Hello Travelers,

could anyone recommend a tea ceremony place in Japan or Tokyo? My daughter has taken classes already here in the US and we would like her to have the chance to try the 'real deal'. Of course, we want something that will not last the whole day.

I have found the following references but would like to get some testimonials:
http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/aff_org/iccf.html
http://www.chado.or.jp/bunkakyokai/recruit/eigo.html
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=27
http://www.tondaya.co.jp/english/ret...and_option.htm

We will be there in the June timeframe.

Thanks!

I meant 'tea ceremony place in Japan (Tokyo or Kyoto).'

I enjoyed the tea ceremony in Tokyo at the New Otani.

http://www.newotani.co.jp/en/group/

Thanks cjbryant,

just to clarify, did you take the one in Tokyo?

http://www.newotani.co.jp/en/tokyo/f...ian/index.html

It is listed from 11AM to 4PM. Did it really take 5h?

Regards.

I have a friend who went to the one at New Otani, and she was very pleased. However, I think this was geared for the total first-timer.

I heard mixed feedback about Urasenke centre in Kyoto--some thought that was very thorough but the same friend who went to New Otani didn't like the experience (the instructor's English was not as good, she found the chair setting too modern). I don't know about their Tokyo centre though.

I suggest your daughter needs to determine if she wants "a beginner's sampler" or something slightly more substantial (in terms of lesson contents, explanation). Another thing is to determine if she wants tatami-setting or chair-setting. The former is more authentic, though I personally think it's quasi-torture to having to sit on one's legs for the whole duration(too much risk of DVT?).

In any case, the whole experience shouldn't last more than 2 hours max.

PS the one at New Otani is set amidst a lovely garden.

Thanks W9London.

While my daughter is not a beginner (she has been taking classes for almost a year now), she is still 8 years old so I guess I better ask her sensei what she recommends.

Chair setting? That is a total turn off. The tatami should be ok as she can still handle it.

Regards.

Good point about asking her sensei... I understand like other traditional arts, tea ceremony comes in different schools. Methinks it's probably not a good idea to try "Capulet School of Tea" if her teacher belongs to "Montague School of Tea"... it may lead to storm in a teacup! ;-)