Tea
A beautiful culture of brewing
A staple in Japanese culinary and cultural practices for over 1000 years, tea was originally utilized as a medicinal beverage among aristocrats and Buddhist priests as early as the 8th Century. Then, green tea was imported from China by the founder of the Rinzai school of Buddhism, Monk Eisai, intrinsically tying the practice with religious connections. By the Muromachi Period, tea ceremony developed as a more formalized practice, with a greater focus on Zen-simplicity and hospitality.
The cultivation of tea leaves itself is also an art with invariable nuance. White, yellow, green, black, oolong, matcha, and other varieties of tea all are harvested from one of two tea plants, with variations in the harvesting process accounting for the variation in flavor and appearance. In modern culture, tea has expanded beyond merely its original usages, infused into a variety of beverages, foods, and seasonal products.
Sip on Japan’s refined, fragrant culture of tea and experience authentic tea masterclasses in Japan.
Tea Ceremony Experiences
Learn about the culture of tea ceremony and its customs. Enjoy koicha (thick green tea, which is the top ceremonial grade matcha), and then usucha (light matcha) with wagashi, Japan's seasonal sweets.
Learn about the history, culture, and etiquette of Yabunouchi-style tea ceremony. Try your hand at whisking your own tea, and end with some delicious hojicha, which is roasted green tea low in caffeine.
Walk the garden grounds and experience tea ceremony within a historic tea house. Enjoy both thick and thin tea preparations of matcha, with accompanying traditional sweets.
Tea Culture Experiences
Visit an award-winning green tea farm and learn about the production process from field to cup. Grind your own matcha tea, and experience a traditional tea ceremony and tea tasting.
Stroll the tea fields of Sonogi Town, learning about the history of tea in Japan and traditional farming practices. Then, after a factory tour, taste a selection of both classic and innovative Japanese teas.
Kanazawa | Tea Ceremony
Take a behind the scene tour of a Tokyo sumo stable and see where these fierce fighters spend time outside of the ring.
Learn about the history and preparation techniques of Onomichi-style tea, and experience a private tea tasting according to industry standards.
Discover more about tea
Steep deeper into the rich and fragrant world of Japan’s tea culture. Discover ancient brewing methods, modern innovations, and more about the intrinsic connection that tea has to countless different aspects of Japanese traditions - from spiritual practices to culinary delights.
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