Autumn Japanese Tea Ceremonies in Kyoto

Ian Ropke writes:

Experiencing an Autumn Tea Ceremony

For many tea connoiseurs, autumn is considered to be the finest time of the year to hold a tea ceremony; the stifling hot weather has passed, and the autumn mood is sublime. The basic form and aesthetic of today’s Japanese tea ceremony is largely credited to Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), who was inspired to develop a form based entirely around natural materials native to Japan—earthen walls, tatami, wood, and bamboo. Rikyu’s way of tea stands as a refined, yet simple, ritual of perfection that incorporates virtually every Japanese art—flowers, ceramics, lacquer, food. At its highest levels the Japanese tea ceremony becomes a spiritual act reaching out with dignified stillness to calm and pacify the heart and mind.

When taking part in the Japanese tea ceremony, first bow (while seated) and then lift the chawan (tea bowl) set before you with your right hand, and place it on the palm of your left hand. Rotate the chawan clockwise 180 degrees with the right hand in three separate movements. Then, after a short pause, drink the tea in two or three stages. After drinking the tea, wipe the part of the chawan you touched with your lips with your right hand and rotate the chawan counterclockwise 180 degrees, and return it to the host. If you are served a sweet during the tea ceremony, it will always be before you are served the tea. When in doubt, observe those around you, or behave as calmly and dignified as you can. Do what comes natural to you, in the end, there are no fixed rules in the tea ceremony.

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Full text by Ian Ropke. All rights reserved. Image 1 is public domain and Image 2 is courtesy of Camellia Tea Ceremony.

Ian Ropke is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Osaka and Kyoto and director of Your Japan Private Tours. You can read his previous articles for Deep Kyoto here.

Tea Ceremony in Kyoto

Did Ian whet your appetite? If you want to learn the tea ceremony the Urasenke School offers regular classes. You can also experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the following tea rooms: Camellia Tea Ceremony and Ran Hotei.

Kyoto Matcha Tea Shop

Here we have collected some of the most popular matcha teas from Kyoto. The first item in our stall, Tao of Tea Liquid Jade, was recently judged as the best matcha tea of 2022 by Forbes magazine and is made with powdered tea from Uji, Kyoto. For full details on each of the teas below, please click through to their vendor page.
Disclaimer: Links to vendors are affiliate links from which the owner of this website may earn a commission.

The Tao of Tea Liquid Jade Powdered Matcha Green Tea Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Matcha Moon Pure Zen Uji Matcha Green Tea Powder Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
Kyoto Rikyuen Mukashi-Ima Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Kyoto Rikyuen Mukashi-Rikyu Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
Ippodo Ummon Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Ippodo Sayaka Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
Ippodo Kan Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Ippodo Seiun Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
Encha Matcha Ceremonial Grade Amazon.com	Kyoto Dew Matcha Organic Ceremonial Grade Amazon.com
Ippodo Essential Matcha Kit Amazon.com	Nippon Cha Matcha Starter Kit Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp

Learn more

The Japanese Tea Ceremony Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Stories of Japanese Tea Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
The Wisdom of Tea Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	A Beginners Guide to Japanese Tea Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp
Matcha: A Lifestyle Guide Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp	Matcha Tea Amazon.com Amazon.co.jp

See also:

Ran Hotei Cafe
Camellia Tea Ceremony
International Tea Gathering at Urasenke