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Tea Ceremony in a Century-Old Fushimi Machiya, at a Table in Kyoto

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Éclat Japon
Tea Ceremony in a Century-Old Fushimi Machiya, at a Table
Tea Ceremony in a Century-Old Fushimi Machiya, at a Table 2
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A full tea ceremony in a hundred-year-old townhouse — in the ryurei table-and-chair style, so no kneeling — with wagashi, a matcha lesson and a calligraphy souvenir.

Tea Ceremony in a Century-Old Fushimi Machiya, at a Table: Key Facts

PriceFrom $57 per person
Duration1.5 hours
Group sizeUp to 10 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeMini Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 3 available options

Small Group, Without Kimono

The ninety-minute ceremony with wagashi, the matcha lesson and your calligraphy souvenir, in a group of up to ten.
1.5 hours
English
$57
Free cancellation

Small Group with Kimono Rental

The same session with traditional kimono rental included for the ceremony and the garden photographs.
1.5 hours
English
$57
Free cancellation

Private Session

The machiya and the host to your party alone.
1.5 hours
English
$57
Free cancellation

Full description

The thing that stops most visitors enjoying a tea ceremony is the floor. Seiza, the formal kneeling posture, becomes painful within minutes for anyone not raised doing it, and an hour of quiet ritual is difficult to appreciate while your legs are going numb.

Ryurei solves that. It is the table-and-chair style, developed in the nineteenth century when Japan began receiving foreign guests and now widely used in Japan itself — a full, correct ceremony conducted standing and seated at a table rather than on tatami. Nothing is diminished; you simply are not in pain.

The setting is a preserved machiya, a wooden Kyoto townhouse over a century old, in Fushimi in the south of the city — the sake-brewing district, away from the Higashiyama crowds. The matcha is from an award-winning Uji tea farm, and after watching the ceremony you whisk your own bowl with real utensils and step-by-step guidance, which is where you discover how much wrist is involved in getting the foam right.

Seasonal wagashi are served with it, and a welcome drink — sake, juice or tea — comes first. You leave with a personalised calligraphy souvenir, your name or a chosen word written in kanji or hiragana.

The machiya's garden is set up for photographs with traditional props, and depending on the season you may also see the related arts that surround tea: calligraphy, kodo incense, and chabana flower arrangement.

Three formats: small group, small group with kimono rental, or private.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Arrive at the machiya and take a welcome drink

Introduction to the tea ceremony and the ryurei style

Watch the full ceremony performed

Whisk your own bowl of Uji matcha

Seasonal wagashi served with the tea

Calligraphy souvenir written for you

Photographs in the machiya garden

Includes

  • Full tea ceremony in the ryurei table-and-chair style
  • Seasonal Japanese wagashi sweets
  • Welcome drink — sake, juice or tea
  • Hands-on matcha whisking lesson with premium Uji matcha
  • Personalised calligraphy souvenir
  • Traditional kimono rental on the kimono option

Excludes

  • Personal expenses
  • Transport to Fushimi
  • Additional food and drinks

Important information

Meeting point

711 Setomonocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto 612-8052 — a preserved machiya townhouse over a century old.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $57
$57
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.9/5
based on 1332 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
A
Alyssa
August 8, 2026

This was an incredible cultural learning experience. We are so grateful to have done this, a highlight of our trip! Thank you again to the lovely hosts.

5
G
Giulia
July 30, 2026

Amazing! The tea masters were extremely kind, caring, professional. Everything was perfect!! Thanks again for everything

5
O
Oscar
June 17, 2026

The experience was fantastic and highly recommended. My family thoroughly enjoyed wearing kimonos and experiencing the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and Japanese calligraphy. The Éclat team was very professional and went above and beyond to provide outstanding service throughout our visit.

5
E
Eve
May 29, 2026

this was super cool. So many choices for Kimono colors. Learning about the tea and of course the added fun of calligraphy made this experience over the top. this is a must do.

5
S
Stefani
May 25, 2026

I would highly recommend this tea ceremony in Kyoto. I can’t say enough praise for the staff, they were wonderful and warm and so hospitable. We learned a lot, had some wonderful sweets, really good sake, and amazing matcha. Moreover, we went home with our own beautiful calligraphy. Overall, a priceless experience that I would encourage anyone interested to take. Bonus: between the train station and the location there’s a really cute market for some extra fun shopping.

5
E
Emilly
May 24, 2026

Our tea ceremony experience was truly unforgettable. It was such a unique and meaningful opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and traditions in such an authentic way. Everything was explained with so much care and attention, and we felt incredibly welcomed from beginning to end. The atmosphere, the details, and the kindness of everyone involved made this a very special moment during our trip to Japan. An experience I will carry with me forever.

5
A
Amanda
May 19, 2026

Amazing experience, the ladies who guide the tea ceremony are incredible friendly and explained the tea ceremony and the Japanese culture so well. One of the best experiences that I had during my time in Japan

5
A
Alan
May 19, 2026

I'd recommend this tour to everyone. The whole experience was amazing. The ladies who run this are all so nice and they've planned the whole thing really well. My wife and I don't normally go for such "touristy" activities but we loved this!

Frequently Asked Questions

711 Setomonocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto 612-8052 — a preserved machiya townhouse over a century old.
The price does not cover personal expenses, transport to fushimi and additional food and drinks. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
Éclat Japon. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Full tea ceremony in the ryurei table-and-chair style, Seasonal Japanese wagashi sweets, Welcome drink — sake, juice or tea, Hands-on matcha whisking lesson with premium Uji matcha, Personalised calligraphy souvenir, Traditional kimono rental on the kimono option
The duration of the Tea Ceremony in a Century-Old Fushimi Machiya, at a Table is typically 1.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$57