Private Tea Ceremony with Koicha Kanazawa Machiya

1 hour 10 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

Both koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea) - the complete tea experience.
Premium jounamagashi: handcrafted seasonal sweets by Kanazawa artisans
90-minute fully private session with a tea practitioner of 19 years
Held in a 100-year-old machiya in the historic Nishi Chaya geisha district
Deeper QandA on tea philosophy, samurai culture, and Japanese aesthetics

What's Included

Fully private ceremony (no shared sessions)
Hands-on matcha preparation
Commemorative photo
English narration and extended Q&A
Use of a private tea room in a 100-year-old machiya
Premium seasonal jounamagashi (handcrafted fresh sweets)
Both koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea)
Tea ceremony demonstration by a practitioner with 19 years of experience
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transportation to/from venue
Gratuities (not expected in Japan)

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Come directly to 2-3-28 Nomachi, Kanazawa. Look for a traditional wooden machiya with a small sign “TEA BASE” beside the entrance. Your host will greet you at the door. 10 min by taxi from Kanazawa Station, or 5 min walk from Nishi Chaya District. Please arrive 5 minutes early.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What to expect

This is the full experience. Thick tea - koicha - is the most formal, most revered form of tea in the Japanese tradition. Richer and more concentrated than thin tea, it is traditionally shared only among trusted guests. Most visitors to Japan never encounter it.
Inside a 100-year-old machiya in Kanazawa’s Nishi Chaya geisha district, your host Yuta - with 19 years in the Enshu-ryu tradition, a school of tea rooted in samurai culture - will guide you through a 90-minute private ceremony featuring both koicha and usucha (thin tea), paired with seasonal jounamagashi (handcrafted fresh sweets by Kanazawa artisans).
During the session, you will:
Experience koicha (thick tea) - the pinnacle of Japanese tea ceremony, rarely offered to visitors
Watch a full tea ceremony demonstration with detailed explanation
Prepare your own bowl of usucha (thin tea) hands-on
Savor ounamagashi - exquisite fresh sweets reflecting the season
Enjoy an extended QandA on aesthetics, philosophy, or Kanazawa life
Capture the experience with a commemorative photo
Completely private. No other guests. No compromise.
English-guided throughout. Must be booked at least 3 days in advance.

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Supplied by Tea master

Tags

Historical Tours
Cooking Classes
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

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

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