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Sensitive arrangements are made for each season
One of the enchantments of tea is definitely the seasonal arrangement for each special occasion, ‘cha-seki’. For instance, you can enjoy ‘chawan’, tea bowls with pretty patterns depicting leaves, flowers, natural landscapes, and so on. There are also sweets designed to represent seasonal flowers, fruits, or to taste of seasonal gardens. You may also find it amusing that containers for tea and tea scoops have poetic names which surely evoke various vivid images. A small tea room links to the outer world, the whole of nature, even to the great cosmos. Enjoy the inner sense of calm, it is a great comfort for...
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The modern Hagi ware vase made by MORISHIGE Tetsuchiyo in 2011. Its design is based on a lotus flower. Its very beautiful and impressive shape is suitable for the modern tea ceremony. URL: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~hagiyaki/ Size: H40cm x W40cm (15.7″ x 15.7″) *Advance reservations are required if you want to see this.
Read MoreWhat is the difference between the Japanese tea ceremony and the Chinese tea ceremony?
The Chinese tea ceremony uses ordinary leaf tea but the Japanese tea ceremony uses finely-milled tea, called “Matcha”. A tea pot is not used in the Japanese tea ceremony. To prepare a cup of matcha, a small amount of matcha is placed into the bowl, traditionally using a bamboo scoop called a chashaku, then a modicum of hot water is added. Then it is whisked with a bamboo whisk known as a chasen. There must be no lumps left in the liquid and no ground tea should remain on the sides of the bowl. Because matcha can be bitter, it is traditionally served with a small wagashi and without added milk or sugar. Chinese tea culture and the Japanese tea ceremony also...
Read Moreharmony, respect, purity and tranquility
“和敬清寂” (Wa kei sei jaku; “harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity”) is the principle of the Japanese tea ceremony. It contains all the spirits of the tea ceremony. “和” (harmony) means getting on together. “敬” (respect) means respect each other. “清” (purity) means a pure tea house and hearts. “寂” (tranquility) means always keeping calm. A tea ceremony aims to make the host and guests in tune with each other and make the ceremony fulfilling. It is called “一座建立(Ichi za konryu)”. Wa kei sei jaku is essential for a successful tea ceremony. Not only the host but also...
Read MoreThe old imperial villa.
Kyoto is the origin of the Japanese tea ceremony though there are few places to experience an authentic tea ceremony. We provide a traditional and authentic tea ceremony in an old imperial villa. The villa, now called “Yoshida sanso“, was the villa of Prince Higashi Fushimino-miya. It was built in 1932 as a luxurious Japanese style villa with a traditional Japanese garden. It is a beautifully green garden, filled with seasonal plants, and provides a calm and tranquil area to escape from the busier center of Kyoto. It is the best place to hold an authentic tea ceremony....
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