Kyoto tea ceremony, with or without a kimono
Matcha in a temple, a garden teahouse or a Gion townhouse, kneeling on tatami or seated on a chair. This page lines up the ceremonies you can book by the things the photos do not show: whether the kimono is included, where you sit, how much of the time is tea and which part of Kyoto you need to get to.
Tea ceremonies in Kyoto side by side
Most-reviewed first. Tap the reviews or price header to sort differently. "Not stated" means the listing does not say.
| Photo | Ceremony | Kimono | Seating | Tea time vs. total | Area | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
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Tea Ceremony in a Garden Teahouse near Kiyomizu-dera Sakaguchian | Unclear (listed, a review says not offered) | Tatami (seiza) | 45 min | Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama | ★ 4.8 (4,506) | $55 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Tea Ceremony Ju-An at Jotokuji Temple Tea Ceremony Ju-An | Not included | Floor, stools on request | 70 min | Gojo, Shimogyo | ★ 4.9 (3,812) | $28 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Kimono Tea Ceremony at Orizuruya Gion Orizuruya Gion (LINKTIVITY) | Included; hair styling for women | Not stated | Shorter than the total; dressing comes first | Gion | ★ 4.9 (1,982) | $49 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Table-Style Tea Ceremony at a Kyo-Machiya Éclat Japon | Option | Table and chairs | 1.5 h | Fushimi | ★ 4.9 (1,343) | $44 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya, Nishiki Maikoya Nishiki | Included; hair styling for women | Tatami | Shorter than the total; reviews call it photo-focused | Nishiki Market, central Kyoto | ★ 4.9 (1,123) | $52 per person | Book on Viator |
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Tea Museum Ticket and Matcha Grinding Experience in Uji Chazuna | Not included | Not stated | 1 h | Uji | ★ 4.9 (1,070) | $23 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Tea Ceremony in a 100-Year-Old Kyo-Machiya Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata | Option, until 17:30 | Floor or small chairs | 50 min (tea only) to 3 h with kimono | Oike (kimono from Gojo) | ★ 4.8 (941) | $31 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Kimono Tea Ceremony with Matcha and Sweets GLOBA Inc. | Included; hair styling for women | Tatami, chairs on request | Not stated | Karasuma Shijo, central Kyoto | ★ 4.9 (724) | $53 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Traditional Tea Ceremony with Matcha and Sweets in Gion Japan Wonder Travel | Option, until 17:30 | Chairs | 1 h ceremony; up to 2.5 h with kimono | Gion | ★ 4.8 (713) | $25 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Tea Ceremony at Sanjo Chasuian Sanjo Chasuian | Uchikake on the day, extra cost | Chairs on request | 1 h | Karasuma Oike | ★ 4.9 (406) | $46 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony at Camellia Flower Teahouse Camellia Flower Teahouse | At extra cost | Tatami, chairs and tables on request | 45 min | Ninenzaka, Higashiyama | ★ 4.8 (305) | $36 per person | Book on Viator |
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Kimono Tea Ceremony at Orizuruya Nishiki Orizuruya Nishiki (LINKTIVITY) | Included; hair styling for women | Not stated; a review mentions chairs | Shorter than the total; dressing comes first | Nishiki Market, central Kyoto | ★ 4.8 (284) | $49 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Ninenzaka Tea Ceremony in an Old Townhouse with Chairs Roxcy Inc. | At extra cost | Table and chairs | 45 min | Ninenzaka, Higashiyama | ★ 4.8 (258) | $35 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Tea Ceremony and Full-Day Kimono near Kiyomizu-dera Kaouka Trading | Included for the whole day | Not stated | 2 h programme; arrival time = booking time | Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama | ★ 4.9 (243) | $62 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Private Tea Ceremony, Calligraphy and Kimono Matcha experience Kyoto | Option (kimono plan) | Not stated | 45 min to 1.5 h by plan | Near Kyoto Station | ★ 5.0 (238) | $66 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
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Gion Tea Ceremony in a Traditional House Midai Co. | Not stated | Tatami | 45 min | Gion | ★ 4.9 (217) | $28 per person | Book on GetYourGuide |
The prices shown here are refreshed from GetYourGuide and Viator and may still change at checkout, for example when you add a kimono or a private slot.
What the listings leave out
The photos on a tea ceremony listing look much alike: a bowl of whisked matcha, a sweet, a tatami room. Four details separate a visit you enjoy from one you sit through.
