Private Tour

Private Matcha Tea Ceremony Awakening All Six Senses in KyotoTime

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

1 hour 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Discover a quiet corner of Kyoto where the pace of life softens and the senses gently awaken.

This private matcha experience unfolds in a traditional Japanese home preserved through three generations, offering natural light, the scent of wood, and a calm shaped by nearby temples.

Rather than a lesson, it invites you to feel the spirit of the tea ceremony through atmosphere: the sound of charcoal heating water, the aroma of matcha, the textures of handmade utensils, and the subtle beauty of seasonal flowers.

The ritual is simple and unhurried, allowing you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with parts of yourself often overwhelmed in daily life.

Many guests describe a quiet sense of fulfillment afterward—an afterglow where the senses and mind feel gently refreshed.

You may also feel a natural connection with your host and with deeper layers of Japanese culture revealed only in intimate spaces.

Photography is welcome, letting you bring these calm moments home.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

During this 90-minute experience, you will: Begin in the machiai (waiting room), where you will learn about the philosophy and cultural meaning behind the Way of Tea (Japanese tea ceremony). Purify your hands and spirit at the tsukubai stone basin. Enter the tea room through the nijiriguchi, expressing humility as you step inside. Observe a traditional demonstration of matcha preparation, noticing the subtle sounds, movements, and atmosphere that define the tea ceremony. Enjoy a bowl of freshly whisked matcha accompanied by two types of Japanese sweets: a traditional fresh Japanese sweet (omogashi) and delicate dry sweets (higashi). Take part in a hands-on matcha-whisking experience, preparing your own bowl of tea under gentle guidance. Spend a quiet moment in cultural conversation and personal reflection, allowing space for questions and deeper understanding. Afterwards, take a guided walk through our family’s traditional Japanese house, shaped by my grandfather’s refined aesthetic sensibilities and attention to detail. At the end of the experience, receive a small heartfelt gift to take home as a reminder of your time in the tearoom.

What‘s Included

Explanation of tea ceremony philosophy and etiquette

Cultural conversation and Q&A with the host

Guided introduction to the tea room and traditional Japanese house

Seasonal Japanese sweets (wagashi)

One bowl of freshly whisked matcha per guest

Private tea ceremony in the Yabunouchi tradition

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Transportation to and from the meeting point

Meals other than the provided seasonal sweets

Options