Experience unparalleled hospitality in a private garden with a tea ceremony master
2 hour private experience
Location: Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden in the tea master's private residences, experience an Urasenke-style tea ceremony. Visit an authentic koma tea hut, smaller than 4.5 tatami mats. Then, return to the main tea room and enjoy both thin usucha and thick kocha matcha, paired with wagashi sweets.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
What to wear
Please wear socks
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 (13:30 - 15:30)
Session 3 (15:30 - 17:30)
Access
30 minutes by car from Nara Station
Tranquility in Tea
Harmony, respect, purity, tranquility: these four core tenets of tea ceremony can be found in every aspect of the art, from the seasonal flowers selected precisely for each tea session to the movements and mannerisms of the host, focused attentively on the guest's comfort. Following the introduction of powdered matcha tea from China in the 12th century, tea ceremony, or sado, the way of tea, in Japanese, steadily proliferated across the country - first through Buddhist temples, then among the ruling classes. However, it wasn't until Sen no Rikyu was appointed grand tea master in 1579 that tea ceremony codified into the schools still zealously practiced today. Among the modern schools, the Urasenke style boasts the widest reach and a heightened emphasis on hospitality. In the rolling hills of Ikoma, a town located on the outskirts of Nara City known for its temples and shrines, join a Urasenke tea master of over 60 years in her private residences, which feature both an authentic koma and a traditional Japanese garden. As you sip on different types of matcha tea paired with seasonal wagashi sweets, experience serenity paired with scenic views.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
