Experience Japanese Culture at the Authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony in Camellia Flower Teahouse
4.8
105 Ratings
Kyoto
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture at the authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony in Camellia Flower Teahouse. Participate, ask questions, and enjoy a taste of Kyoto. All are welcome!
Duration: 45 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER - At the start of your session, your host will welcome you with a brief introduction to the world of matcha. Tea ceremony lies at the heart of Japanese culture, and to enjoy this centuries old ritual will provide a deeper understanding of the history, architecture and tastes of Kyoto.

Before performing an authentic tea ceremony, your personal instructor will explain a little about the steps involved in the ceremony, the utensils used and the importance of the rooms decoration and layout. Guests will enjoy a seasonal sweet with their tea, and there is plenty of time for asking questions and chatting with the host.

The experience ends with each guest having the opportunity to make their own bowl of frothy matcha, mastering the basics of tea making.

We want your time with us to be a rich and enjoyable one, and to that end we encourage guests to not only participate but actively ask any questions they might have about Japan and tea ceremony. All our instructors speak English fluently and hail from one of Kyoto’s three main schools of tea ceremony.

At Camellia authenticity and inclusivity are very important, and we strive to provide memories our guests will treasure.

What's Included
  • Guests can make their own bowl of Matcha with provided tea bowls, scoops, and whisks.
What's Not Included
  • Pickups and drop-offs.
  • Kimono rental (this option can be requested by message for an additional charge).
Additional Information

We aim to create an enriching and pleasure-filled environment for our visitors, and we invite all attendees to not only engage but to alsow express any inquiries they may have about Japan and the tea ceremony.

Our compact yet proficient team, proficient in English, are on hand to ensure your visit is both unforgettable and genuinely Japanese. Immersing yourself in a tea ceremony is an excellent method to appreciate Japanese traditions and savor a slice of Kyoto.

We place a high value on inclusiveness, and everyone is encouraged to join. For those who find floor-sitting challenging, seating arrangements such as chairs and tables are readily available.

All our delicacies are vegan, free of nuts, and gluten-free.

While we do provide kimono rentals, there is no obligation to wear one, and we encourage dressing in whatever is most comfortable for you.

Children are always cherished guests.

You are welcome to capture memories with your camera throughout the event (please respect other participants and refrain from using flash).

  • Chairs and Tables are available
Location
Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER
We are located down an alley that branches from the main thoroughfare of Ninenzaka in Higashiyama. The simplest way to find us is to head to the Park Hyatt hotel. Opposite the hotel is a Studio Ghibli store. The alleyway is located just to the left of the store.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(105 Ratings)
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Carolyn_d
Apr 7, 2024
An interesting experience - The history behind matcha tea was very interesting and the lady presenting and serving the tea was charming.
Review provided by Viator
Marty_w
Apr 3, 2024
A wonderful tea ceremony experience. - I had previously booked the garden tea house which was recommended by an experienced friend, but the Camellia Flower Teahouse was only available for the time/day in my travels. It worked out great! It is very convenient and walking distance from Kiyomizu-dera as well as near bus routes. The alley for the teahouse is hard to spot but directions are good. The tea ceremony demonstration and explanation of the importance of tea in one’s lifestyle was very good, albeit abbreviated. We got a sweet treat and made our own tea bowl of matcha. All in 50 minutes as a shared group of 8. I was pleased and recommend this highly. Book early.
Review provided by Viator
Blondeadventurer1
Apr 3, 2024
A treasured new memory and one of a kind experience - One of my top highlights of my visit to Japan. I had a private tea ceremony, and having seen on TripAdvisor that the Flower Teahouse also has an adjoining kimonorental also hired a kimono as well - all very easy to arrange through message through the platform and the team were so very helpful, informative and so I felt confident and ready for the experience as a solo traveller. The instructions on the location were clear and helpful. The kimono rental was straightforward and the amazing team got me dressed in half an hour, and have such a good eye for colour and also did my hair too. For the ceremony experience itself, Akiko (apologies for my spelling) was warm, gentle and demonstrated the full process of the tea ceremony and helped show me how to do the matcha myself as well. I very much enjoyed our conversation and sharing joy in the ceremony and understanding how the tradition started to how it is still kept alive in modern times today. I love the mindfulness aspect and also taking time to engage the mind and take time, before the day starts and also being more present with others. The spirit of the tea room will be a fond memory that will stay with me. I'm really pleased I booked the private experience as I feel it is that much more special. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maggiecf9315zv
Apr 3, 2024
A cozy experience of tea ceremony. - We learnt a lot about the essence of tea ceremony. The teacher spoke good English, she is knowledgeable about tea ceremony and curious about people. We truly enjoyed this experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luis
Mar 21, 2024
Good experience - Good experience, shows a side of Japanese culture with sensitive ritual and full of meanings. It starts on time, and the location is easy to access
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elena_o
Mar 21, 2024
Super experience! - Very kind staff e master of cerimony stilish and great!! Location in Gion the very antique part. I ll suggest friend
Review provided by Viator
L_ask8674kf
Mar 24, 2024
Friendly - Friendly and interesting experience. It would have been nice to have a paper with the differences in knowledge to remember it later. The 7min demonstration of tea preparation was nice to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jmk-pittsburgh
Mar 23, 2024
Enjoyable and Educational - My wife and I did the basic 45-minute tea ceremony. The woman who led the ceremony/demonstration spoke very good English and did a nice job of explaining the process and showing us how to make the tea. We had 10 or so people in our group and sat on the floor. We were very relieved to get off the floor, however, as we got pretty stiff. I don’t consider it a “must do” activity but we enjoyed it and found it informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Siera_r
Mar 23, 2024
Little piece of history and good tea - Good experience to understand a little more history of Japan and enjoy a good cup of tea. It was very hot upstairs though and my leg did go numb from sitting. Happy to have added it to the trip overall.
Review provided by Viator
Lianne_k
Mar 30, 2024
Authentic experience - Interesting experience and unexpected. A bit boring . Should provide kimonos for free to dress up for ceremony. These are not included
Review provided by Viator
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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