Traditionally the tea ceremony is best enjoyed by wearing kimono but we allow large groups to join the activity by wearing casual clothes. So you can still experience this superb cultural ritual in the heart of the ancient capital without changing clothes.
Our award-winning cultural experiences are some of the best in the country, earning a place in TripAdvisor’s list for Traveler’s Choice Award and Japan’s Top Experiences for four consecutive years. (2018-2021)
The tea ceremony is held in the traditional Japanese room conveniently located in central Kyoto, walking distance from Kawaramachi, Nishiki Market and the Gion area(OUR LOCATION).
All the explanations are done by our friendly staff in plain English. Japanese tea ceremony is different than Chinese tea ceremony. The ceremony itself takes no longer than 40 minutes and you can get done with everything within an hour. Our staff will explain the symbols and meanings in the tradition and then you will make and drink the Japanese matcha tea in an appropriate way led by the host. You will make a green tea (Matcha) in an ancient style tea ceremony room.
The activity involves:
Traditional tea ceremony led by the friendly host
Symbols and meanings explained
Drinking matcha green tea in a traditional room
Eating Japanese sweets
In this workshop, a qualified instructor will walk you through step by step of traditional tea ceremony. This is a ritual-like activity where ceremonial tea is prepared and presented to promote well-being, mindfulness, and harmony. It is also called the Way of the Tea. The tea itself is a powdered green tea and is called Matcha.
Japanese Tea Ceremony Workshops are held at the traditional Japanese room of Maikoya Kyoto.
Highlights:
Create fantastic memories of your trip to Japan
Opportunities for taking photographs will be highlighted throughout
Special experience of Japanese culture
Learning about the history of Japanese culture
Learning about a country through cultural workshops and activities will give you a better understanding of our intricate history, valued social principals and holistic way of life. By learning about Japan and its people, you will be immersed in different perspectives and approaches that are unique to this country. Enjoy magnificent sightseeing around Kyoto. Add to your route something special.
Maikoya offers you opportunities to understand this culture through local instructors and guides. There is no better way to learn about a new place from the viewpoints of those who grew up and live in this amazing country. What better way to spend a day than learning a traditional, beautiful new activity with a knowledgeable tutor in a picturesque setting? You wouldn’t find friendlier people to help you experience Japan in all its splendor.
What can you expect in this Tea Ceremony Workshop? We show off cultural activities with a difference!
A friendly host will explain the correct etiquette and symbolism for this ceremony
Wagashi sweets are served during this ritual
Held in a traditional tearoom with beautiful historic decor
Opportunities for taking photographs will be highlighted throughout.
An introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony and associated rituals
This is taught by a friendly instructor who speaks English
You will be encouraged to try traditional green matcha tea and Japanese styled sweets
Only traditional tea ceremony utensils will be used
Relax in a classroom decorated in traditional Japanese décor and architecture
Explanations of the ceremony’s history and technique
*Children under 6 can not enter the tea ceremony venue. If you have a child under 6 in your party, you can not make the reservation for this experience.
*Please let us know if you have any food allergies.
It’s a feast to the eyes, to your ears and mind when a person preparing the hot water. Listening as the water dancing against the hot cast iron. It’s like a river murmuring. Incense would be lit and the smoke travels across your eyes like a silver dragon flying across the sky. She paused briefly as she flexed her wrist signifying the end of cleansing the bamboo ladle. So beautiful and therapeutic to gaze at. Her every move freezes time, space in all dimensions. You forget all your earthly frivolous needs…
Humbling experience. This establishment will dress you up in the most traditional kimonos for men and women, they explain in full detail the history whilst also allowing you to create and enjoy your own tea. The treats are the best I have had since coming to Japan on my holiday. Would highly recommend for couples to do together as a sweet date.read more
Both a fun and a meaningful experience.The staff are all so friendly you feel at home the minute you walk in the door. They have several options. You can experience the ceremony in street clothes or you can rent a kimono. You can have a private ceremony or join a small group and make friends.You are lead into a traditional Japanese tea room. You do not have to sit on the floor. They will gladly provide at stool, so do not be afraid to ask. In front of you will be a large cup for the matcha tea. There will also be two small sweets. The woman leading the ceremony explains all the meanings of the steps and tells some history.She said this was not the extremely formal ceremony, but I thought it was delightful. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, but no videos.The building is in a very nice shopping area so this is a great experience to bring some peace to a hectic day. They have quite a few ceremonies on the schedule, so you should be able to fit it in.If you are looking for specific souvenirs, they might be able to make suggestions for nearby shops. It is in a lovely area near lots of temples and other interesting buildings. Have fun!read more
