A 90 min. Tea ceremony Workshop In The Authentic Tea Room
5
A 90 min. Tea ceremony Workshop In The Authentic Tea Room
By Shizu-Kokoro
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About
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 10-90, max of 6 per group
Duration: 1 day
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Japanese, English
More
- A cup of cherry-blossom tea, two kinds of matcha tea, and three kinds of Japanese confections.
- Start:
- 4-chōme-19-9 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, JapanDirections: 13 min. walk from Asakusa Station (Tobu line, Ginza Line and Toei Transportation). 10 min min. walk from Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express)
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 150310P1- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Please note that the tea room is located on the second floor. Since the house is an old Japanese style building built in 1940s, the staircase is very steep. Unfortunately, we are not equipped guests with machinery to assist going up.
- Since this is an old Japanese house built in 1940s, there is a certain weight capacity. Despite the number of people we indicated (8 people), there might be a situation that we may ask your group to change the time schedule in order to balance the weight limitation for your safety. Please let us know if you would like to discuss this further by email
- Please note that this workshop is designed for participants 10 years old and above.
- Socks are required in the tea room.
- You don't have to sit with "Seiza (Sitting with bending the knee)" style on tatami-mats.
- If you cannot sit on the tatami-mats in any ways, we can provid you a chair.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 150310P1
From
₱2,220.90
per adult
Select date and travelers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- treesrgreenie0 contributionsThe best tea ceremony in TokyoMika greeted us in traditional kimono and speaks perfect English. We start with an 8 min video explaining the history behind the tea ceremony, then we take off our shoes, do the cleansing ritual with the water fountain in the corner, then climb up wooden stairs into the ceremony room with beautiful Japanese decor and tatami mats. A kettle is submerged in the floor, and the bowls and furniture chosen by Mika is influenced by what season it is. Mika first explained the ritual behind the tea ceremony and why she is doing what she does with the utensils and silk handkerchief.Then we quietly watched her go through the ceremony. It was incredibly humbling and overwhelming to watch this old traditional ritual that tears were pouring down my face and even my husband said he had a lump in his throat while watching Mika. It was incredible to feel like this but the experience was so beautiful. We drank Mika's tea, then we got to experience making tea for each other. Mika gave us a selection of bowls to choose from that I was to make for my husband and he chose a bowl for me. Mika talked us through making the tea. We also explained to each other why we chose the bowls we did.It was such an amazing interactive experience. The fact that we were taught and experienced making the tea as well and not just watching and tasting the tea ceremony made this an absolute highlight during our holiday around Japan. Loved it and recommend it highly to anybody wanting a traditional experience.Written December 29, 2019
- Ed M0 contributionsWonderful experience! You will not be sorry!One of the few things my wife specifically wanted to do during our trip to Japan was a tea ceremony. After a bit of research, I found the Shizu-Kokoro school. It was absolutely wonderful and exactly what we were looking for! Ms Mika was an amazing host, carefully explaining everything about the ceremony, the history of the ceremony, about matcha, the various utensils and other implements. She was happy to have us ask questions and gave thorough answers. She's been doing this for many years, and clearly knows her craft. One of the best parts was the opportunity to make the tea for each other! It was a fabulous experience, and I recommend it highly!Written August 17, 2019
- fredericksreviews0 contributionsAmazing tea ceremonyI can definitely recommend Chado tea ceremony. A place of mindfulness. We were given information of history and how one should conduct during ceremony, as well as the importance of enjoying the moment with socializing and admiring the decorations.Written December 17, 2018
- Utpal D0 contributionsVery personal and patient teacherIt was an excellent experience with a very dedicated and a patient teacher. She is very knowledgeable but more importantly very passionate about her art and took time to explain things to us. She was also very open to making sure it was customized to our abilities and desires as well.Written August 22, 2018
- ipkris0 contributionsFantastic Chado experience With Ms MikaMy best friend and I attended the 10 am session on the 5th July 2018. It was the highlight of our trip as we both love matcha and anything related. Mika was very informative and made us felt very comfortable. The tea room is beautiful and incredibly tranquillising. I would love to take my husband there when we visit Tokyo again.Written July 9, 2018
- Michael G0 contributionsAuthentic and informative tea ceremony with MikaWe have been waiting to see Mika at Shizu-Kokoro for a few years. I met Mika when she was a Chado instructor operating out of another tea house in Tokyo that was not her own place. The experience we had with her and her students was authentic, accessible and authoritative. Now with her own place, she is able to craft the environment in addition to the experience. The attention to detail in the utensils, the snacks, the decorations (and yes even the bathroom) were all themed to the season and chosen to display what Mika wanted to share with her guests (so ask questions!) Shizu-kokoro provides a genuine experience from a true teacher who can explain the details of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a relaxed manner, and maybe you also want to obtain a little zen in learning the details. Some other places in the area may offer a basic tea ceremony, but Mika is worth the trek.Written May 20, 2018
