Experience Japanese Culture at the Authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony in Camellia Flower Teahouse

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture at the authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony in Camellia Flower Teahouse. Participate, ask questions, and enjoy a taste of Kyoto. All are welcome!

Duration: 45 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER - At the start of your session, your host will welcome you with a brief introduction to the world of matcha. Tea ceremony lies at the heart of Japanese culture, and to enjoy this centuries old ritual will provide a deeper understanding of the history, architecture and tastes of Kyoto.

Before performing an authentic tea ceremony, your personal instructor will explain a little about the steps involved in the ceremony, the utensils used and the importance of the rooms decoration and layout. Guests will enjoy a seasonal sweet with their tea, and there is plenty of time for asking questions and chatting with the host.

The experience ends with each guest having the opportunity to make their own bowl of frothy matcha, mastering the basics of tea making.

We want your time with us to be a rich and enjoyable one, and to that end we encourage guests to not only participate but actively ask any questions they might have about Japan and tea ceremony. All our instructors speak English fluently and hail from one of Kyoto’s three main schools of tea ceremony.

At Camellia authenticity and inclusivity are very important, and we strive to provide memories our guests will treasure.

What's Included
  • Guests can make their own bowl of Matcha with provided tea bowls, scoops, and whisks.
What's Not Included
  • Pickups and drop-offs.
  • Kimono rental (this option can be requested by message for an additional charge).
Additional Information

We want your time with us to be a rich and enjoyable one, and to that end we encourage guests to not only participate but actively ask any questions they might have about Japan and tea ceremony.

Our small team, fluent in English, are here to help make your time a memorable and authentic one. Tea ceremony is the perfect way to enjoy Japanese culture and experience a taste of Kyoto.

Inclusivity is very important to us, and all are welcome.
Chairs and tables are available for those that have difficulty sitting on the floor.
All our sweets are vegan, nut free and gluten dress.
Although we offer kimono rental, you do not need to wear kimono and please dress as you feel comfortable.
Unfortunately children under 6 years old cannot participate in shared or private tea ceremonies.
Feel free to take photos throughout the experience (please be mindful of other guests and please turn off the flash).

  • Chairs and Tables are available
  • Children under 6 years old cannot join this experience
Location
Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER
We are located down an alley that branches from the main thoroughfare of Ninenzaka in Higashiyama. The simplest way to find us is to head to the Park Hyatt hotel. Opposite the hotel is a Studio Ghibli store. The alleyway is located just to the left of the store.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(135 Ratings)
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John_c
Aug 13, 2024
This is Great! - An amazing experience and a great introduction to the tea ceremony! Definitely a “must” thing to do in Kyoto!
Review provided by Viator
L5542vsamys
Aug 11, 2024
Fun tea ceremony - This was a great way to spend a really hot afternoon in Kyoto. The teahouse is pretty and well organized, and everyone who worked there was very welcoming and nice. The woman who led our tea making ceremony was engaging and made the process very clear. We enjoyed it! As a bonus, we didn’t realize that the Camellia teahouse location was right in the middle of some of the best shopping. Also, at the top of the street is the most beautiful temple, Kiyomizudera Zuigudo. We got there about an hour before they were closing, so it wasn’t very crowded and we were able to watch the sunset from the top of the temple. You can see the whole city. It ended up being a magical afternoon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_s
Aug 11, 2024
Cool tea ceremony and magical afternoon - This was a great way to spend a really hot afternoon in Kyoto. The teahouse is pretty and well organized, and everyone who worked there was very welcoming and nice. The woman who led our tea ceremony was engaging and made the process very clear. We enjoyed it! As a bonus, we didn’t realize that the Camellia teahouse location was right in the middle of some of the best shopping. Also, at the top of the street is the most beautiful temple, Kiyomizudera Zuigudo. We got there about an hour before they were closing, so it wasn’t very crowded and we were able to watch the sunset from the top of the temple. You can see the whole city. It ended up being a magical afternoon.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_m
Jul 31, 2024
Serene tea experience - Great tea host and staff! Shared her 30+ years of tea ceremony knowledge and skill with us. Great location. Staff was very attentive.
Review provided by Viator
Rebecca_s
Jul 25, 2024
Great experience. - My family enjoyed the experience. We got a brief history of tea ceremonies and their significance. Then we were able to witness the step teach ceremony itself. Finally we were all able to make our own tea after being the "perfect way" to make it. The whole process from beginning to end was very relaxing and a wonderful cultural experience.
Review provided by Viator
Kathryn_b
Jul 10, 2024
Beautiful - The detail of the ceremony was beautiful. And our host took time to show us how to make our own tea using the traditional instruments.
Review provided by Viator
Margaret_c
Jun 30, 2024
Really wonderful - This was a wonderful experience! Very cool to learn more about the tea ceremony. This was a shortened “casual” tea ceremony (they said the formal ones can be up to four hours) so this was an accessible way to still see and enjoy the process. It’s located in a beautiful part of Kyoto.
Review provided by Viator
Grant_h
Jun 28, 2024
A taste of culture. - Our time at Camellias was amazing. We scheduled the kimono rental with tea ceremony to follow and everything went perfectly. Loved our host. Her explanations and demonstrations were beautifully presented. Our family, from 8 years old to 85 years old we’re all very captivated and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommend this taste of Japans majestic culture.
Review provided by Viator
Tonywisneske
Jun 23, 2024
A moment of zen in Kyoto - Very beautiful ceremony with explanations for each aspect and their significance. A moving experience, I highly recommend the kimono rental as well.
Review provided by Viator
Adrianov889
Jun 16, 2024
Great and authentic Japanese experience! - We booked a private tea ceremony for 2 people, including Kimono rental. There was a wide selection of kimonos available, and the staff for the dressing was very welcoming and professional. Since we arrived a bit earlier, we had the opportunity to wear our Kimonos a bit longer. The ceremony was something really special. Thanks to the explanations of the staff accompanying us, we could learn a lot about the Japanese culture and the preparation of the matcha itself was fascinating. We fully recommend this experience if you visit Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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