HOME
Back
Use the
Planning a Trip to Japan?
Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp
My Favorites
Tea Ceremony Experience EN
Slow your mind and cultivate an appreciation of simplicity
A Japanese tea ceremony is a meditative practice that reminds the participant to slow the mind, focus on the now, and appreciate the details. It is one of Japan’s cultural traditions. En is a small tea house near Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji Temple that helps foreign guests to appreciate and enjoy the ceremony. It offers several courses each day, each held in a "tatami" (woven-straw mat) lined room, with a view out onto the garden.
During the tea ceremony, each motion of the preparation is considered, measured, and repeated. This ritual repetition is much like walking meditation or repeating a mantra, allowing the mind to focus. At En, guests are guided through the intricate process and instructed in the technique and philosophy behind the ceremony as they prepare matcha tea. Guests are also introduced to the spirituality, history, and architecture of the tea house. Each tea ceremony takes about 45 minutes, after which you explore the streets of Kyoto with a new frame of mind. Few other activities offer the authenticity of practicing this ancient art form in Japan’s old capital.
272 Matsubara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Nearby Recommendations
