Miyashita Kyoto Guide
This is not a performance or a demonstration.
This is a quiet, hands-on tea ceremony where you take part, guided personally in a private setting.
Away from crowds and schedules, you will prepare matcha yourself and experience tea as it is meant to be shared quietly, one moment at a time.
During this private tea ceremony, you will be guided through the following elements:
-
An introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony and the Yabunouchi school, one of Kyoto’s traditional tea lineages
-
Learning the proper etiquette for entering a tea room, including posture, movement, and awareness of the space
-
Observing a formal Yabunouchi-style tea preparation, performed in a calm and unhurried manner
-
Enjoying matcha accompanied by traditional fresh Japanese sweets and dry sweets
-
A hands-on matcha whisking experience, with each guest preparing their own bowl of tea, guided step by step
-
An open Q&A session, allowing for natural conversation and deeper understanding
-
A guided walkthrough of a traditional Japanese house, offering insight into architecture, daily life, and cultural aesthetics
This experience balances formality and approachability, allowing guests to engage with tea culture at a comfortable and personal pace.
What to Expect
Arrival & Welcome
You will be welcomed into a quiet, private residence near Konkaikomyo-ji Temple.
The experience begins by gently stepping away from the outside world into a calm and refined atmosphere.
Introduction to Tea & the Yabunouchi School
An introduction to the philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony and the Yabunouchi school, as well as the role of tea in Japanese culture and daily life.
Entering the Tea Room
You will learn the proper etiquette for entering the tea room.
Guests are invited to experience the traditional entrance; however, those with limited mobility may enter through a standard sliding door.
Formal Tea Preparation
A formal Yabunouchi-style tea preparation is performed first, allowing you to observe the quiet rhythm and intention behind each movement.
Sweets & Hands-on Matcha Experience
After the tea preparation, traditional Japanese sweets are served.
Each guest then prepares their own bowl of matcha, guided carefully and without pressure.
Tea, Conversation & Questions
Matcha is enjoyed calmly, followed by time for questions and relaxed conversation.
Walkthrough of the Traditional House
The experience concludes with a guided walkthrough of the house, offering deeper insight into Japanese architecture, design, and cultural values.
A Space Where Japanese Culture Converges
The tea ceremony takes place in a traditional kimono merchant’s residence, located in a quiet neighborhood near Konkaikomyo-ji Temple, away from the crowds of central Kyoto.
The house features two distinct tea rooms:
-
an intimate small tea room, and
-
a larger tea room designed to accommodate gatherings.
In addition, the residence includes a white-wood stage traditionally used by maiko and geiko, creating a space where multiple forms of Japanese culture naturally come together.
This house was not created as a cultural venue or exhibition space.
It was shaped over time through the relationships formed by my grandfather, whose work in kimono brought him into close connection with people deeply involved in Japanese arts and culture.
The building grew in response to those connections, becoming a place designed to welcome and honor such guests.
Today, the space continues to serve the same purpose:
to quietly receive guests and share Japanese culture in a personal and meaningful way.
Details
Duration
90 minutes
Price
¥10,000 per person (tax included)
Group Size
Up to 5 guests
(Private or small-group experience)
Language
English / Japanese
Location
Okazaki, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto
〒606-8336
Higashifukunokawa-cho 39, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
