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Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata
Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto
Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto 2
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0.8333333333333334-hour tour in Kyoto, including Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room and Matcha tea. Run by Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Runs 50 minutes
  • Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room
  • Matcha tea
  • Traditional Japanese sweets
  • A leaflet explaining the tea ceremony
  • Tea master in English/Japanese with interpreter

Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto: Key Facts

PriceFrom $89 per person
Duration50 minutes
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto

0.8333333333333334-hour tour in Kyoto, including Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room and Matcha tea. Run b...
50 hours
English
$89
Free cancellation

Full description

This is a 50-minute experience in Kyoto. It is run by Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata, 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 Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room, Matcha tea, Traditional Japanese sweets, A leaflet explaining the tea ceremony and Tea master in English/Japanese with interpreter. It does not cover photos/videos, 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.

Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata 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 Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Includes

  • Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room
  • Matcha tea
  • Traditional Japanese sweets
  • A leaflet explaining the tea ceremony
  • Tea master in English/Japanese with interpreter
  • Casual / Premium kimono rental (if add-on selected, please arrive 1 hour earlier than your booking time for dressing)
  • Women's hairstyling (if add-on selected)
  • Women's makeup (if add-on selected)
  • Women's hair accessory (if add-on selected)
  • Women's formal kimono (Houmongi) (if add-on selected)
  • Men's Hakama rental (if add-on selected)
  • Men's Montsuki Hakama rental (if add-on selected)

Excludes

  • Professional photos/videos

Important information

Meeting point

Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata 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

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 50 minutes
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $89
$89
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

4.8/5
based on 73 reviews
Guide
4.8/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
B
Beverly
September 9, 2026

Monica was. a superb host explaining everything in an easily understood format so friendly and accommodating the whole experience was fabulous I went with my sister's and a friend we decided at the last minute to rent some kimonos for the experience which was no problem for the ladies that were assisting us they were full of fun and nothing was too much trouble plenty of choice! we had such a laugh cannot rate this high enough made our day! lovely Japan lovely people thank you so much to the whole team.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
M
Miriam
May 30, 2026

It was an amazing experience. Everyone was so kind and knowledgeable. Loved it!

Review photo 1
5
A
Amanda
April 23, 2026

Really fabulous and informative, a family including 2 boys 20/24 both enjoyed the cultural event

Review photo 1
5
I
Ibuchim
September 2, 2026

Amazing experience! Our pictures were lovely too. Would definitely recommend.

5
H
Harminder
July 9, 2026

We had such an amazing nemorable blissful experience ! The guides were amazing , felt we were fully living the authentic ceremony back in time ; guides translated and took photos as well. I went with my son - we loved the experience !

5
A
Alicia
June 13, 2026

It was a very lovely and calm experience. Strongly recommend.

5
V
Victoria
May 22, 2026

The teacher was lovely, very enthusiastic about the tea ceremony and eager to show us all the details. Our guide/ translator worked well with her to guide us through the process.

5
T
Terézia
April 23, 2026

Everything was absolutely great from start to finish. It was such a pleasant and authentic experience. Highly recommended!

5
M
Mathilde
February 1, 2026

We had a great time! Traditional ceremony with a Japanese tea master and a translater. The tea master was super kind and the translater speaks very good English and is also very kind. I would definitely recommend!

5
I
Iphigenia
January 6, 2026

Very interesting ceremony and well prepared! Loved the tea of tea master Morimoto!

5
R
Rosaria
August 21, 2026

Partecipare a questa cerimonia del tè è stato bellissimo. L'attività permette di scoprire a fondo la storia e i passaggi di questo rituale affascinante. La guida è stata chiarissima nelle spiegazioni. È stato davvero emozionante non solo assistere, ma anche preparare il tè. Cinque stelle meritatissime!

5
N
Natercia
August 15, 2026

Foi uma experiencia maravilhosa! Eu fiquei tão feliz e agradecida pela imersão que tivemos

Frequently Asked Questions

Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover professional photos/videos. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Not in the private lanes of Gion, where Kyoto has banned photography, and not close up anywhere: a maiko on the street is on her way to work. Your guide will say where a photograph is acceptable. Tea ceremony and kimono sessions include photographs as part of the session.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. 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.
Tea ceremony experience in a traditional tea room, Matcha tea, Traditional Japanese sweets, A leaflet explaining the tea ceremony, Tea master in English/Japanese with interpreter, Casual / Premium kimono rental (if add-on selected, please arrive 1 hour earlier than your booking time for dressing), Women's hairstyling (if add-on selected), Women's makeup (if add-on selected), Women's hair accessory (if add-on selected), Women's formal kimono (Houmongi) (if add-on selected), Men's Hakama rental (if add-on selected), Men's Montsuki Hakama rental (if add-on selected)
The duration of the Traditional Tea Ceremony since the 16th century in Kyoto is typically 50 minutes. 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$89