Explore more curated experiences in Nara

View all Nara tours

Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Kurabi
Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara
Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara 2
Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara 3
+2
more

1-hour tour in Nara, including One-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master and Preparation and serving of matcha, guided by the master. Run by Kurabi, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Runs 1 hours
  • One-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master
  • Preparation and serving of matcha, guided by the master
  • Overview of tea ceremony history, etiquette, and traditional utensils
  • Hands-on matcha practice with personalized feedback
  • Enjoy authentic wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)

Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara: Key Facts

PriceFrom $60.5 per person
Duration1 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 1-hour experience in Nara. It is run by Kurabi, 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 One-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master, Preparation and serving of matcha, Overview of tea ceremony history, Hands-on matcha practice with personalized feedback and Enjoy authentic wagashi. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

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

Includes

  • One-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master
  • Preparation and serving of matcha, guided by the master
  • Overview of tea ceremony history, etiquette, and traditional utensils
  • Hands-on matcha practice with personalized feedback
  • Enjoy authentic wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)

Important information

Meeting point

Kurabi 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 1 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $60.5
$60.5
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 151 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
L
Lydia
March 27, 2026

Absolutely fantastic experience. Our tea host was so helpful about the history of tea making and helped us make the most tasty matcha. I would recommend to anyone wanting to have a fabulous tea ceremony in Nara! Me and my fiance cannot thank you enough. The tea house was also stunning!

Review photo 1
5
J
Jessica
July 28, 2026

My son and I participate in the activity and we had a lot of fun, it was relaxed and we were able to ask several questions. The matcha was really tasty! Thank you.

5
C
Carolyn
June 8, 2026

We really enjoyed learning how to make matcha tea. Ours was a small group (four) which worked well. The session was informative and fun too. Highly recommended.

5
L
Lotus
June 7, 2026

First time for us participating in a tea ceremony, and Mike was an amazing host! We learned how to properly bow, drink matcha, and how to prepare it. Mike is lovely, he took the extra time to show us how matcha whisks are traditionally made here in Nara, and gave us lots of recommendations for during our stay here. Would highly recommend! :)

5
D
Danny
May 16, 2026

Very great experience. Our tea ceremony host, Mike, was very informative and knowledgeable. We learned a lot and tasted some sweets, a refreshing cold tea, as well as a couple cups of matcha, one we made ourselves. Overall, a must to do while in Nara.

5
J
Jan
April 19, 2026

Very entertaining and informative. worth participating. Uounwill learn how to make and drink good macha

5
K
Karen
April 13, 2026

Beautiful tea house with master Masaki providing an informative and enjoyable experience

5
V
Vanesa
April 13, 2026

It was one of my favorite activities. We’ve learned how to make matcha properly and the traditions around it. Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable, and the place was very cute.

5
M
Michael
April 12, 2026

Fantastic experience. The explanations were better than any I had while living in Japan for a year. My wife and our 15 year old daughter also thought it was terrific.

5
C
Carol
February 24, 2026

Kurabi was wonderful, explaining the tea ceremony process and history in a clear way. He was personable and shared some family antidotes making the experience even more meaningful. He accommodated my need for a cushion gracefully and empathetically. I throughly enjoyed this one on one encounter and would highly recommend to others.

5
A
Abigail
February 15, 2026

This was my first time trying a tea ceremony and it was an excellent experience. Kurabi was a great guide who carefully explained all the steps in the tea ceremony and made delicious matcha for me to try. He also showed me how to make matcha and gave me tips on how to improve my whisking technique. After the ceremony was over, he gave me some recommendations for restaurants and sake stores. I had a great time and would highly recommended to anyone who wants to try a tea ceremony.

5
T
Thomas
January 19, 2026

A great way to start the day. Hasumi was very welcoming and gave us through explanations about the process and the history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kurabi sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
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.
One-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master, Preparation and serving of matcha, guided by the master, Overview of tea ceremony history, etiquette, and traditional utensils, Hands-on matcha practice with personalized feedback, Enjoy authentic wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)
The duration of the Tea Ceremony and Matcha Making in a Small Group in Nara is typically 1 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 in Nara Park, or mid-to-late November for autumn colour around Todai-ji — our pick for the best overall balance of weather and crowds. Full season breakdown in our best time to visit Nara guide.
Yes, generally — they're unusually tame from centuries of protected contact with visitors. Buy shika senbei crackers (~¥200) from a licensed vendor, and be extra cautious during October-December rutting season, when Nara city issues an annual warning about more assertive bucks. Full etiquette in our Nara deer park guide.
A 15-metre bronze Buddha cast in 752 CE, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, housed in the Daibutsuden — once the largest wooden building on Earth. History and what to look for inside is in our Todai-ji temple guide.
Both work well — about 45 minutes from Kyoto, 35-40 minutes from Osaka via Kintetsu. Train options and a realistic day schedule are in our Nara day trip guide.
A comfortable half day (about 4 hours) covers Nara Park, Todai-ji and the walk to Kasuga Taisha. Our Nara half-day itinerary breaks it down hour by hour.
Starting from$60.5