Not A Grueling Tea Ceremony…

I wanted the tea ceremony experience in Japan, so did my friend.

Our issues were:

We didn’t want to spend half day of our travel time to a single event no matter how Zen we felt afterwards.

We didn’t want to make our knees bruised by sitting Japanese style. 

Apparently, it is possible to have the shortened version of tea ceremony with reasonable price at some hotels in Tokyo, with and without Japanese style sitting.

Simple google search for tea ceremony in Tokyo gives information about some hotels in central Tokyo regarding your personal program of the day, you can choose from different locations.

We chose Hotel Okura in Roppongi Area. On the day of reservation, either by calling on the phone or by filling the online form. I actually took the online form, then got anxious and made a call on the phone. After I hang up the phone, they called me about the online form, as if to tell me to be patient for 5 more minute. I was a little impatient but I also proved that both of the systems are working efficiently.

The total of the ceremony took around 1 hour. It was enough to understand and enjoy the ceremony.

Every tea Ceremony room has a name all over Japan. They also have flowers or drawings related to the name, creating a suitable environment.

As a rule of preparation first we sit on the bench with a terrace view of a dry garden,

It was beautiful small garden, with some guidance we visioned something more…

We imagine the tree as a mountain and the rocks path as a river, it was both fun and meditating to see a beautiful garden and also to vision another picture.

Second step was Tsubikai. It is a mouth and hand wash before entering the actual ceremony. It is the same ritual seen in the temples. Every movement is essential and simple.

Then, we entered into a western style sitting room. The order of service and depending to the social rank of the guests, the sitting order is clock vise. It is an honor to be served first. 

Before the tea, Japanese sweet is served. My intention was to have the sweet and tea as complimentary to each other, as if cake and coffee. Silly me….

The sweet has to be eaten and appreciated first, then tea is served, drunk and appreciated.

After eating the sweets, we watched the tea preparation in wonder. The pots were cleaned, heated, the tea were prepared, with silence and fluent in movements…

One by one, we were served our tea in different styled cups, one by one we had our first sips.

Even though the personalization was really sensible in the ceremony, everyone was in harmony and enjoyed.

After the tea is finished, we all went to the Japanese style tea room where we sat Japanese style and talked about Zen and Japanese aesthetics.

All the information was essential, short and understandable. I was really happy and mediated after the ceremony.

It is not one of the experiences designated to the tourists it is unique to Japan. It is exceptional.

Here is also an article by me about Japanese sitting.

Cheers, tea

Ece