Selena Takigawa Hoy is a Tokyo-based writer focusing on travel, food, and culture. She has written for Atlas Obscura, BBC Travel, and The Japan Times, Travel+Leisure, Kinfolk Magazine, and more. She loves rural Japan, cafés, and folk tales.
Selena Takigawa Hoy is a Tokyo-based writer focusing on travel, food, and culture. She has written for Atlas Obscura, BBC Travel, and The Japan Times, Travel+Leisure, Kinfolk Magazine, and more. She loves rural Japan, cafés, and folk tales.
Hi, I'm Selena!Selena Takigawa Hoy is a Tokyo-based writer focusing on travel, food, and culture. She has written for Atlas Obscura, BBC Travel, and The Japan Times, Travel+Leisure, Kinfolk Magazine, and more. She loves rural Japan, cafés, and folk tales.
Hi, I'm Selena!Selena Takigawa Hoy is a Tokyo-based writer focusing on travel, food, and culture. She has written for Atlas Obscura, BBC Travel, and The Japan Times, Travel+Leisure, Kinfolk Magazine, and more. She loves rural Japan, cafés, and folk tales.
The Japanese tea ceremony, also sometimes known as sado (literally “the way of tea”) or cha no yu (“water for tea”), is the preparation and serving of green tea, usually powdered matcha, in a highly ritualized manner. The host carefully prepares the tea in a set of precise steps, using exacting movements, in an elaborately prepared setting. The practice is rooted in Zen Buddhism and encourages mindfulness and appreciation of small details and simple pleasures. While the study of tea ceremony can be a lifelong pursuit, visitors can partake in the ceremony as guests—here’s everything you need to know before trying it for yourself.
In modern Japan, tea is a cornerstone of society. It’s part of the daily routine, enjoyed at mealtimes, break times, and after dinner, and served to guests. In cafeterias and business hotels, it’s often complimentary, while coffee is nowhere to be found. Beyond casual consumption, tea is often part of more formal, ritualized routines. It’s offered to the dead on the altar, given as a seasonal gift, and studied as an art.
The first record of tea in Japan dates from the 9th century, when the monk Eichu brought some tea back from China to Japan. However, tea drinking did not become widespread until a few centuries later, when the monk Eisai brought and spread the practice of drinking matcha—powdered and whipped green tea—to Japan in the late 12th century. Tea was cultivated in the Kansai region, around Kyoto, using seeds brought back by these traveling monks.
The father of the tea ceremony as we now know it is Sen no Rikyu, explains Yukiko Murano, professor of the Omotesenke Japanese tea school. Sen no Rikyu lived in the 16th century and developed and solidified many of the tools and rituals still used in tea ceremony today. The three historical schools descending from Sen no Rikyu’s teachings are the Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushakojisenke schools, each with their own—often subtle—differences in performing the art. The number of registered members of the Omotesenke school, according to Murano, numbers 500,000.
Today, the Kyoto area is still one of the main tea-growing regions in Japan, and a wonderful place to explore tea culture, along with tea-producing regions such as Shizuoka Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, and Mie Prefecture.
Murano explains that the tea ceremony has four spiritual pillars: Wa, Kei, Sei, and Jaku, or Harmony, Respect, Purification, and Tranquility. Considering these four elements will put hosts, students, and guests in the right mindset when performing or attending the ceremony.
Setting
The host meticulously prepares the setting in advance of the event. Typically, it will be held in a Japanese-style room, with tatami mats and floor cushions. The decor will be carefully chosen to reflect the season, usually including a seasonal flower arrangement and sometimes an alcove (tokonoma) with art such as a calligraphy scroll. If the event is held in a traditional teahouse, the room may have a diminutive door, causing all entrants to bow when coming through, symbolizing equality and respect.
Clothing
Your host will likely be wearing a kimono, carefully chosen for the occasion. The colors and motifs will reflect the season, and the kimono is differentiated “according to occupation, social status, and age,” says Murano. “Tea people are experts in wearing seasonal kimono.”
Guests may also wear kimono, if possible. “The host will feel respected if the guest pays a visit wearing a kimono matching the season,” says Murano. But if not, guests should dress in a manner that is respectful to the hosts and acknowledges the effort they put into preparing the event. Simple and elegant is a good goal. Shoes must be removed to protect tatami mats, and clean white socks or tabi socks are recommended. A short ceremony will be 30–45 minutes, and guests should be prepared to sit on the floor for the duration of the experience.
Insider tip: Remove accessories such as rings and watches, so as not to damage the delicate teaware.
Tools
Tea ceremonies require a number of dedicated tools, all cared for by the host. These include a charcoal brazier (furo) and kettle (kama) for preparing the hot water; the mizusashi, or vessel containing fresh cold water; the hishaku, or bamboo ladle used to transfer water; the natsume or tea caddy containing matcha powder; the chashaku or tea scoop; the chawan or tea bowl in which the matcha is whipped and served; and the chasen or bamboo whisk used to mix and froth the matcha.
What is served
A tea ceremony can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as several hours, with the offered refreshments ranging from a serving of matcha and an accompanying sweet, to a full meal.
In a simple ceremony, the host will prepare a serving of thin matcha for each guest, and present the tea bowl with the most beautiful side facing the guest (often there is a design point). After the tea is presented, the guest should bow, notice the design, and then give the bowl a half turn counter clockwise to share the beauty with the hosts and other guests.
A tea sweet is usually served in a short ceremony, reflecting the season in its shape and color. These sweets are often made from sugar, sweetened bean paste, and rice flour.
The rules of tea ceremony are so complicated and intricate that it can take a lifetime to master them—but don’t let this stop you from experiencing it. The most important thing to remember is to take the four pillars to heart: Harmony, Respect, Purification, and Tranquility. Keep these in mind and use them to slow down, be present, and take the time to appreciate your host, the space, the flavors, the season, and the rituals.