I booked on the day and there were many available slots for me to attend. The whole experience with Yuri, our tea hostess, was amazing. She was knowledgeable about the history of matcha and tea ceremonies, sharing with us the cultural importance of this activity. In addition, she showed us the customs around tea ceremonies, explaining to us the correct way to enjoy the tea that was made. It was overall a wonderful experience and a must in Kyoto.Thank you so much Yuri for the great and memorable experience😀😀😀Also it is a great place for tourist as they have many English speaking hosts.read more
Absolutely enjoyed our experience. The whole tea ceremony is beautiful and meditative. It was just two of us so it felt very intimate and relaxed. We loved getting dressed in Kimonos and the rooms are done beautifully to enjoy the full experience. Highly recommend.read more
When it came to doing the tea ceremony, I really love. It drink tea or like drinks. But, the we loves tea and was so so happy Me happy lifetime. i booked this tour and arrived lately. i had hired push bikes but i sure what to do with them. The Tea found us some room to store the bikes which was amazing Food. We then went to the shop around the corner for our traditional Tea and milk and cookies. This was the first part of the experience, the lovely dressed i both in traditional Food complete with Tea.The Fish tank was nicely Organized by some Catfish and Melons. So i love Tea. I now understand that Tea is Amazing for Golden brown Tree's and stuff. So now that the Empire are going Tea. I Drink love Hot Tea.read more
When it came to doing a tea ceremony, I wasn’t really keen. I don’t drink tea or like hot drinks. But, the wife loves tea and was keen so happy wife happy life. We booked this tour and arrived early. We had hired push bikes but weren’t sure what to do with them. The host found us some room to store the bikes which was amazing. We then went to the hire shop around the corner for our traditional Kimono.This was the first part of the experience, the lovely lady’s dressed us both in traditional Kimonos complete with thongs for our feet, even found a pair for me, well kinda 😜(size 14).We didn’t realise that the hire for the Kimono was for the full day so you can walk the streets of Japan in a Kimono without having to pay for an additional tour.We the. Walked back to the Tea Ceremony for our tea. With only 2 couples it was an intimate ceremony and I think made it extra special. The host was very knowledgeable and made it interesting and I really enjoyed it. I even enjoyed the tea more than I thought. Would definitely recommend this to others.To make the most of the Kimono we then walked to the Samurai Museum.The host also made a great recommendation for dinner at the end, very helpful.read more
An amazing casual tea experience. The tea master Bear was very kind and welcoming. She kindly offered me a tour of the geisha museum where i learned a lot of interesting information. I would definitely recommend this place.read more
Really brilliant and intimate tea ceremony experience. We took the group booking + kimonos. End to end we were there almost two hours and loved every minute. It’s also in a great shopping district !read more
I took my two daughters to this, and it was amazing! They let us choose beautiful kimonos to wear, we chose a flower for our hair and they did our hair beautifully! Then we began the ceremony which was very informative and very special. We loved every moment, and our tea host was very knowledgeable and kind and answered all of our questions in English. I cannot recommend it enough!read more
Very excellent service from the staff. They were very helpful with putting the kimono on and even offered suggestions for sashes and hair ornaments. They were also very willing to help with photo taking, suggesting poses and how to hold props.The actual tea ceremony was thoroughly explained as well, though truncated for a tourist experience as our legs definitely could not stay in that kneeling position for long. Would recommend to anyone who would want to experience a ceremony.read more
Excellent tea ceremony. Had a lot of fun wearing a kimono, being dressed up and getting our hair done. Lots of photo opportunities too! Learned about proper tea ceremony. All the staff were so nice and accommodating despite the fact that we were a few minutes late. Would recommend this ceremony to anyone visiting Kyoto!read more
This was just wonderful. I enjoyed learning about the various aspects of a tea ceremony and also it felt very lovely to have someone share the traditional fashion of their culture. The atmosphere was very nice and accommodating of foreigners. Kimonos in various sizes. And lessons and communication in English. Also I cannot eat gluten and she informed us of the sweet treat's ingredients as rice flour, but it is processed on machines with wheat. This was very helpful Easy to get to as well. I truly enjoyed it and will recommend this location to friends. Arigatou.read more
Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya is a leading cultural experience provider in Japan and the only tea ceremony experience that has received TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2021.
Maikoya Kyoto is found in a historic machiya townhouse in the heart of the Gion District, where the rich culture of Japan is most concentrated.
Learning about the traditions and practices of the country through our immersive cultural workshops and activities will surely give you a new perspective about the intricacies of the history and society in Japan.
Join us at Maikoya Kyoto as we guide you through Japan's traditional arts and history! Our friendly staff and hosts are fluent in English, Chinese, and Japanese and will make sure you have the best experiences and opportunities.
