Welcoming guidance makes the world of traditional tea culture accessible to everyone. You can choose between a tea ceremony in an authentic tearoom, complete with time-honored rituals, and a more contemporary, comfortable setting with chairs.
Private Tea Ceremony in Arashiyama
An Invitation to Tea
Arashiyama, Kyoto
In a quiet corner of Arashiyama, guests are welcomed into a genuine tearoom for a private introduction to the world of Japanese tea. Guided by an experienced instructor of the Omotesenke tradition, the experience offers an opportunity to encounter tea not as a performance, but as a living cultural practice.
Before the ceremony begins, guests are introduced to the tearoom, garden, utensils, and customs that shape the tea gathering. Through these explanations, the principles of tea — attention, hospitality, and appreciation — gradually come into focus.
On occasion, rare tea utensils, hanging scrolls, or Raku tea bowls are also presented and discussed. These objects are not displayed as museum pieces, but as tools that continue to be used and appreciated within the tradition, offering insight into the aesthetic values that have shaped Japanese culture for centuries.
Seasonal sweets are served before the tea, and guests may choose either a traditional tatami setting or a contemporary seating style. Beginners are warmly welcomed.
More than a tea ceremony, this experience is an invitation to step into the world of tea and discover the beauty, thoughtfulness, and atmosphere that continue to sustain it today.
- Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Instructor
- Isshin-an
- Isshin-an belongs to the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony and holds classes and other activities in its tearoom in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Through tea, it values encounters and connections between people. Isshin-an offers a relaxed yet authentic introduction to the etiquette, aesthetics, and spirituality of the tea ceremony—a tradition that even many Japanese people may feel hesitant to experience.
Access
20 minutes by train and 5 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station
The marker shows the approximate area.
The exact address will be provided when your reservation is confirmed.
Experiences
- Reserve
Private Tea Ceremony in Arashiyama
47,000 JPY / personDiscover Japanese tea culture in a private Arashiyama tearoom through a beginner-friendly introduction to the garden, tearoom, utensils, and etiquette. Your host explains how each element contributes to the atmosphere and hospitality of the gathering before serving seasonal sweets and matcha.
Observe hanging scrolls, Raku tea bowls, and other utensils used within the tradition, then take part in the ceremony yourself. Guests may choose traditional tatami seating or a comfortable chair-seated setting. This 90-minute plan focuses exclusively on tea and does not include the meal and sake served in the extended experience.
- Reserve
Private Tea Ceremony with Meal & Sake in Arashiyama
57,400 JPY / personSpend a private afternoon in an authentic Arashiyama tearoom, where an experienced instructor of the Omotesenke tradition introduces the garden, utensils, customs, and spirit of Japanese tea.
Seasonal sweets and matcha lead into a meal accompanied by sake, allowing the principles of tea hospitality to unfold at a slower pace around the table. Guests may also encounter rare tea utensils, hanging scrolls, or Raku tea bowls as living objects used within the tradition. Beginners are warmly welcomed, with a choice of traditional tatami seating or a contemporary seated setting.