- Authentic Experiences
- Inspiration
- Japan
Travel advice for Japan
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Japan
written by Ros Walford
updated 17.05.2019
Hushed voices, the scratch of a bamboo whisk, then a bow, a nod and a bowl of steaming matcha is handed around. Any delicate sounds in the room are amplified by the formality of the occasion – so quiet you can hear people holding their breath – which heightens the sense that something very important is going on. This is a tea ceremony in full swing: the ultimate in Japanese hospitality.
There’s so much more to it than simply stirring a teapot; it’s Zen Buddhism in a cup. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know about “the way of tea”.
/CC0
13 days / from3535 USD
Small Group Tour: Splendours of Japan
Discover the allure of Japan on our small group tour (max 16 guests). Unveil Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, and Okayama through guided explorations. Immerse in tea ceremonies and relish in the captivating beauty of these iconic destinations. Regular departures ensure an unforgettable journey.
customize ⤍14 days / from4070 USD
Small Group Tour: Secrets of Japan
Embark on an exceptional small-group tour, available monthly, unveiling Tokyo, Hakone, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and beyond. Uncover Japan's hidden gems, from serene shrines to bustling cities, and immerse in enchanting forests.
customize ⤍10 days / from2795 USD
Small Group Tour: Highlights of Japan
Exciting small-group tour with monthly departures. Immerse in Japanese culture, challenge a pro in a sumo suit, wander Arashiyama's bamboo groves in Kyoto, and relish a kaiseki feast with Maiko entertainment - all included in this fascinating small group tour.
customize ⤍7 days / from4000 USD
Japan highlights: Tokyo to Osaka
From Tokyo to Osaka, this Japan trip features fantastic experiences. View a sumo session, visit ancient temples, and climb the Tokyo Skytree tower. Explore the resort town of Hakone in Mt Fuji’s shadow, savor a tea ceremony in Kyoto, and see cherry blossoms, in season, to complete a wonderful trip.
customize ⤍10 days / from3000 USD
Self-Guided Adventure Tour in Japan
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty, history, enchanting culture and warmhearted people of Japan, with our self-guided tour of Japan. Walk-through a bamboo forest, see how sake is made, join Samurai lesson, go bar-hopping in Tokyo and Osaka and extend your journey to Hiroshima
customize ⤍10 days / from6000 USD
Culinary tour across Japan
This trip takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto, where you will experience authentic Japanese foods, visit morning markets in the local cities, learn how to make Japanese food and enjoy a unique stay at a monastery. A once in a lifetime experience.
customize ⤍Chadō or sadō ("the way of tea"; sometimes also called chanoyu, "hot water for tea", or ocha, literally just "tea") is the ritual of preparing and serving green tea. It takes place in a room, sparsely decorated with tatami mats and a hanging scroll or flower arrangement, with up to five guests kneeling on cushions. There are countless types; a full-length formal event lasts about 4 hours and includes a meal and two servings of tea.
Rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, the tea ceremony is a spiritual process, in which the participants remove themselves from the mundane world, seeking harmony and inner peace. It takes decades for the host to master the art of serving tea, through study of philosophy, aesthetics, art and calligraphy, as well as learning the meticulous preparations.
Everything is done for the wellbeing and enjoyment of the guests. All movements and gestures are choreographed to show respect and friendship. Beautiful ceramics with seasonal motifs are hand-picked to match the character of individual guests. Even the utensils are laid out at an angle best admired from the viewpoint of the attendees. It’s important that each tea gathering is a unique experience, so the combination of objects is never used twice.
Step 1: On the day of the tea ceremony, the host rises very early in the morning to start preparations.
Step 2: When guests arrive, they are led through the garden, then wash their hands to cleanse themselves symbolically of the dust of the outside world. They have to step through a small door, which ensures the guests bow in respect. The door is also a barrier to the outside world, helping to create a sense of sanctuary.
Step 3: Kneeling on a cushion, the host cleans his or her tools with graceful movements. Purified water is boiled in an iron kettle on a stove sunk into the floor.
Step 4: A silk cloth (fukusa), representing the host’s spirit, is taken from their kimono sash. It’s symbolically inspected, folded and unfolded, before being used to handle the hot iron pot.
Step 5:Matcha – green tea ground to a fine powder – and several ladles of hot water are added to a bowl and whisked thoroughly.
Step 6: The bowl of matcha is handed to the first guest, who rotates the bowl 180º in two turns before taking a sip, so as to avoid drinking from the decorative front of the bowl. Each guest wipes the bowl before passing it on.
Step 7: Pretty wagashi sweets, sometimes made from azuki bean paste, are served to complement the bitterness of the tea.
Step 8: After the bowl is handed back to the host, the tools are cleaned and the ceremony is brought to a close.
© dach_chan/Shutterstock
Tea-plant seeds were brought to Japan from China in around the seventh century and initially consumed as a medicine. A priest called Myōan Eisai is thought to have been the first person to cultivate tea for religious purposes.
By the thirteenth century, Japan’s ruling elite and samurai were enjoying extravagant tea parties, and by the sixteenth century, drinking tea had become popular with all social classes. Influential tea masters, such as Murata Jukō (“the father of the tea ceremony”) and Sen no Rikyū introduced aesthetic and philosophical concepts, helping to develop the tea ceremony as we know it today.
© Photoguide.com/Shutterstock
The guest is not a passive participant; everyone has a role and etiquette is an important part of the ceremony. Here are the basic rules:
1. Wear a kimono or, failing that, dress conservatively.
2. Make sure you arrive a little early.
3. Remove your shoes at the entrance and put on a pair of slippers, then wait to be invited in.
4. Avoid stepping in the middle of the tatami and use closed fists when touching the mats.
5. All guests should show their appreciation by complimenting their host on their efforts, admiring the room and the delicious tea and sweets.
6. Don’t make small talk; conversation is expected to focus on the ceremony itself.
7. Finally, if you're one of several guests, don’t forget to make a quarter turn of the bowl before you drink and wipe the lip of the bowl afterwards. This is mainly for hygiene reasons, to avoid drinking from the same place as the other guests."
© dach_chan/Shutterstock
There are teahouses all over Japan. You can also have a tea ceremony experience at many temples, ryokan hotels, sweet shops, and at events and workshops. Here are our top picks from around Japan:
Kyoto is the centre of the Japanese tea. Okitsu Club is the most upmarket and traditional venue, close to the Imperial Palace. En is a more casual affair in the geisha district of Gion.
At Nadeshiko, a kimono shop in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, you can enjoy a combined kimono and tea ceremony experience. Across town, the reasonably priced Nakajima No Ochaya Tea House has a wonderful setting overlooking a lake in Hama-Rikyū Gardens.
Yame produces Japan’s best matcha and many tea companies there offer tours. In Fukuoka, Shōgonji temple offers tea ceremonies.
Wherever you go in Japan, try to experience this ritual – you’ll never think about the humble cup of tea in the same way again. For more information, dive into our round-up of fascinating facts about Japan.
Explore more of Japan with The Rough Guide to Japan. Compare flights, find tours, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to buy travel insurance before you go. Top image © zummolo/Shutterstock
written by Ros Walford
updated 17.05.2019
Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Japan
Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert
Book securely with money-back guarantee
Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support