Tea ceremony · Bunkyō, Tokyo
Tea, in the side of Tokyo most travelers never see.
A sixty-minute ceremony in a quiet ward of north Tokyo. Hosted in English. No seiza required.
Editor's note
"The tea ceremonies most visitors find in Tokyo are either too cheap to be the real thing or too expensive to be relaxed. This is the middle. Sixty minutes, four guests at a time, in a working tea room in Bunkyō — the part of Tokyo where a lot of people quietly live and very few tourists ever come. We thought you should know it exists."
The ceremony
Sixty minutes, end to end.
- 0:00
Welcome and purification
- 0:05
A short introduction — what to watch for
- 0:15
The host prepares matcha (temae)
- 0:30
Wagashi and your first bowl
- 0:40
Whisk your own bowl, with help
- 0:55
Q&A and farewell
The Tea Ceremony
60 min · up to 4 guests
Welcome usucha and koicha tasting, two seasonal wagashi, utensil appreciation, and Q&A with the host.
The host
"There is no competition in tea, no hurry, no judgement. Only this single hour, between the two of us."
Tea Master Yamamoto · Urasenke tradition · 25 years
Trained in Urasenke since youth, our host has welcomed guests from more than thirty countries. She speaks English fluently and treats first-timers and old hands the same way.
Reserve
Reserve your seat.
One party at a time. Send a request and we'll reply with your confirmation and payment link.
Begin a reservation"The most thoughtful tea ceremony we found in Tokyo. Calm, unhurried, in a real neighborhood. — Sarah M., New York"
"We were expecting a tourist demo. We got something quieter and much better. — James T., London"
"The host explained as much or as little as we asked for. Pitch-perfect. — Emily R., Melbourne"
Sengoku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Sengoku Station, Toei Mita Line — 5 min walk