KYOTO · TEA CEREMONIES
Forty-five minutes on tatami can outlast the rest of the trip. These 15 run from table-style sittings for nervous first-timers to full temple ceremonies with kimono dressing beforehand, each priced, timed and honest about how many people share the room.
Experience a 45-minute Kyoto tea ceremony in Kiyomizu, in a famed garden. Watch, learn, brew matcha, eat sweets, take a photo.
“Authentic with an excellent guide who was informative and interesting. Stunningly beautiful Tea master. It was our top experience in the 2 week Japan family holiday.”
Kyoto tea ceremony at Jotoku-ji Temple. 70 minutes of purification ritual and guided matcha making in a small English group.
“We had the most incredible experience and cannot recommend enough!”
Learn Kyoto tea ceremony etiquette in 45 minutes at Tea Ceremony Koto. Make matcha, taste two teas and sweets, add kimono photos.
“Such a beautiful experience we got the kimono candlelight tea ceremony and it was perfect for me and my daughters. Thank you”
Table-style Kyoto tea ceremony in a 100-year townhouse, with matcha, sweets, calligraphy, and optional kimono, in 90 minutes.
“The experience was amazing! We enjoyed the whole experience, which included wearing the kimono, learning the tea cerimony, learning how to prepare our own matcha, sweet tasting, caligraphy and flower ornaments. It was a lovely moment and the guides were very kind and sweet. We really recommend doing this experience.”
Wear a kimono at Maikoya Nishiki, then make matcha step by step on tatami with wagashi sweets in Kyoto.
“The experience was fantastic, and the people guiding the acrivity were very wise about the subject, and also extremely nice. I would recommend this experience to anyone who comes to Kyoto, definetly worth trying”
Kimono and matcha tea ceremony in Kyoto’s Gion at Orizuruya. Small group, English guide, optional calligraphy, 90-120 minutes.
“The staff was 100/10. Girls was sooo sweet and kind. All process and tea ceremony was amazing. After that we went to city in kimonos. Unforgettable experience!! 🥰♥️”
Kyoto tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya, with guided matcha making, sweets, and optional kimono rental for strolling.
“Attending the tea ceremony in this beautifully preserved 100-year-old traditional house was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment I stepped through the wooden gate, I felt transported to another time. The architecture, tatami floors, and delicate paper screens created an atmosphere of calm and authenticity that perfectly complemented the spirit of the ceremony. Lim, our host was exceptionally kind, welcoming us with genuine warmth and grace. He explained each step of the tea ceremony with care and passion, making it easy to appreciate the deep cultural meaning behind every gesture. We made our own cup of delicious matcha and enjoyed it afterwards. Our questions were answered aft...”
Kyoto tea ceremony in a Higashiyama machiya, learn matcha basics, taste seasonal sweets, and whisk your own bowl in 45 minutes for $32.
“It was very informative and enjoyable. Ikuko, was excellent, and explained the ceremony very well. It was the first time I had tasted Matcha tea, and it was fun that I made it myself...with a little help from Ikuko to whisk it into a good foam.”
Kyoto matcha tea ceremony in a 100-year townhouse. Learn Omotesenke steps, make your own bowl, taste sweets, and buy crafts.
“It was such a pleasant experience. We learned about the culture and how to properly prepare a matcha tea. It was great to share this activity with a small and nice group. Our guide was lovely and explained everything into detail. Totally recommend!”
Kyoto kimono tea ceremony near Imamiya Jinja and Daitoku-ji. Dress up, learn etiquette, sip matcha, and brew your own.
“A lot of fun to dress up and have a tea ceremony to learn the customs but also enjoy the beauty of the meditative experience. Highly recommend”
Make 2 seasonal nerikiri sweets and sip single-origin Uji matcha. 95 minutes near Gojo Station, beginner-friendly, great Kyoto value.
“this was so much fun. I love learning new things and being able to create my owns sweets and then eat them with the . matcha we prepared was fantastic”
Silk kimono and tea ceremony in Kyoto at Tondaya, a 140-year-old machiya. Guided visit, matcha, and lots of photo time.
“Very sweet guide who did her very best to make it a great experience. Limited english skills, but used a translation app to help her. So it was not an issue. Also a very beautiful matcha-ya”
Make matcha in Kyoto at KOTOLILY KYOTO, then enjoy live koto performances, sweets, and optional kimono photos in a small group setting.
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a truly beautiful and grounding experience for myself, my husband, and our two sons in their 20s. It was something special to share as a family, and surprisingly powerful in its simplicity and depth. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was calm, respectful, and gently immersive. Our guide was absolutely wonderful – so warm, knowledgeable, and passionate. You could feel that this wasn’t just something they did, it was something they lived. Their explanations brought the ceremony to life and made every movement and ritual feel meaningful rather than performative. We loved learning the traditions, preparing our own matcha, and slowing down in a way that modern…”
Sanjo Chasuian in Kyoto: Nijiriguchi tea room, two bowls of matcha, Kyoto wagashi, and hands-on whisking with an English host.
“It was very informative, fun, and the instructor is beautiful and kind. We learned a lot about the history and meaning behind the tea ceremony. I liked that we could purchase matcha and tea ceremony items, although it was certainly not pushed on us.”
90 minutes in Kyoto meeting a Maiko up close, making matcha, enjoying two dances, and getting a lucky charm, plus photos.
“Really enjoyed the tea making ceremony and the experience of meeting a beautiful maiko. She was so polite and friendly. We have some wonderful memories of Kyoto and this experience stands out. I would recommend this activity to anyone visiting Kyoto.”
Every kind of day in the city, and the best-reviewed way to book it.
