedicated reception or staff support.

Accessibility

• Chairs are available for participants who cannot sit on tatami mats.

Additional information

• The venue is a small, private classroom, managed by a single instructor; so please arrive on time, as early or late entries cannot be accommodated.
• Guests are requested to maintain silence and respect throughout the session.
• If you’ve booked the Kimono add-on, arrive 20 minutes before your session for dressing.
• If sitting on the floor is difficult, chairs can be arranged on request — please inform the instructor in advance.

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Step into a traditional machiya house in Gion or the Kiyomizu area and experience Japan’s tea ceremony with a guide.

• Everything you get: 45-minute tea ceremony experience in a machiya-style teahouse, led by an English-speaking guide who explains each ritual. Join a shared session where you can make your own frothy bowl of matcha, enjoy it with Japanese sweets, and learn about the history.
• Why choose this: Set in a beautifully preserved machiya house, this experience combines Kyoto’s charm with centuries-old tea traditions. Choose between shared or private sessions as per your preference.
• Upgrades: Choose from shared or private tea ceremony sessions, with optional all-day kimono rental for an added touch of tradition and photo-perfect elegance.

Inclusions

• 45-minute Japanese tea ceremony experience

• Shared tour/private tour (as per option selected)

• English-speaking expert instructor

• Seasonal Japanese sweets (wagashi)

• Freshly whisked matcha (Japanese green tea)

• Opportunity to prepare and enjoy your own tea

• All-day kimono rental (optional upgrade)

What to bring

• Comfortable clothing — you’ll remove shoes before entering the tea room.
• Socks (required inside the tatami room).

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What’s not allowed

• Video recording during the ceremony.
• Flash photography.
• Food or drinks brought from outside.
• Loud conversations or disruptions during the session.

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Additional information

• Non-flash photography is permitted during the session.
• Chairs and tables are available for guests who cannot sit on the floor.
• Restrooms are available at all venues.
• The tea rooms are located upstairs — guests with mobility challenges can book at the Garden Teahouse, which is wheelchair accessible.
• Guests with interpreters must book a private ceremony to avoid disturbing other participants.
• Tour guides may wait in the lounge, which offers Wi-Fi and refreshments.
• Infants under 3 years old can only attend private ceremonies at the Garden Teahouse.
• Age limits vary by location:
  • Flower Teahouse: Shared Ceremony 6+, Private 4+
  • Flower Annex: 4+
  • Garden Teahouse: 4+
• Kimono rental is available at Flower Teahouse and Flower Annex (6,000 JPY per person, not available at Garden Teahouse).
• Flower Annex is for groups of nine or more (smaller groups may inquire).
• Flower Annex will be wheelchair accessible from March 1, 2026, and will close from Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 for maintenance.
• Garden Teahouse operates daily (Sundays only May–Nov; extra sessions Mar–Nov).
• Flower Teahouse is open year-round.

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Explore a tea museum in Uji and learn about Japanese tea through interactive exhibits and also brew your own matcha.

• Everything you get: Entry to Chazuna Museum with access to digital exhibits on the history of Uji tea. Join a stone-mill matcha workshop, brew your own tea under the guidance of an instructor, and enjoy your prepared matcha with views of Japanese tea gardens!
• Why choose this: An interactive tea experience where you can see, grind, and brew Uji tea yourself, making it worth the short trip from Kyoto.

Inclusions

• Entry to Chazuna Museum in Uji

• Access to interactive and digital exhibits

• Stone mill workshop to grind matcha

• Tea-brewing session with a Japanese tea instructor

• Tasting of matcha tea

Additional information

• Please arrive 15 minutes before your reserved time and check in at the reception counter.
• Entry or participation will not be permitted 30 minutes after the class has started, as it disrupts other guests.

Partake in a centuries-old traditional tea ceremony while donning a kimono at a historic Kyoto machiya.

