Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
• Receive koicha — thick tea, rarely offered to visitors
to Japan
• Prepare usucha (thin tea) with your own hands, under
the guidance of a tea master of 19 years
• Spend 90 minutes as the sole guests in a 1923 machiya —
the home where your host Yuta lives and practices
• Learn Enshu-ryu, the samurai lineage of tea founded by
Kobori Enshu, tea advisor to the Tokugawa shoguns
• Taste seasonal jounamagashi, handcrafted the morning of
your ceremony by a Kanazawa artisan
• Speak openly about tea, aesthetics, or the philosophy
of a life devoted to the way — as much as you wish
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
What To Expect
In the samurai era, koicha was exchanged before battle, shared only among those a master trusted. Today, it is the rarest form of Japanese tea. This 90-minute private ceremony takes place in a 1923 machiya in Kanazawa's Nishi Chaya district — not a venue, not a studio, but the home where your host Yuta lives and practices. Yuta has studied tea for 19 years in Enshu-ryu — the samurai lineage founded by Kobori Enshu, tea master to the Tokugawa shoguns. Restrained, precise, and quietly confident. You will be received as the only guests. Koicha will be prepared for you; you will then prepare usucha with your own hands. Seasonal sweets from a Kanazawa artisan accompany the tea. Between the bowls, there is time. Yuta does not perform tea as theatre — he offers it as conversation. Whether you come with years of study or simple curiosity, the ceremony meets you where you are. By reservation only. Maximum 5 guests. English throughout.
Options
Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master
What‘s Included
Fully private ceremony (no shared sessions)
Hands-on matcha preparation
Commemorative photo
English narration and extended Q&A
Use of a private tea room in a 100-year-old machiya
Premium seasonal jounamagashi (handcrafted fresh sweets)
Both koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea)
Tea ceremony demonstration by a practitioner with 19 years of experience
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transportation to/from venue
Gratuities (not expected in Japan)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing experience ! Yuta is the best
M6821LBlourdesa,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a wonderful tea ceremony experience—truly one of the highlights of our time. Yuta was fantastic, guiding us through every step with so much care and attention to detail. You can tell how much thought and respect goes into each part of the ceremony, and he made it all feel both meaningful and welcoming. We learned a lot, felt completely immersed, and genuinely had a great time. Highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something special and authentic.
Have to try it to understand the heritage of samurai household traditions during edo period Japan.
AzimKafi,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you are in the beautiful and historic city of Kanazawa and would like to experience the heritage of a tea ceremony within a samurai household, look no further. It was a lesson in history and etiquette which I wish to remember and learn from in the future.
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