- 526jans0 contributionsFantastic experienceA wonderful journey into the fascinating world of preparing tea and interacting with other people. If you are visiting Tokyo, you have to pay Shizu-kokoro a visit. Make sure to make a reservation well ahead. You can not find a better instructor than Mika! She is fantastic! She keeps this important culture alive! Makes you think and reflect on how you live an interact with others!! Not just a tea ceremony.Written May 5, 2018
- Nananyna30 contributionsMemorable experienceAmazing experience with very authentic feeling. The host speaks perfect English (I think she mentioned living in the USA for a while) and is very friendly and thorough with the explanations and demonstrations. I learned so much about the way of tea and got really excited about preparing matcha myself. You really learn to appreciate the calming and careful rituals. For me a tea ceremony was a must do in Japan and I really recommend doing it at Shizu-Kokoro. The price may seem high if you are not sure what you are getting, but I think it was really worth it!Written May 2, 2018
- andrewharris40 contributionsAmazing tea ceremony experience in Asakusa!My wife and I had a wonderful time! We only had a couple days in Tokyo during our recent trip to Japan and the tea ceremony was a perfect way to have an authentic experience in the heart of Asakusa. Neither of us had participated in a tea ceremony before, so we signed up for the 2-hour class. Our host, Mika was extremely kind, patient and knowledgeable as she walked us through all of the different rituals, techniques and traditions of a Japanese tea ceremony. She also speaks perfect English, which was great as neither of us can speak Japanese! Our tea ceremony was upstairs in a beautiful room with traditional Japanese decoration. We were truly overwhelmed by the depth of thought and consideration that went into the ceremony: How the cups, kettle, and decorations are influenced by the guests and seasons; how the sequence of events and each movement making and serving the tea has been perfected from centuries of experience and practice. All the while Mika explained and helped us to understand the context and meaning behind each tradition, as well as the tasting notes of each tea we tasted. Tokyo is an incredibly busy international city, and in recent trips I have found truly authentic experiences harder and harder to come by. I am so thankful to have experienced a tea Ceremony with Mika at Shizu-Kokoro Urasenke Chado. It should be at the top of the list for anyone looking for an authentic and lasting experience in Asakusa. We will definitely return on our next trip! The tea house is very conveniently located and across the street from an awesome Okonomiyaki restaurant - perfect for lunch afterwards!Written February 13, 2018
- RichardYuki0 contributionsWe had a super great experience !This is my husband comment! I bet he had a great time! of course I had too :) While just recently in Japan, I have to confess, I was a really excited and just a little nervous when my wife Yuki told me we were going to a traditional tea ceremony. Zen Buddhism holds so much fascination and mystery for me and experiencing It through tea preparation and presentation gave me a real visceral feeling of Zen in action. Mika ( please put her last name here) greeted us with a warm and reassuring smile and allowed us to experience this ancient art form in a relaxed and playful atmosphere. She ushered us upstairs to a beautifully appointed room to watch a brief video on ‘ the way of tea ‘. It was a great primer for what we were about to experience and we were offered a lovely flowered tea to help us slow down and leave the mad rush of the city behind us. Now, on to the tea room: we enter onto tatami mats in a warm spacious room. We are gently taught how to walk on the tatami in our stocking feet and I find that the sliding technique has a grounding affect on my body. As we settle into the space Mika Sensei and her assistant leave us alone in the room to sit and meditate briefly before starting the Cha-do. Once she reenters the tea room the ceremony begins but she breaks character to carefully explain each motion, implement, and technique for preparing and presenting the tea. She then provides us with the same material and, with great skill, she guides us through our first adventure in preparing and offering the tea. The tea itself is powerful. Matcha is like the espresso of the green tea world, and when it’s prepared so consciously you’ll likely feel the wonder, respect, and historical context for that very moment. Mika Sensei’s tea ceremony was so educational and really fun. I think Yuki and I will carve out time on our next Japan trip to visit Mika and Shizu-Kokoro! Arigato, Mika Sensei !Written November 2, 2017
- PaulAsEireann0 contributionsA fantastic and fascinating cultural experience - very English friendly!Have lived in Tokyo before and visited the city many times, so I figured I'd partaken in most of the best activities. However it seems this one has slipped under my radar until today! Mika was an incredible host and teacher, and immediately put us at ease with her excellent English and kind personality. The ceremony itself was super interesting. On top of all that it was extremely cheap for the experience in my opinion. We booked on the day, but you might not be so lucky, so book in advance from their website. Also, we found out afterwards that they rent kimonos. Totally would have done that had we known! Highly recommended to anyone from 13+ (younger audience might be bored, depending on their disposition to sitting still for 90~ minutes). Also, if you live in Tokyo, they offer evening tea lessons and calligraphy lessons!Written November 1, 2017
