Traditional Tea Ceremony in Kyoto
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Step into a traditional Kyoto machiya and experience ryurei, a formal Japanese tea ceremony performed in a graceful seated style. Discover the customs and etiquette that shape each stage of the ceremony, from the careful preparation of matcha to the thoughtful gestures that reflect Japan’s culture of hospitality. As you observe and take part in this time-honored tradition, gain a deeper understanding of the four core ideals of tea: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. More than simply enjoying a bowl of matcha, this immersive experience offers a glimpse into the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty, mindfulness, and connection in everyday moments.
Inclusions
What's included
- Group photo
- Randy Sensei's original Kyoto grown matcha
- Tea ceremony with a tea master
- Make your own bowl of matcha
- Traditional sweets from Kyoto's famous sweet makers
What's not
- Transportation
- Kimono rental
Itinerary
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and the origin of many of the country's cultural practices. One of these is the art of tea, or chanoyu. Visit a beautifully renovated old-style Kyoto house, transformed into a Japanese teahouse and gallery with a unique Taisho Roman-meets-Art Deco design. Originally from Canada, your host, Randy Channell Soei, is a professor of the Urasenke school of tea ceremony, he holds the highest rank of any non-Japanese tea ceremony teacher in Japan. He will introduce you to ryurei, a formal style of tea ceremony dating back to the 1870s. Randy also spent years working with local Kyoto farmers to develop his own original matcha, which you’ll have the opportunity to taste. Through the ceremony and hands-on guidance, discover traditional tea etiquette, hospitality, and the four ideals of tea: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.2
- 53
- 40
- 32
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 5 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please come directly to the shop. It's located inside a Sanjo Shipping Arcade, just a 5 mins walk from the Horikawa Sanjo bus stop. You will receive a Google Maps link in your message or confirmation email after your booking is confirmed. Please make sure to check and confirm the meeting location.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- byFood
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please arrive on time as the experience begins promptly.
- Kindly note that you are not seated on the Tatami mats or low tables.
How it compares in Kyoto
- Its from-price is 39% below the median of the 1713 experiences we list in Kyoto.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 611 of 1713.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years, is a city of temples, gardens, wooden townhouses and refined traditions.
The city holds many of Japan's most treasured sites. Fushimi Inari Taisha's thousands of vermilion torii gates climb a wooded mountain, Kinkaku-ji's Golden Pavilion shimmers over its pond, and Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage juts from the hillside above the city. The rock garden of Ryoan-ji and the mossy grounds of Ginkaku-ji invite quiet contemplation.
Top-ranked sights in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Special offers in Kyoto
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
