The opportunity to experience tea ceremony in English with a tea practitioner with her experiences abroad

Not only the tea ceremony activity itself, but also the room setting is authentic. This is a rare find in Tokyo.

The tearoom applied the traditional construction methods and is made of wooden materials that are specifically designed for this particular room. You will have an opportunity to discover this authenticity while learning the tea ceremony in a calm atmosphere.

The activity includes: 1. The presentation of the history of tea ceremony 2. The presentation and demonstration of the tea-making procedure called "temae" 3. The instruction of how to drink matcha green tea (both thin tea and thick tea) and how to have a close look at the utensils of tea ceremony. ※Thick tea "koicha" is served usually only at a formal tea ceremony, therefore you will have a precious experience. 4. Participants will have a chance to make some matcha. 5. Souvenirs included - Traditional Japanese items made of washi "和紙".

Tea practitioner Ms. Haruki- from Oita, Japan has been practicing the tea ceremony since her high school days. She has learned the international tea ceremony in Tokyo and has presented the tea-making procedure in The US and in New Zealand. As National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter herself, she is actively working on the presentation of Japanese culture especially through tea ceremony.

Thick tea "koicha" - you can experience this authenticity only here in Kugayama

There are two kinds of tea that you can expect for the tea ceremony；thick tea “koicha”and thin tea “usucha”. Tea especially koicha is served in rather formal settings, but what lies beneath the formalities is the heart of care, appreciation and respect for each other. In contrast, usucha is served in an informal, friendly setting, so people enjoy usucha while relaxing each other. Thus, it is rare to find the opportunity that allows you to experience koicha to get an idea of the difference between two kinds of tea - not only the flavor but also the way to enjoy them.

Chaki is a container for powdered green tea. Different types of containers are used for thick and thin tea. For thick tea called "koicha", we use a ceramic container called a "chaire", which is kept in a bag called a "oshifuku". Oshifuku is made of beautiful traditional fabrics. For thin tea called "usucha", we use a lacquered ware and comes in a variety of shapes. Most common shape is called "natsume".

The tea room You can see:

• The ceiling is an exceptional architectural design of bamboo woven into various methods.
• The nijiriguchi (doorway) is a traditional Japanese teahouse architectural technique.
• The furnace is used in different ways depending on the season.