- AngelenoNihonophile0 contributionsAmazing tea ceremony experience!I wanted to learn more about the Japanese tea ceremony and found the perfect place in Asakusa with a fantastic sensei.Written October 3, 2017
- AJ B0 contributionsA sanctuary of peace and wellbeing!I stumbled upon Shizu-Kokoro quite by chance on my last day in Tokyo and Mika had no objections to beginning an impromptu tea ceremony for me. It was a truly enlightening experience and a wonderful cultural opportunity. Mika was an amazing chado master who performed the tea ceremony with grace and mindfulness. It was impossible not to relax. Learning to perform the tea ceremony was a real bonus - and I've actually carried the principles home with me to continue practising mindfulness here. It was also wonderful to have an overview of the history and significance of the chado. Mika offers plenty of information throughout, which makes it a deeper, rounder and more meaningful experience.Written September 27, 2017
- india a0 contributionsA Welcome BreakMy family and I went all over Tokyo, and we started to get frayed, running around shopping and looking at modern stuff like SkyTree, etc. I was kind of regretting the trip because we were missing out on any authentic cultural aspect. We found this tea school close to Asakusa. While Asakusa is totally commercialized, Shizu-kokoro was peaceful and really traditional. I enjoyed my first real "macha" tea with my family – now I have some idea what they are drinking in all those period dramas! I'd recommend Shizu-kokoro to friends who want to experience and participate in some real Japanese culture, without going overboard or spending too much time. The teacher, Mika-Sensei, is used to international travelers and can explain everything, even to an "espresso man" like myself!Written September 25, 2017
- scr21010 contributionsStep Into Another WorldThe Shizu-Kokoro ("calm heart") school was a welcome break from the madness of Asakusa and Tokyo in general. It was great to escape the crowds and have a moment of peace and relaxation, which are hard to come by in Tokyo! Mika-Sensei speaks English very well. I'm still a bit perplexed by "the way of tea," but now I know some basics. I had a relaxing lesson and learned a few things. I would definitely bring friends here for "mental refreshment" and culture!Written September 25, 2017
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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68 reviews
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64
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3
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0
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1
alleycat2007
Chicago, IL9 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
I highly recommend this experience. A friend and I went and enjoyed it very much. Mika performs the tea ceremony in her tearoom in Asakusa. She sent excellent directions. It’s a fun 15 min walk from the train station, through neighborhood streets and past a large and busy shrine with streets full of shops.
Mika’s tearoom is two stories. You enter on the ground floor, take off shoes and put on slippers. Mika served us a cup of flower tea, and we watched a short video about the origins of the tea ceremony. We then went upstairs to the tearoom where Mika performed the ceremony. She explained the process first, then reverently performed it. Very soothing experience.
We were served the matcha tea. We then each made our own matcha tea. Also had yummy treats. An excellent experience! It made such a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
On the way back to the station, I visited the shrine and shopped the streets around it. Super fun.
I pretty much spent the day in Asakusa after the tea ceremony, shopping around. Because, if you’re into kitchenware like I am, within a few minutes walk is the Kappabashi area, which is shop after shop of kitchenware, knives, pottery etc.
A terrific day from start to finish.
Mika’s tearoom is two stories. You enter on the ground floor, take off shoes and put on slippers. Mika served us a cup of flower tea, and we watched a short video about the origins of the tea ceremony. We then went upstairs to the tearoom where Mika performed the ceremony. She explained the process first, then reverently performed it. Very soothing experience.
We were served the matcha tea. We then each made our own matcha tea. Also had yummy treats. An excellent experience! It made such a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
On the way back to the station, I visited the shrine and shopped the streets around it. Super fun.
I pretty much spent the day in Asakusa after the tea ceremony, shopping around. Because, if you’re into kitchenware like I am, within a few minutes walk is the Kappabashi area, which is shop after shop of kitchenware, knives, pottery etc.
A terrific day from start to finish.
Written November 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George P
3 contributions
Mar 2023
I took part in the Tea Ceremony Workshop on my first day in Japan, and it was such a great experience. It was insightful, beautiful to see and fantastic to try. It really set the scene for the rest of my trip.
Our host was incredibly kind and knowledgable, and I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Japan. You learn the history and process of Chado, see it in action and try it yourself!
On my last day in Japan I put my Tea Ceremony skills to the test and impressed the host with my knowledge of bowing, thanking and appropriate cup etiquette. This experience really made my trip!
Our host was incredibly kind and knowledgable, and I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Japan. You learn the history and process of Chado, see it in action and try it yourself!
On my last day in Japan I put my Tea Ceremony skills to the test and impressed the host with my knowledge of bowing, thanking and appropriate cup etiquette. This experience really made my trip!
