Tea Ceremony in Kyoto

Tea has been drunk in Japan for more than 1,000 years, but it was only around the 16th century that the custom became the highly ceremonial form known today. The lords, wealthy merchants, and cultural circles all alike. compete to organize the most extravagant and sophisticated tea ceremonies. While some enthusiasts favored luxurious and sophisticated teahouses and teahouses, gradually more and more people favored a tea ceremony organization with a refined, simple, even rough aesthetic, which much of Japanese art today is known.

This rustic and unadorned aesthetic is often referred to as “wabi-sabi” and one of its leading proponents was tea master Senno Rikyu (1522-1591), who was a master of tea. favored by many powerful people at that time. Kyoto remains the center of the Japanese tea ceremony world (and the tea-growing world, much of which is grown in the southern suburbs). The three main schools of tea are all located here and make for a great place to sample a real tea ceremony.

Today, however, in everyday life, form has come to dominate function, and the exact rules and etiquette of drinking tea now take precedence over tea enjoyment and conversation. Conversations are often rigid and predetermined, movements stiff and full of tension, and only the most adept or truly heartless can be spared the overwhelming tension. in most tea ceremonies these days.. All that said, there are a number of good places in Kyoto where you can try a real tea ceremony and we've carefully selected three places where the spirit of tea (meaning enjoyment) is emphasized rather than mere rules and formalities.

1. Camellia

Address: Camellia, 349 Masuya-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City

Camellia is an extremely welcome addition to the general scene of the Kyoto tea ceremony. Located just off Ninen-zaka, one of Kyoto's most important tourist streets (not far from Kiyomizu-dera Temple), Camellia is a haven of tranquility from outside traffic. Run by a charming and fully bilingual woman, Atsuko Mori, the tea ceremony here strikes the right balance here between the excessive and the ordinary. Participants are encouraged to relax (and so are they) and Atsuko's history and explanation of the tea ceremony is just right: not too academic but not too shallow to give a real Japanese feel. the. Meanwhile, her movements and grace are exceptional.

Price : Adult - ¥2000 . Children - 1000

Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (open daily)

The tea ceremony starts at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 and lasts 45 minutes

Phone: +81 - 75- 525-3238

2. En

Address: En, 272 Matsubara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City

Located right on Higashioji-dori Street, the heart of the Southern Higashiyama sightseeing district, this quaint teahouse is the perfect place to enjoy a tea ceremony. The charming young lady who runs En provides a wonderful explanation of the tea ceremony and puts her guests at ease. It's a great way to recharge for half a day of sightseeing in Higashiyama.

Open: 09:00 - 18:00

Closed: Every Wednesday

Phone: 080-3782-2706 (9am - 6pm, please reserve by e-mail except Wednesday)

3. Tea Ceremony Koto

Address : 37 Kinugasa-Nishigoshonouchi-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto

Very close to Kinkaku-ji Temple, this tea ceremony venue is located in a private house. It's a great place for a casual introduction to the tea ceremony and a fun way to rest after a tour of the temples of Northwest Kyoto

Very close to Kinkaku-ji Temple, this tea ceremony venue is located in a private house. It's a great place for a casual introduction to the tea ceremony and a fun way to rest after a tour of the temples of Northwestern KyotoKOTO tea ceremony hosts private and group tea ceremonies in a beautiful tearoom . It's a great place for a casual introduction to the delicate art of the tea ceremony. You can join a group tea ceremony for ¥1980 - ¥2700, or you can book a complete tea ceremony. Total privacy for you and your family or friends for ¥5400/person. The tea ceremony lasts about 45 minutes and includes Japanese-style sweets. You will have the opportunity to try whipping your own tea.

Open: 11:30 -17:30

Website: http://teaceremony-kyoto.com/