Private Tour
Exclusive Kyoto Tea Ceremony at Private Home with Tea Master
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
A Discreet Kyoto Retreat — Trusted by Dignitaries and Cultural Figures
Step inside Sakura Experience Japanese Culture, a serene home near Nijo Castle where privacy meets artistry. Trusted by dignitaries, cultural figures, and visiting museum curators, our wide tea room now hosts ikebana and calligraphy classes, surrounded by Kyoto craftsmanship. Feel the texture of custom-made tea bowls commissioned from Kiyomizu and Raku potters, savor premium matcha sourced directly from tea gardens in Uji City, and enjoy seasonal confections created by one of Kyoto’s historic wagashi houses. In our authentic tea rooms, Koma and Hiroma, certified masters invite you to experience the quiet elegance of Japan’s traditions in an intimate, respectful setting.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
【Age Policy】 Children aged 13 and under are not permitted to join this class. If you arrive with a child without prior notice, you will not be able to attend and no refund will be issued.
【Punctuality 】Please arrive on time. Guests arriving more than 15 minutes after the start will not be able to participate, and no refund can be provided.
【Socks Requirement】 For hygiene and to protect the tatami mats, please wear socks (not bare feet). If you forget, socks are available for purchase on site.
【Appropriate Attire】 Please wear a long skirt or long pants and a top with sleeves. Sleeveless tops, shorts, or mini skirts are not permitted.
【Perfume & Fragrance】 Kindly refrain from wearing perfume (including musk-based scents), as it can disturb the tea room atmosphere. Guests wearing fragrance may be asked to remove it before entering.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing a special moment of Japanese culture.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Tea ceremony demonstration and tea making
custom-maded 3 different types of Japanese sugar sweets from historical sweets shop in Kyoto
Original booklet about tea ceremony
2 cups of matcha with original blended matcha from Uji
Kimono is not included in this class.
What To Expect
Welcome to Kyoto! Over the past decade, we’ve welcomed more than 10,000 guests to our tea ceremony class, guiding them through the delicate art of preparing and enjoying matcha. It’s a privilege to share this part of Japan’s culture with people from around the world. The tea ceremony is rooted in Kyoto’s traditions, where the art of tea has flourished for centuries. Every movement, from preparing the tea to serving, reflects respect for nature, beauty, and harmony. At our class, we use only the finest matcha from a historic tea farm in Uji, Kyoto, renowned for its deep umami, vivid color, and smooth texture. Guests sip this original blend from hand-crafted bowls commissioned from Kiyomizu and Raku artisans, paired with seasonal wagashi specially ordered from a long-established Kyoto shop — all crafted to complement the flavor of matcha. Despite Japan’s matcha shortage, we ensure a steady supply so every guest enjoys an authentic, high-quality experience. Participants may also purchase our original matcha as a keepsake. Our venue is serene private home near Nijo Castle, with discreet entrance that ensures privacy and a calm setting where you can savor Kyoto’s heritage in comfort.
Sample Menu
dessert
Japanese Sweets
Seasonal wagashi from a historic Kyoto shop, free from eggs, nuts, gluten, and animal products.
main
Japanese Matcha tea
Premium blend from Uji tea gardens, served in bowls crafted by Kyoto’s Kiyomizu and Raku artisans.
Options
private session
private: you do not need to attend the others
Duration: 1 hour
2cups of Matcha: 3 different type of Japanese sweets
Reviews
53 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This was an intimate tea...
Sunny R,
Sep 26, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was an intimate tea ceremony in a local Kyoto resident's home. Located just a 6 minute walk from Hotel Mitsui, this experience was a highlight of our time in Kyoto! We loved the host, her energy, knowledge of the tea ceremony as well as being cognizant to American visitors.
Experience that will always be remembered
Barbara P,
Sep 25, 2025
- Viator
5.00Private tea ceremony with max. 4 people, very familiar, learn a lot about tea ceremony, tea ceremony master training and history, taste ritual of tea making after showing for yourself, a great experience that will always be remembered
This was a wonderful way...
Mary A,
Sep 14, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was a wonderful way to learn about the Tea Ceremony in Japan. The instructor is a very lovely lady. We were invited into her home to learn about this old tradition. She was so kind and welcoming. She explained how the ceremony started back in time and then took us into a traditional tea room to show us how to make and serve the tea. It was a lovely way to spend some time seeing a traditional Japanese house and learn about the Tea Ceremony.
Aya-sensei is a...
Amanda C,
Jun 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00Aya-sensei is a wonderful, knowledgeable, and engaging host. This experience is a perfect blend of informative and hands-on. Highly recommend!
A Wonderful Ritual
Hilary L,
Apr 20, 2025
- Viator
5.00Aya is a lovely host and so knowledgeable! She was able to make this experience both informative and truly fun for us and our teen daughter. This was the highlight of our trip to Tokyo and I’m so glad we did it.
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Operated by SAKURA Experience Japanese Culture Nijo Home