Tea Ceremony Experience in Japan May Not Be For Every Traveler
One of the most frequently recommended experiences for travelers in Japan is tea ceremony, especially in Kyoto. It’s an activity that many find intriguing, but in my opinion, it may not be for everyone. In this travel guide, I want to share my personal experience and insights. It’s not about labeling the experience as good or bad, but considering that we all have limited time to enjoy Japan with so many things to do, I hope my perspective can help you decide whether it’s something you should include in your itinerary.
Our Tea Ceremony Experience in Kyoto
Just like you, I did a lot of research for my trip to Kyoto last year. The tea ceremony was constantly highlighted as a must-try experience, so as matcha enthusiasts, we decided to book a session at a highly-rated venue in Gion, Kyoto.
After we arrived at the venue, the staff took us to a very small tea room. The space features some characteristics of traditional tea rooms, such as a tatami mat floor, natural materials with neutral calming tones, a simple scroll of paintings on the wall and a small flower arrangement. I didn’t really mind the size of the room, however, it didn’t have any view, making the room feel cramped and didn’t evoke much sense of peace and contemplation.
Our instructor provided a brief overview of the tea ceremony’s origins in Japan and what happened in a ceremony, described the utensils used, and demonstrated how to prepare and serve the tea. Afterward, each guest had the chance to make their own tea and enjoy it. So it’s not really a tea ceremony, but more like a demonstration of making the tea with some basic background information (I hope this makes sense).
What struck me the most was how tailored the experience was for foreign tourists, particularly those with little knowledge of tea ceremony or matcha. All other guests in our session seemed to have no prior knowledge. The information felt underwhelming to us who were already familiar with making matcha ourselves.
We had expected more from the session, maybe too much? I would love to have more understanding of the tea ceremony’s connection to Zen Buddhism philosophies, its modern-day practices, and the proper etiquette and mannerisms involved. Even the tea-making demonstration could have been more in-depth, perhaps covering nuances such as different grades of matcha, common mistakes, whisking patterns and techniques, or aspects to fully appreciate the drink. I did feel that there was a lot more they could have talked about to broaden the knowledge of visitors.
Overall, although the instructor was kind and friendly, the information and explanation provided was quite shallow to us, making the experience felt very touristy. It was quite forgettable, probably the least enjoyable hour of our time in Japan.
Who May Enjoy the Experience
If you have little to no prior knowledge of the tea ceremony and aren’t expecting an in-depth experience, you may enjoy it. I recommend choosing a session in a location with a serene setting, perhaps a beautiful view outside the window. Adding elements like wearing a kimono could also enhance the experience.
On the other hand, if you’re already familiar with making matcha and are hoping for a proper tea ceremony that deepens your knowledge and appreciation, you may need to do more research to find an experience that meets your expectations. Whether you should book a tea ceremony session will greatly depend on your interest level and what you hope to gain from it. I personally think the ones that are specifically geared toward tourists are definitely overhyped.
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