• Everything you get: Wear a kimono with an obi sash, join a tea ceremony inside a 100-year-old machiya house, take part in two 20-minute zazen meditation sessions led by Eitetsu Nishida, join a guided walk from Myoshinji Temple North Gate to Jusho-in, enjoy a matcha-tasting session with seasonal Japanese sweets, take photos in the garden and tatami rooms with a photographer, and be accompanied by a bilingual guide.
• Why choose this: If you're a Japanese history lover, this tour is perfect. It takes you inside a machiya originally built during the Meiji period, once reserved for Japan’s wealthy nobles, and attend a Japanese meditation session
• Ticket options: Choose a shared or a private group tour for a more intimate experience—do note that wait times may occur if you book a shared group tour.
• Upgrades: Upgrade to a hand-loomed silk kimono to elevate your experience—feel the grace and authenticity of what nobility once wore as you explore the historic machiya.

Inclusions

• Shared tour/private tour (as per option selected)

• Bilingual guide: Japanese & English

• Entry to a 100-year-old machiya house

• 20-minute zazen meditation session with Eitetsu Nishida (2 sets)

• Guided walk from Myoshinji Temple North Gate to Jusho-in

• Matcha tasting with seasonal Japanese sweets

• Regular Kimono with an obi sash

• Premium silk kimono with an obi sash (optional upgrade)

• Photos taken by a professional photographer

Exclusions

• Socks (please bring your own socks)

• Geta (traditional Japanese wooden sandals)

• Hair styling

• Make up

• Lunch

What to bring

• Bring along your white socks as this helps to preserve the venue's cultural assets.

What's not allowed

• Shutterbugs, take note: Flash photography is a no-go inside the venue.
• Keep in mind tripods are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!

Accessibility

• This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

Additional information

• Please avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing such as turtlenecks during the kimono experience.
• This experience is for both men and women.

Experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony in Osaka’s Dotonbori district and learn the art of matcha-making.

• Everything you get: A 45-minute guided tea ceremony session with English instruction, hands-on matcha-making, and a tasting of freshly prepared matcha paired with traditional Japanese sweets. Learn the correct way to prepare and serve tea, and enjoy your creation in a calm, welcoming setting.
• Why choose this: A peaceful cultural experience in central Osaka — ideal for travellers who want to explore Japan’s tea traditions and try matcha-making without leaving the city.

Inclusions

• 45-minute guided tea ceremony session

• English-speaking instructor

• Live tea ceremony demonstration

• Matcha tasting with traditional Japanese sweets

Additional information

• The experience is not wheelchair accessible.
• Located near public transportation for easy access.
• Children’s matcha is made caffeine-free using matcha milk.
• This experience accommodates a maximum of 12 participants per session to maintain a calm atmosphere.

Savor premium first flush matcha while learning tea culture in an easy-to-wear kimono.

• Everything you get: Taste exclusive first flush matcha, learn Japanese tea ceremony philosophy, and the differences between Japanese and overseas matcha. Practice preparing a bowl of matcha using tea tools and learn drinking etiquette. Easy-to-wear kimonos and Japanese snacks are included.
• Why choose this: Most experiences focus only on tasting or dressing. This one lets you try a kimono, learn about matcha culture, and master proper tea preparation.

Inclusions

• Authentic Japanese tea ceremony

• High-quality Japanese 1st flush matcha

• Japanese traditional snacks

• Easy-to-wear kimono rental

• Tea Ceremony tools rental

Discover Japan’s tea culture in one session at the Ocharu Tea Ceremony and take home a certificate as a keepsake.

• Everything you get: Entry to the Ocharu Tea Ceremony Room, a cup of wakocha (Japanese black tea) and a traditional tea cake, taste freshly brewed Gyokuro sencha paired with Japanese sweets, prepare your own matcha under the guidance of a tea master, and end with a cup of Genmaicha, a comforting blend of sencha and roasted rice.
• Why choose this: A well-rounded 60-minute session that lets you explore Japan’s tea culture in one place and get to taste four distinct teas: wakocha, Gyokuro, matcha, and Genmaicha.

Inclusions

• 1-hour Tea Ceremony experience

• Access to the Ocharu Tea Ceremony Room

• Welcome tea and cake (wakocha and tea cake)

• Gyokuro sencha tasting with seasonal wagashi

• Hands-on matcha-making session with a tea master

• A cup of Genmaicha, a blend of sencha & roasted rice.

• Certificate of completion

• Group photo

What's not allowed

• Pets are not allowed on this experience.
• Children under the age of 7 years are not allowed to participate in this experience.

Accessibility

• This experience is not accessible by wheelchairs and prams/strollers.