I had no idea what was going on when I saw it the first time many years ago. The Japanese tea ceremony was ritualistic and formal in its ways of preparing the bitter and foamy green tea. The atmosphere in the room was quiet and respectful. Fortunately, I had enough sense not to ask for sugar.
So, how did the tea ceremony get started?
If you’ve interacted with Japanese culture, or at least eaten Japanese food, you know that tea is an integral part. Tea was originally brought to Japan from China around the 8th century and primarily enjoyed by priests and the upper class. Around the 14th century, tea became more popular among the masses.
As popularity grew, a man named Sen no Rikyu became known as a teacher of the Japanese “Way of Tea.” He emphasized a rustic and “Zen-like” simplicity and connected it to one’s inner spirituality. Rikyu is credited for the teachings found in modern schools of the tea ceremony.
Where do tea ceremonies take place?
Small traditional straw-mat tea rooms are the typical places where formal tea ceremonies take place. These tea rooms are usually next to a Japanese garden to encourage tranquility in one’s spirit.
Tea ceremonies can happen less formally these days and be more like a hobby. Some Japanese children learn how to do a tea ceremony in much the same way that children might go for piano lessons.
With this evolution in tradition, tea ceremonies are not only found at traditional tea rooms, but can also be joined at cultural centers and hotels. This enables foreign tourists more opportunities to take part in this Japanese ritual. This video shares my experience with a Japanese tea ceremony at a local hotel in Shirahama, Japan.
In the traditional formal tea ceremony, exact hand movements and procedures are expected to be observed. As a tourist, however, you are not expected to know how to do everything perfectly. It is a good idea, though, to know some basics.
What should I know?
At a formal tea room:
- Dress modestly and avoid strong perfumes. The appropriate dress in a tea room is a kimono, but western clothing is also acceptable.
- The host will tell you where to sit.
- When you sit, this means sitting on your knees.
- A small Japanese sweet will be given to you before you receive the tea. Eat what is given to you.
- If the tea bowl is passed around for each person to drink from, turn the bowl slightly when you drink to avoid drinking at the same place as the previous person (for hygiene purposes).
- If the tea is prepared just for you, hold the bowl with two hands, drink a taste, turn the bowl a little, take another taste, turn the bowl again, then take your final taste. Set the tea bowl down in front of you on the straw mat floor with the pretty side of the bowl facing the host.
- Bowing shows appreciation and respect.
Even at less-formal tea ceremonies, it is customary to hold the tea bowl with two hands and turn it as you drink. It is usually okay to sit less formally, but I recommend you follow the guidance of the host. Bowing communicates your appreciation.
Japanese culture values beauty and aesthetic quality and the tea ceremony is no exception. Be sure to admire the beauty of the tea bowl toward the end of the ceremony. When you notice the aesthetically appealing qualities of what is around you and express your appreciation for the hospitality of the host, you have fulfilled the purpose of the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
You will know the ceremony is over when the host washes the utensils and puts them back in their original setting.
Where can I join a tea ceremony?
It is easy to find tea ceremonies to join in popular tourist locations like Kyoto and Tokyo. These can tend to cost a fee to join, some of them upwards of $100, and may sell out depending on season and location.
However, I do recommend the experience. If you venture off the beaten path to smaller towns and check for what’s available, you’ll likely find an opportunity with more availability and a better price. It will give you insights into Japanese cultural thinking, as well as a nice “zen” experience.
Oh, and just to say that if you don’t feel comfortable sitting on your knees for an extended period of time, look for a place with a little less formality. You might be glad you did! I sure was!