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The kimono costs time as well as money
On kimono packages a large part of the 1.5 to 2 hours goes on choosing a pattern, getting dressed and having your hair done. Kaouka counts your booking time as the moment you walk into the shop, and with the kimono option at Yumeyakata the ceremony begins two hours after the booked time. Plan the rest of the day around the full package, not around the tea.
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Tatami means kneeling
A formal ceremony is held in seiza, kneeling with your weight on your heels, for 30 to 45 minutes. Japan Wonder Travel, Roxcy and Éclat Japon seat every guest on a chair or at a table. Sanjo Chasuian, Camellia Flower, Yumeyakata and GLOBA have chairs for those who ask, and Ju-An keeps seats and stools ready. The full list, with age limits and stairs, is on the page about chairs, children and access.
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Some sessions are more photo shoot than ceremony
Reviewers of Maikoya describe matcha instruction followed by photos in kimono, with groups of 8 to 14 and hurried sessions in spring. That suits some visitors well. If you want the slow, explained ritual, a smaller house such as Ju-An (70 minutes, up to 10 guests) or Midai (up to 6) is closer to it.
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The address decides how the day flows
Tea houses are spread from Kinkaku-ji in the north to Uji in the south. Several sit in side streets that map apps place imprecisely, and some refuse latecomers without a refund. Pick one on the route you already planned and leave a quarter of an hour to find the door.
With kimono or in your own clothes
Both are the same tea. They differ in how long you stay and what you take home.
Guests on the tea, the hosts and the pace
Quotes from four tea houses, the good and the less good. The three-star and two-star voices both describe the same thing: a short slot with the next group waiting, at Ju-An and at Sakaguchian on Sannenzaka. If a calm pace matters most, a house with very small groups such as Midai, or a private room, is the closer match.
“The garden behind the tea room windows is beautiful, and provides beautiful atmosphere during the ceremony. Our guide Mei was very knowledgeable, and provided us nice short insight into the history of the tea ceremonies in Kyoto. Also, there are additional seating options for those who have mobility issues, that was also a nice touch.”
“I love how this tea ceremony is hosted inside a historic temple because I found many others are in a modern building. The hosts were knowledgeable and explained in an interesting and easy to understand way. We love the experience where we got to watch how it's done and we also have a chance to do it ourselves as well.”
“Wonderful traditional Japanese dresses to choose from. … The tea ceremony was wonderful with our lovely host. And we where free to walk the streets in our traditional dresses for hours even after the ceremony.”
“Wow, what an experience! Once you arrive you are taken to have your hair done, you are able to chose from 3 hair designs. … I loved my hair and was able to enjoy it all day after the experience. You then chose your kimono and the ladies help you get dress.”
“It felt rushed, the groups follow one after another, the hostesses are charming and approachable. … I expected a more prestigious ceremony and more information about matcha.”
“It was a nice short activity. But in the most painfully touristy part of town and only for an hour. People barely had time to ask questions before we were ushered out.”
Written by guests after their tea ceremony, from GetYourGuide.
Tea houses by area
Matched to the parts of Kyoto most visitors cover in a day.
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Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama
Sakaguchian on Sannenzaka (tatami, garden teahouse), Kaouka on the temple slope (full-day kimono), Roxcy on Ninenzaka (table and chairs) and Camellia Flower in an alley just off it.
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Gion
Orizuruya Gion on Minamigawa with kimono, Japan Wonder Travel on chairs and with wheelchair access, and Midai two minutes from Yasaka Shrine with up to 6 guests.
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Nishiki Market, Karasuma and Oike
Maikoya and the second Orizuruya near Nishiki, GLOBA near the Karasuma Shijo crossing, Sanjo Chasuian at Karasuma Oike and the Yumeyakata townhouse at Oike. Central and easy to reach by subway.
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Gojo and Kyoto Station
Ju-An inside Jotokuji temple near Gojo, and the private machiya of Matcha experience Kyoto about nine minutes on foot from the station. Handy on an arrival or departure day.
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Fushimi and Uji
Éclat Japon serves at a table in Momoyama, a short ride from Fushimi Inari. Further south in Uji, Chazuna lets you grind matcha on a stone mill; it is a matcha workshop, not a formal ceremony.
- Japan Wonder Travel, Midai, Roxcy and Camellia Garden do not allow video, and a Sakaguchian reviewer reports the same rule. Ask before filming anywhere.
- You take your shoes off at the entrance. Roxcy does not let guests in barefoot, and Sanjo Chasuian and Roxcy sell socks at the door. What happens at a tea ceremony covers the rest of the etiquette.
