Calligraphy and Matcha in a Warm Kumamoto Home
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This program offers a unique opportunity to visit the guide's home and deeply experience Japanese culture through calligraphy and tea ceremony. The guide is a qualified instructor with extensive experience in calligraphy, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. In a small group setting, you will receive personalized and attentive instruction, allowing you to learn and enjoy traditional Japanese arts in a relaxed atmosphere. During the calligraphy session, you can create your own artwork to take home. Following this, enjoy matcha tea and sweets in the "BONTEMAE" style, seated at a table. Visiting a Japanese home provides a private and intimate space to connect, relax, and experience a serene moment of cultural exchange and healing for both mind and body.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
This is an experience recommended for intellectually curious travelers who can fully enjoy Japanese culture in a quiet space for about 3 hours. 9:30AM：Pick-up The venue will be held at a residence about a 10-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle. We will pick you up at the meeting point (Shinmachi tram stop). The start time can be adjusted within the available time range of the guide. After applying, you will need to communicate with the guide. 10:00AM~0:30PM：Calligraphy Experience １. Introduction to the History of Calligraphy. ２. Demonstration (using rice paper). ３.Calligraphy Practice. Choose a favorite kanji (from the provided examples) and write it. Write your name (in kanji using phonetic equivalence). ４. Guidance and examples from the instructor. ５. Practice on rice paper. ６. Final version and making a hanging scroll. 0:30PM~1:00PM: Simple matcha tea experience at the table (BONTEMAE) Matcha tea with traditional sweets. Interaction and conversation. Program Ends (approximate). Expected end time: 1:00 PM, but may vary slightly.
Options
Calligraphy and Matcha in a Warm Kumamoto Home
What‘s Included
Calligraphy supplies rental
Instructor（guide） fee
Matcha/sweets
Hanging scroll to take home
Hanshi for practice copying
Instruction fee, trial fee
Transportation to the venue
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
A beautiful experience and you get to take home a lovely piece of Japanese art
MAMCalgary,May 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked and immediately received a message from Tommy with the details. She offered to pick us up at our hotel and she wanted to know if we had any allergies as she would be preparing us a snack too. She asked us each to pick a word or phrase we wanted to learn to write in Japanese calligraphy. That done, she confirmed our pickup and our class. She arrived promptly and we went to her apartment where we met her husband, Taka, who helps her with the lesson. Tommy had prepared our phrases and words so that she could teach us how to copy the ones she had made. We sat at her table, comfortable and attentive. She is an excellent teacher and very thorough. She is gentle and shows you if you make a mistake. After a few practice tries, you are ready to do your "real" one on the more expensive paper. Meanwhile, Taka has been laying down all your practice papers in a row so that by the time you have finished your final piece, you can easily see the progress you have made. Once done your phrase, Tommy will teach you haw to write you name in calligraphy too so that you can sign your art piece. We were both thrilled with our pieces, as was she. After the art lesson, Tommy and Taka presented us with a beautiful tea ceremony. She then drove us back to our next destination. This was a wonderful experience. Time very well spent and we both would highly recommend this. It is a few hours of peaceful art education and you come out with a great piece of work too. Definitely something you should do while visiting Kumamoto.
Wonderful
roberthO361CC,Sep 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was wonderful. The tour guide, Tommy, picked up my wife and me at our hotel and took us to her home, where we met her husband, Taka, and proceeded to have our calligraphy class and Matcha tea experience. Then Tommy insisted that we have lunch with her and Taka. Does it get any better than this! Yes! Tommy said she had a free afternoon and would be happy to take us to see some of the sites of Kumamoto. When Tommy dropped us off at our hotel after site seeing we all commented how we felt we were old friends. Bob and Shera Hiam
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