2 hour private experience
Location: Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Led by the head monk, tour the temple and learn about the garden and the art on display within the grounds of the temple. Then, make your way to the small tea house overlooking the garden for a wabi-cha tea ceremony led by the head monk himself.
Who can attend
Children must be 12+
What else you should know
Please inform us of any dietary requirements, including allergies, at checkout.
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 3 (15:00 - 17:00)
Access
10 minutes by car from Kyoto Station
Appreciating the Small Things
Before sado, or tea ceremony, reached its current form during the Edo period, there was cha-no-yu, the act of presenting and serving tea to guests. In contrast to cha-no-yu, which placed importance on costly tools of the highest grade as well as pristine tea rooms, wabi-cha—one style of cha-no-yu—focused instead on the ideals of wabi and sabi, turning towards smaller, humbler spaces. The aim of wabi-cha was to create a connection with guests not through a display of power and wealth, but through the simple acts of welcome and sharing tea. While sado has since followed in the footsteps of cha-no-yu, the spirit of wabi-cha remains to this day. At this temple, tucked away from the crowds of Kyoto, you can enjoy a bowl of tea with seasonal wagashi sweets in a tea room that overlooks the garden—its colors shifting with the seasons to create a new view each day.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 14 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