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George
29 contributions
What a fantastic experience. After a welcome and short film about the history of macha tea you go up to the tea room. The ladies get the perfect mix of explaining, demonstrating the ceremony and letting us have a try. It was so calm and peaceful and we learnt so much. A definite highlight of our holiday.
The tea room was small, and up some steep steps. You are sitting on the floor for the duration (they do offer a chair if you need it) and you are asked to wear masks due to the small space. All fine with us, but just so you can prepare in advance.
The tea room was small, and up some steep steps. You are sitting on the floor for the duration (they do offer a chair if you need it) and you are asked to wear masks due to the small space. All fine with us, but just so you can prepare in advance.
Written August 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabriel S
Stowe, VT7 contributions
We enjoyed the ceremony performed by Mika. She did an amazing job and describing the roots of the tea ceremony and learned a lot about Japanese history.
It was a calming Zen experience.
Enjoyed the neighborhood of Asakusa walking to her home.
Highly recommended.
It was a calming Zen experience.
Enjoyed the neighborhood of Asakusa walking to her home.
Highly recommended.
Written July 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael P
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Solo
It was a transformative experience. Mika San was so gracious, so mindful in her presentation of Chado. As a result, I understood the history, the significance and how I might be able to carry the lessons forward. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough if you are looking for some insight into part of Japanese culture.
Written November 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathan
1 contribution
Dec 2022
Mika was an extremely hospitable and knowledgeable host. The entire experience was intimate and a great way to spend 90 minutes away from the bustling life of busy Tokyo. A massive highlight was the preparation of Koicha in addition to Usucha - both of which were delicious. Would definitely recommend to those wishing to learn about Japanese tea ceremony.
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KitGen
Makati, Philippines8 contributions
My friend and I passed by this place, got curious and decided to book for the next day session. We were lucky to have the whole session to ourselves as it was a thursday afternoon. Personally, I was pleased with how the session was delivered in a way that it brings calmness to the usual busy itinerary of a tourist. It was truly an experience for me and my friend. We felt like we immersed into the Japanese culture. And as what our host, Miko said, the tea ceremony is beyond being just a way of tea. It may be on a pricey side, but the 90mins of being in a slow-paced environment makes it worth it.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manal Idrees
Kuwait City, Kuwait82 contributions
It was so good ceremony and the host was so kind and informative I like everything and highly recommend this one. She gave us a sakura tea in the beginning with a short video of Chado. And then we went to their authentic tea room and she taught us about the history and the rituals of making matcha and the green tea. Also she gave us a homemade mochi dessert which was so yummy! Thank you.
Written May 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne D
Los Angeles, CA122 contributions
Amazing, spellbinding experience! Our guide (I wish I knew her name - we got there a little late) started with a short video of the history of Chado (the way of tea) as we sipped cherry blossom tea. We then went upstairs, where we watched her go through the steps of the tea ceremony.
I’m a huge fan of The Karate Kid and I’m glad to know that Kumiko in the sequel got the steps right. The whole group was captivated as she went through each step. She explained the different teas, and answered our many questions.
Then we had an opportunity to go through some of the steps ourselves. We enjoyed three small sweet treats in between teas (3 sample teas total), and short of being in a kimono during the experience, the whole workshop was perfection. Thank you!
I’m a huge fan of The Karate Kid and I’m glad to know that Kumiko in the sequel got the steps right. The whole group was captivated as she went through each step. She explained the different teas, and answered our many questions.
Then we had an opportunity to go through some of the steps ourselves. We enjoyed three small sweet treats in between teas (3 sample teas total), and short of being in a kimono during the experience, the whole workshop was perfection. Thank you!
Written April 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xenia W
4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The whole process was beautiful. It was a cold day and we were able to warm up and listen to a bit of history before we went to the main room and the official part of ceremony workshop started. It was amazing to learn a bit of the history behind it while enjoying the relaxing and calm atmosphere. Our instructor had a very engaging way of storytelling, it was so fun to listen to. We learned a few things we were able to use in the tea house we visited on the next day, we were delighted about that! ありがとうございました。楽しかったです。
Written March 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, is it easy to find the location this takes place? I'm not familiar with the address system. Using google maps the location is shown as a white building just a bit north east of Senzoku Park. However the entrance to that building does not look the same as in the photos from the website (type of door and lack of business signs).
Written April 15, 2023
Solace Organic Spa
Salt Spring Island, Canada
When I went I took a taxi to a nearby street and was about 1 block from it. I asked at a cafe for help as Im not great with directions, especially in Japan lol. A kind Japanese speaking woman grabbed walked me directly to it.
It is a small venue and she has a sandwich board sign out front. Defiantly worth the time locating it as it was a highlight of my time in Japan! Enjoy!
Written April 16, 2023
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