Kyoto holds a special place in the history of Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu. As the cultural heart of Japan, it’s home to historic tea schools, famous tea houses, and ceramics traditions that are intimately tied to the aesthetics of tea ceremony.
Understanding Japanese Tea Ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony is more than just preparing and drinking tea. Rooted in Zen Buddhism, it emphasizes harmony and respect, and appreciation of simple beauty. Every action and movement within the ceremony is intentional and carefully performed.
Tea drinking originally came to Japan through the Buddhist monks who brought it back with them from China. Tea ceremony as we know it today can largely be attributed to the 16th century monk Sen no Rikyu, who served as tea master to Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, two of Japan’s most famous warlords. He developed the traditional tea room, bowl, and utensils that are still associated with tea ceremony to this day. Rikyu’s preference for rustic and unadorned items, too, helped to popularize a philosophy of simplicity that ties into the ceremony that became chanoyu.
Historically, chanoyu developed alongside Kyoto’s flourishing ceramic arts. The city’s artisans created the tea bowls and other utensils that reflect the understated elegance central to the ceremony.
There are also different types of tea ceremonies, including:
Chakai: A casual tea gathering that often involves light sweets and matcha (powdered green tea).
Chaji: A more formal ceremony, usually including a meal and both a strong and weak tea, lasting several hours.
Tea ceremonies are taught and practiced according to different schools, such as Urasenke and Omotesenke, each with slight variations in style. Today, tea ceremony schools in Kyoto keep the tradition alive, teaching students from Japan and around the world. Today, there are many places in Kyoto that offer experiences for visitors to enjoy this cultural treasure.
Historic Tea Houses & Tea Rooms
Some of Kyoto’s historic temples, villas, and gardens feature traditional tea houses, built in traditional styles. These are wonderful to visit, especially if you’re interested in the history of tea ceremony in Kyoto and Japan more broadly. However, these tea houses typically don’t offer tea ceremony experiences on-site.
Okochi Sanso Gardens & Tea Room: Located in Arashiyama, this villa’s tea room offers matcha and sweets as part of a garden visit. The grounds are fairly extensive, and offer a wonderful view of the Kyoto area.
Ihoan Tea House (Kodai-ji Temple): It may appear more like a hut than a house, but this charming building (pictured above) is the perfect size for a small, traditional tea ceremony. Ihoan is located on the grounds of Kodai-ji, a Zen temple known for its beautifully landscaped gardens.
Shokin-tei at Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa: This exquisite tea house is part of the Katsura Imperial Villa, a masterpiece of Japanese architecture. Reservations to tour the villa are required.
Ichiriki Ochaya: A 300-year-old ochaya (geisha tea house) in Gion. While not open to the public, the exterior is a notable landmark in Kyoto’s historic entertainment district.
If you want to participate in a tea ceremony yourself, you’ll need to visit venues like the ones below that offer these experiences for visitors.
Venues to Experience Tea Ceremony in Kyoto
Here are some of the best places in Kyoto to take part in a tea ceremony:
Camellia Tea House
Camellia offers a chance to experience tea ceremony in two locations: in Higashiyama, near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and in Kyoto’s northwest, near Ryoan-ji Temple, in a historic home. Camellia also offers kimono rental at its Higashiyama location if you’d like to have the full experience. You can find details about both locations on their website.
Bikouen
This tea shop near Kyoto Station has been in business since 1872, and offers tea ceremony on the second floor of the traditional building, including an option for a more formal chaji ceremony, as well as options to make your own bowl of matcha, or learn to professionally brew green tea.
Tea Ceremony Koto
Close to Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony Koto has been host to some important government guests. If you’re serious about learning about the intricacies of tea ceremony, this is the venue for you. Sessions here will include explanations about each movement and utensil, so you can gain a full appreciation for the ceremony. Koto also offers the option to dress in kimono for tea (see details on their website).
Nagomi
Located above a 100 year-old shop in Ninenzaka, near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Nagomi offers intimate tea ceremony experiences. Their sessions include explanations of tea culture in the relaxing tea room upstairs, with options to rent kimono.
Ran Hotei
This unique venue is run by Canadian tea master Randy Channell Soei. Held in the traditional room above his retro tea shop, ceremonies are conducted in the more modern ryurei style, where guests sit on chairs instead of tatami mats. This is a great option if you find traditional floor seating uncomfortable.
Ran Hotei Website (English below Japanese)
Uji Municipal Tea House Taihoan
Taihoan is located a 20-30 minute train ride away in Uji, a neighboring city famous for its green tea. This is an excellent location to visit to both experience and learn more about Japanese tea ceremony, with multiple tea rooms and a serene setting.
Temples with Tea Ceremony Experiences
Some Zen temples in Kyoto allow visitors to experience a tea ceremony in the tranquility of the temple grounds. Note that availability may be limited, so it’s best to check ahead of time, but this is the kind of experience you can really only have in Kyoto.
Entoku-in Temple Tea Ceremony: Participate in a tea ceremony surrounded by Zen gardens and historical architecture. Entoku-in is a sub-temple of Kodai-ji Temple. See Entoku-in Temple’s English website for times, prices, and more information.
Shoren-in Temple Tea Ceremony: Enjoy tea in the temple’s Kobun-tei tea house while overlooking its peaceful gardens. The tea ceremony room is open from 10:00 to 15:30 on select days. See Shoren-in Temple’s English website for current dates.
How to Book and What to Expect
Many tea ceremony venues that offer English service will have straightforward booking online, either on their websites or on a third party booking service. Just be aware that availability can be limited during peak tourist seasons, so you’ll want to book in advance.
During the ceremony, the host will carefully prepare cups of frothy matcha, and may explain the steps. You’ll also be served a traditional sweet to balance the bitterness of the tea. The host may tell you what the guest is expected to do, but if not, basic etiquette for the guest means bowing when bowed to and admiring the tea utensils by turning them around slowly when they’re offered to you. When you’re offered a cup of tea, be sure to gently turn it 90 degrees, so that the opposite side is facing you before you drink.
Kimono are traditionally worn for tea ceremonies, but at the venues above, you can participate in your own casual clothes. Just avoid clothing that’s too revealing, and wear socks, as you’ll likely be seated on a cushion without shoes.
Taking part in a tea ceremony is one of the most memorable ways to experience Kyoto’s traditional culture. You may be more drawn to the old tea houses themselves, or to the graceful, deliberate movements before and after the tea is whisked, or maybe just to the taste of matcha with a sweet. This historic city is the place to experience the real thing, and to learn a little bit more about this centuries old tradition.
