Japan · KYOTO TEA CEREMONIES AND MATCHA
31 reviewed
Forty-five minutes, one bowl, and a set of movements that took the host years to make look easy. Below are the 15 tea ceremonies worth booking in Kyoto: which include kimono dressing, which sit in a garden, which keep strictly to the old form, with prices and group sizes so you can pick the room before you land.
Kyoto tea ceremony in Sannenzaka at SAKAGUCHIAN, set in an Ogawa garden. Brew matcha, taste sweets, and get a photo in 45 minutes.
“A great and relaxing experience! The hostess and tea master were both very knowledgeable and it was interesting to learn more about this part of traditional japanese culture. The garden was also beautiful!”
Kyoto tea ceremony at Jotokuji Temple, Ju-An by Tea Ceremony Juan. Learn purification, whisk matcha in a small group, 70 minutes, $29.
“Absolutely incredible experience all around. we learned so much from our guide and our tea master was extremely kind, welcoming and encouraging. 10/10 recommend !”
Kyoto tea ceremony lesson with a Urasenke master, 45 minutes of real matcha making, sweets, and optional kimono photos near Kinkakuji.
“We learnt a lot about tea ceremony and the deep meanings behind every act and gesture. Highly recommended!”
Air-conditioned day trip from Kyoto to Nara and Uji, with Todai-ji, deer park, and a 500-year matcha workshop included.
“We loved our tour with Yuta!!! The tour was the perfect mix of walking, sightseeing, food, and culture. The bus was very comfortable with outlets and AC, and the lunch was unique and delicious. We felt like we got great value to visit lots of sites at once, and learned a lot about the Kansai region from Yuta.”
Osaka tea ceremony with kimono-clad Japanese instructors in English. Make matcha, taste seasonal sweets, and learn the meaning behind it.
“Great to see ceremony and learn some history and then make matcha ourselves, thank you!”
Table-and-chair Kyoto tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya with matcha you whisk yourself, calligraphy, flower arranging, and optional kimono.
“The experience was amazing! We enjoyed the whole experience, which included wearing the kimono, learning the tea cerimony, learning how to prepare our own matcha, sweet tasting, caligraphy and flower ornaments. It was a lovely moment and the guides were very kind and sweet. We really recommend doing this experience.”
Join a 1-hour Kenrokuen tea ceremony at Kenrokutei, learn etiquette, watch master steps, make matcha, and taste wagashi. Garden fee extra.
“This is a wonderful experience. Really calm atmosphere in the tea room. Ladies were Informative and happy to answer questions. For me the experience was enhanced by being within the beautiful gardens. Would highly recommend. I have already had friends who took this tour and they have also enjoyed it very much.”
Wear a real kimono in Kyoto, learn the tea ceremony steps, whisk matcha, and end with wagashi at Maikoya Nishiki.
“A authentic experience and a highlight of my visit to Kyoto. Kimonos were high-quality, accessories generous, and the staff very helpful. The tea ceremony host gave a wonderful introduction, describing all details and the meaning behind eRead more”
Walk Arashiyama highlights in a 4 to 4.5 hour loop: Tenryu-ji, bamboo forest, matcha, Togetsu-kyo Bridge, and Monkey Park views.
“The bamboo forest felt so peaceful, and we couldn’t stop laughing at those silly monkeys at the park.”
Learn matcha and tea etiquette in a small-group Osaka ceremony near Dotonbori, with family-friendly caffeine-free options, about 45 min.
“We had a wonderful time at the tea ceremony and diving into Japanese culture. We had Mai guide us as we made matcha tea and learned about the history of tea ceremonies. Would definitely recommend if you visit Osaka!”
Learn to whisk matcha in Asakusa with English guidance and seasonal Japanese sweets, plus step-by-step tips for making better matcha at home.
“Rino made this tour fun interactive. If as so interesting to learn about the origins of match, the history and how the tea ceremony works”
Chazuna in Uji, Kyoto. Grind matcha, learn tea culture with touchable exhibits, and brew your own cup in about 1 hour for $23.
“Great fun grinding the matcha tea leaves. Speaker was also very funny”
Kyoto’s Gion kimono and matcha tea ceremony. Small group up to 10, expert dressing, optional calligraphy, $49, 90 min to 2 hours.
“It was an incredible experience. From the moment we arrived, the part of putting on the kimono and doing the hair, to the pre-ceremony, the ceremony itself and the post. All the staff were very kind and polite, they took pictures of us, gave tips and treated us very well. The time is ideal. The clothing part was made in a professional and effective way. The ceremony itself is all explained and very interesting. I recommend.”
Kyoto tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya townhouse, make your own matcha, optional kimono rental, plus a short machiya moment.
“Beautiful experience with a very knowledgeable tea master/host. He explained all of the steps for a simple traditional samurai tea ceremony and helped us make our first matcha! Highly recommend for anyone looking to understand more about the traditional culture.”
Make matcha, taste wakocha, Gyokuro and Genmaicha, plus seasonal Ougiya wagashi in a calm one-hour Tokyo tea ceremony.
“The experience was both interesting and calming. Learning about the different types of tea and various temperatures was insightful to me as an avid tea drinker. Our tea master was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. We always felt at ease throughout. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone curious about the process while visiting Japan.”
