Kimono Tea Ceremony in Kyoto

My husband and I are visiting Japan with a couple friends. We booked this kimono tea ceremony to learn about the traditional ceremony and try authentic matcha. Mayu led us through the ceremony while teaching us about each step. Her English was great and we really appreciated how she told us the traditional way to do things, yet still was flexible to what was most comfortable for us. We had an amazing time and it was so peaceful. It was so fun getting our hair done and dressed in the kimono. Mayu also took photos of us and told us how to pose which was very helpful. They let us wear our kimono for the rest of the day if we wanted which was unexpected! Highly recommended booking this experience if you are visiting Kyoto!

We really enjoyed this experience! From changing into the kimono to the tea ceremony itself, everything was smooth and well organized. The 45-minute ceremony was explained beautifully, with plenty of opportunities to take photos. Our host was very kind and accommodating and guided us at every step. I also received a special birthday gift, which was such a sweet and thoughtful surprise and made the experience even more memorable. Thank you so much for memorable experience.

Wonderful experience taking part in a tea ceremony in traditional dress. The groups are small, around 6 to 10 people, which makes the experience feel intimate and special. Our group had six people, including three couples. Upon arrival, you’re taken to the male or female changing rooms to be dressed in traditional attire, with the women also having their hair styled. The process is surprisingly quick, and getting dressed is an experience in itself, seeing just how precise each step is. The tea ceremony is quite magical. You learn about the traditions and techniques behind it, watch a demonstration, and then get to make your own matcha. You can also keep the kimonos until 6pm, giving you plenty of time to wear them out and explore afterwards. Highly recommend this incredible cultural experience!

A fantastic experience! You enter and dress in a traditional kimono, they take photos of you if you would like. The traditional tea ceremony is amazing and I highly recommend the sweets making experience alongside it. Photography and videography is allowed at certain times, so please ask. You may then wear your kimono up to a certain time around town as well. Female guests receive a hair pinning as well.

Maki was a perfect hostess. Very informative about the history of tea making and hosting, taking us through the process from start to finish. Had a lovely bit of humour too. Will remember this experience for ever. The tea rooms were so serene. We had a wonderful experience. Definitely recommend

This was my second time at Maikoya. I visited the Nishiki location last year, and last Saturday I went to the Gion location. This experience was even more special thanks to our host, Dodo. She was so lovely, friendly, and welcoming, and really made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We also brought some friends with us this time, and they absolutely loved it too! We all had such a great time. And being able to walk around Gion wearing a Kimono was the cherry on top! I honestly couldn’t recommend Maikoya enough. If you’re looking for a fun and memorable experience in Kyoto, definitely give it a try!

Highly recommend! I loved the tea ceremony with the tea master NaNa, I learnt a lot about the history and we had lovely sweets and green matcha. I really enjoyed picking out my own kimono 👘 and belt, they do your hair and give you a little bag. And you can wear the kimono to 6pm! The garden was nice 😊

We had a very good experience with the tea ceremony by Maikoya. Being able to learn about Japanese culture and share in a special cultural moment was very gratifying. The staff is very kind and helpful, and they primarily give directions in English which was very helpful with my limited understanding of Japanese. They provide kimonos to wear prior to the ceremony and they let you wear them until close if you wish to go out to take photos. Nanna was our tea master and was very thorough in explaining the different stages of the ceremony and making us feel like welcomed guests. I would definitely recommend this unique experience.

I recommend ! We reserved for a private tea ceremony for 6 and yukata. They have a large choice of cute yukata and they also do hair with hair pins. The tea ceremony was very relaxing. We were with Mio and she was very sweet. She took the time to explain everything in English and gave me the time to translate in my native language for my family. The matcha was served with 2 sweets both really good and the matcha was also very tasty. We also had the time to take pictures in the garden of the place and then we were able to stroll around until 6 p.m.

We came to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. First we were able to choose a kimono and were dressed by highly competent staff. Their English was excellent and instructions were very clear. Then we had time to pose for photos in the beautiful gardens. After that was a short walk to the tea house where we had the talk and ceremony. This was ably led by our host Kana who taught us the history of the building we were in and of the tea ceremony and then demonstrated it to us. At the end we had a chance to eat Japanese sweets and mix our own matcha tea. A fantastic experience.

Our private tea ceremony was an absolutely incredible experience. We took so much from the ceremony and practices around it, and it was very special to experience it without the distraction of others. Our host, Mari, educated us thoroughly on all of the practices and customs that go into a proper tea ceremony, as well as explained the history behind it. She was very kind, thoughtful, and we respect her so much for what she gave us. We will take this experience home with us and relive it forever. If we could give Mari more than five stars, we would! She even took the time to take many photos for us so we can keep the memories for the rest of our lives. We are so lucky to have had this moment with Mari, and we are very grateful for this experience. Absolutely no regrets, do not miss this opportunity if you get the chance!!

Fabulous! The staff are friendly and welcoming. Loved being dressed as a Geisha and my hair looked amazing. Went with my kids and they were beaming with delight. Our guide for the tea ceremony spoke beautiful English and walked us through the history of tea ceremonies. We made matcha (tasted delicious and I’m not a matcha lover), enjoyed some Japanese sweets and took pictures in the little garden. We had a little walk around the streets in our Kimono’s but if deciding to do this with the kids, have them change into more comfortable shoes. A must in Kyoto!!!

I had the pleasure of having Yuko, be our host and introduction to Japanese tea ceremony. She is extremely knowledgeable and interesting to learn from and I deeply appreciate her for teaching me about tea ceremony techniques. Rarely do I come across such an empathetic person who has strong interest in tea and it shines through in her language, care and attention to detail. Thank you very much for the wonderful experience. I still think of my learnings one week later and smile about this experience! 🍵

Love this place! The staff were very friendly and respectful and made the entire process seamless. I appreciated the size inclusive kimonos as well as the private dressing areas that were divided by gender. It felt very safe and inclusive. The tea ceremony was amazing as well. Our host, Mami, did an excellent job at educating our group and ensuring we were all learning in a comfortable environment. The space was so clean and peaceful with plenty of photo ops as well. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto who want a glimpse of Japanese culture and hospitality.

Attending the Maikoya Tea Ceremony was easily one of the most memorable experiences of my trip. Our host, Emi, didn’t just teach us how to make matcha she shared the history, philosophy, and cultural significance behind every step of the ceremony in such a beautiful and engaging way. One thing that really stayed with me was the concept of Ichigo Ichie the idea that every encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will never happen in exactly the same way again. It completely changed the way I experienced the ceremony and made me appreciate being present in the moment. From whisking the matcha ourselves to understanding the mindfulness behind each movement, everything felt intentional and deeply rooted in Japanese tradition. If you’re looking for more than just a tourist activity and want to experience a meaningful part of Japanese culture, I couldn’t recommend Maikoya enough. Arigato, Emi, for making it such a warm, insightful, and unforgettable experience. 🍵🇯🇵