Focus on

茶の湯

tea ceremony

The way of tea

The Japanese tea ceremony is a highly choreographed ritual, perfected over centuries to clear the mind by focusing on the moment. The exact way to whisk powdered green tea and hot water into a frothy matcha, the placement of tea utensils, even the vocabulary—all are strictly prescribed. Rooted in the tenets of Zen and the spiritual discipline of the samurai, the tea ceremony is based on principles laid out in the 16th century by Japan’s most famous tea master, Sen No Rikyu. Crafts relating to its accoutrements—ikebana, calligraphy, ceramics, and landscape gardening—have all been profoundly shaped by this philosophy.

A ceremony that includes a cha kaiseki meal can last up to four hours, but you can take part in shorter versions lasting from 20 to 90 minutes. For a beautiful garden setting head to Gyokusen’en in Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture), or, for full immersion in all things tea, make your way to Matsue (Shimane Prefecture) for the annual October Grand Tea Ceremony. Kyoto is home to the headquarters of the tea ceremony training school Urasenke, which provides in-depth courses.