- Stairs: three steps lead up to the Ju-An tea room, Midai is upstairs and Roxcy has a steep staircase. Japan Wonder Travel in Gion, Camellia Garden and Chazuna in Uji are wheelchair accessible.
- Pregnant guests cannot take part at Kaouka, and Éclat Japon does not dress them in a kimono.
Building a Kyoto day around the tea
A ceremony fills an hour or two, so it pairs well with a second activity in the same part of town. For a contrasting half day in the same city, our sister guide sorts out the samurai and kendo experiences in Kyoto. With a whole free day, the Hiroshima and Miyajima day trips from Kyoto go by bullet train.
One table for kimono, seating and tea time
Tea houses in Kyoto describe themselves with the same words, and the answers that matter sit deep in the fine print or in reviews. We read the listings and put kimono, seating, session length, age limits and location in one place. Where a listing contradicts itself or stays silent, the table says "Not stated". A booking through our links earns us a commission from the platform; your price is the same.
FAQ about tea ceremonies in Kyoto
Do I have to wear a kimono for a tea ceremony in Kyoto?
No. Most tea houses run their ceremony in everyday clothes, and the kimono is either a separate package or an add-on. Orizuruya, Kaouka, GLOBA and Maikoya include the kimono in the booking. At Yumeyakata, Japan Wonder Travel, Matcha experience Kyoto and Éclat Japon you choose a kimono option, and Camellia and Roxcy charge extra for one. Ju-An at Jotokuji mentions a kimono only as a separate rental.
Do I have to kneel on the floor?
Only at the tatami venues. A classic ceremony is held in seiza, kneeling on tatami for 30 to 45 minutes, which is hard on knees and ankles. If that is a problem, book a chair venue: Japan Wonder Travel in Gion, Roxcy on Ninenzaka and Éclat Japon in Fushimi seat everyone at a table or on chairs. Sanjo Chasuian, Yumeyakata and Camellia Flower have chairs for guests who ask, GLOBA brings bamboo chairs on request, and Ju-An keeps seats and stools for those who cannot sit on the floor.
How long does a tea ceremony in Kyoto take?
Without a kimono, 45 to 70 minutes: Sakaguchian, Roxcy, Midai and Camellia Flower run about 45 minutes, Ju-An 70 minutes. Kimono packages are listed at 1.5 to 2 hours, but dressing and hair take a large part of that time, so the tea itself is shorter. At Yumeyakata the ceremony starts about two hours after your booking time when you add the kimono.
Can children join a tea ceremony?
Yes, from a certain age, and the limits differ. Ju-An and Japan Wonder Travel take children from 5, Midai, Roxcy, Camellia Flower and Sanjo Chasuian from 6, Maikoya, Kaouka and GLOBA from 7, and Yumeyakata from 10. Sakaguchian admits no children aged 7 and under. Check the rule before you book; at Maikoya, turned-away children are a frequent cause of complaints.
Where in Kyoto should I book my tea ceremony?
Near where you spend that day. Sakaguchian, Kaouka, Roxcy and Camellia Flower sit on the walk to Kiyomizu-dera, Orizuruya and Japan Wonder Travel in Gion, GLOBA, Maikoya and the second Orizuruya near Nishiki Market and Karasuma. Ju-An is near Gojo, Éclat Japon in Fushimi close to Fushimi Inari, and Chazuna in Uji. Several of these houses are hard to find, so allow at least 15 minutes to locate the entrance.
What happens if I arrive late?
At some venues you lose the slot. Sanjo Chasuian and Japan Wonder Travel do not admit latecomers and do not refund, Chazuna refuses entry from 30 minutes late, and Sakaguchian can cancel your booking from 10 minutes late.
Camellia or Maikoya: which one should I book?
They are different products. Camellia Flower on Ninenzaka is a short group ceremony without kimono (a kimono costs extra); guests sit on tatami unless they ask for a chair, and reviewers mention a small, plain room. Maikoya Nishiki includes the kimono and larger groups; some reviewers describe it as matcha instruction with a photo session rather than a full ceremony. If the ceremony itself matters most, compare both with Ju-An or Sakaguchian.
How much does a tea ceremony in Kyoto cost?
The current price of every ceremony is in the comparison table on this page. Plain group ceremonies are the cheapest way in; a kimono, a private room or a full-day kimono package each raise the price per person noticeably.
Pick by kimono, seating and area
The table above shows each ceremony with the details that decide the booking.
Back to the comparison