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View all Kyoto toursKyoto Tea Ceremony and 150-Year-Old Traditional Townhouse Tour by Local Operator
Tour in Kyoto, including Traditional tea ceremony and Matcha preparation experience. Run by 聚らく, booked direct rather than through a reseller.
Highlights
- Runs 75 minutes
- Traditional tea ceremony
- Matcha preparation experience
- Seasonal, plant-based Japanese sweets
- English-speaking guide
- Small-group experience (max. 7 guests)
Kyoto Tea Ceremony and 150-Year-Old Traditional Townhouse Tour by Local Operator: Key Facts
| Price | From $83 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 75 minutes |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
This is a 75-minute experience in Kyoto. It is run by 聚らく, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.
Gion is Kyoto's historic entertainment district, the streets of wooden machiya houses around Hanamikoji where the geiko and maiko of the Gion Kobu district still work. They are working professionals on their way to engagements, not performers for the street, and Kyoto has banned photography in the private lanes; an evening walk with a guide who explains the ochaya system is the respectful way to see it. Tea ceremony sessions in Gion teach the basic form of matcha preparation in an hour. Kimono rental for a day, with dressing and hair, is an established business around the district and is welcomed rather than resented.
The price covers Traditional tea ceremony, Matcha preparation experience, Seasonal, guide and Small-group experience. It does not cover Transportation, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.
聚らく sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with 聚らく before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Includes
- Traditional tea ceremony
- Matcha preparation experience
- Seasonal, plant-based Japanese sweets
- English-speaking guide
- Small-group experience (max. 7 guests)
- Guided introduction to a 150-year-old historic machiya
- Tea utensils and materials
- Commemorative photo
Excludes
- Transportation
Important information
Meeting point
聚らく sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
It was an amazing experience. This is my first time in Japan and I feel like a got to learn a lot about the culture. The experience was both immersive and meditative. We were reminded at the start about gratitude for the moment that we are sharing and the open atmosphere elevated all senses. I would truly recommend the experience to any friend traveling to Kyoto.
I learn more about how the match produced in old and new way, plus how it’s made for a ceremony The ceremony itself was pleasant and captivating It’s definitely the experience to have in Kyoto, Japan
This activity was fun and you were able to make your own matcha!
My daughter and I had a great experience at the team ceremony. It was a nice small group experience. Very intimate. We really enjoy it.
It was an amazing experience, it truly shows the beautiful culture and traditions behind the ritual. It was a great way to start our Kyoto trip, and we definitely recommend it!
Our tea ceremony with Yuki and Asano was a lovely experience. We happened to attend as the only guests on a rainy day. The tea ceremony was calming and very zen. We enjoyed the teaching element and learn about the seasonal decor and sweets. Thankyou for a zen experience.
Watching a true tea master is mesmerizing! It’s great to have a small go at hosting, because then you really appreciate the skill of the master. It’s a beautiful zen experience.
The tea-ceremony was a lovely serene event to start our day in Kyoto! We learned a lot about the tea-culture and the meaning for the japanese people as well as other cultural aspects. Trying ourselves at the tea-ceremony was a great way to experience this important part of the culture hands on :) Asano and Kumi were happy to answer any questions we had regarding the tea ceremony or other aspects of Japanese culture. I especially liked the bikingual aspect of the event (Japanese and English). Would definitely recommend!
This tea experience was absolutely wonderful. Everything was beautifully done, the demonstration felt very authentic and traditional, and the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. The people there were incredibly friendly, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I would highly recommend it!
We had an amazing morning at Juraku this morning. It is a MUST do on your Kyoto journey. We had the privilege of meeting a fantastic tea master who guided us through the process and was kind enough to share his knowledge on this sacred tradition. The tea ceremony is held in a traditional Kyoto tea house. It was a very special morning.
Amazing!! Such a lovely experience I highly recommend it. We learned a lot about the history of matcha and the techniques. Yuki and Asano were so nice! We got to try to make matcha and drank it as well, they provided dessert as well.
We had a truly wonderful experience together. The introduction before the ceremony and the visit of the house were both beautiful and enriching, setting the perfect atmosphere. The ceremony itself was exceptional every gesture carried meaning and intention. It felt deeply calming, allowing us to fully connect with the present moment. Thank you for such a memorable and meaningful experience. ありがとうございました (Arigatō gozaimashita) 🙏