Table-Style Tea Ceremony in a 100-Year-Old Machiya House Kyoto
- Duration1.5 hours
- Daily
- Group
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Overview
This table-style tea ceremony in Kyoto lets you enjoy the ritual of matcha without kneeling on the floor. It takes place in a restored machiya townhouse more than a century old in Fushimi, south Kyoto, where you sit at a table in the ryurei style while an English-speaking instructor explains the etiquette and history of tea. In the default option you first dress in a traditional kimono, then whisk your own bowl of premium Uji matcha, taste seasonal Japanese sweets, receive a calligraphy souvenir with your name in Japanese and take photos with umbrellas, fans and a prop katana. It is a small-group session of up to eight guests lasting about one and a half hours; options without kimono and a private session are also available. No pickup is included.
Highlights
- Comfortable tea ceremony seated at tables and chairs
- Restored machiya townhouse more than 100 years old
- Traditional kimono rental and dressing in the default option
- Whisk your own premium matcha from an award-winning Uji tea farm
- Seasonal Japanese sweets with your tea
- Personalised calligraphy souvenir with your name in Japanese
- Photos with traditional umbrellas, fans and a prop katana
- Quiet Fushimi neighbourhood, close to Fushimi Inari and Uji
Full Description
The 100-year-old machiya in Fushimi
Machiya are the wooden townhouses of old Kyoto, built narrow at the front and deep at the back, a shape locals call the eel's bed because property was once taxed by street frontage. This restored machiya, more than a hundred years old, keeps its latticed facade, earthen walls, wooden beams and a small inner garden, and you recognise it by the blue curtain hanging over the entrance.
Staff dressed in kimono welcome you inside, and the calm rooms set the mood before the ceremony begins. Experiencing tea in a real machiya, rather than a modern studio, is what makes this machiya tea ceremony feel authentic: you see how Kyoto merchant families lived, worked and received guests. The garden is also where you take photos with traditional props after the ceremony.
The ryurei table-style ceremony and matcha lesson
The ryurei style, with host and guests seated at tables, was created in Kyoto in 1872 for the city's first exhibition, so that foreign visitors could take part comfortably. It keeps the essence of the tea ceremony, its calm gestures, respect and seasonal awareness, while removing the strain of kneeling, which makes this tea ceremony with chairs in Kyoto ideal for travellers of all ages.
Your instructor first explains the meaning of the utensils and the movements, then prepares a bowl in front of you. Next comes the hands-on lesson: with a bamboo whisk you whisk your own creamy, frothy matcha step by step. The default option begins with kimono dressing, so please arrive thirty minutes early for the fitting; the session itself lasts about one and a half hours.
Uji matcha, sweets, calligraphy and photos
The tea served comes from an award-winning farm in Uji, the town south of Kyoto that has grown Japan's finest green tea since the 13th century. Uji tea leaves are shaded before harvest, which gives matcha its deep green colour and smooth, sweet flavour. It is paired with seasonal Japanese sweets, whose colours and shapes change with the time of year.
The session also includes a short introduction to calligraphy: you receive a personalised souvenir with your name or a favourite word written in Japanese characters to take away. Before you leave, there is time for photos and videos in kimono with Japanese umbrellas, folding fans and a prop katana in the machiya garden, a favourite moment for families and couples.
Fushimi: the quiet south of Kyoto
Fushimi, in south Kyoto, grew as a castle town and a river port linking Kyoto with Osaka, and its canals, willow-lined banks and old shopping streets still feel local rather than touristy. The machiya is two minutes on foot from the covered Otesuji Shopping Arcade, where you can browse traditional shops and casual eateries before or after the ceremony.
Wondering how to get to Fushimi? Take the Kintetsu line from Kyoto Station to Momoyama-Goryo-mae, about twenty minutes, or the Keihan line from Gion-Shijo to Fushimi-Momoyama, about thirty minutes; JR Momoyama Station is also nearby. Because Fushimi Inari Taisha and Uji are each a short train ride away, the 11:00 session fits neatly into a day exploring southern Kyoto.
Itinerary
- Arrival at the machiyaArrive 30 minutes before your session at the townhouse with the blue entrance curtain for kimono fitting.
- Kimono dressingStaff help you choose and put on a traditional kimono, about 25 minutes before the start.
- Introduction to the tea ceremonyThe instructor explains the history, utensils and etiquette of tea in English, about 20 minutes.
- Tea demonstration and matcha lessonWatch a bowl being prepared, then whisk your own matcha and enjoy it with seasonal sweets, about 40 minutes.
- Calligraphy souvenirReceive your name written in Japanese characters as a keepsake, about 10 minutes.
- Photos in the gardenTake photos with umbrellas, fans and a prop katana before changing back, about 20 minutes.
What's included
- Table-and-chair style tea ceremony
- Hands-on lesson whisking your own matcha
- Premium matcha from an award-winning Uji tea farm
- Seasonal Japanese sweets
- Personalised calligraphy souvenir with your name in Japanese
- Photos with traditional props: umbrellas, fans and a katana
- English-speaking instructor
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Transport to the venue in Fushimi
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 3–11
- Groups who want privacy — a private option is available
- Food lovers
- A short visit — about 1.5 hours
Not suitable for
- Pregnant guests (kimono option)
- Guests arriving more than 30 minutes late
Meeting point
Meet at the restored machiya townhouse with a blue entrance curtain at 711 Setomonocho, Takenakacho-dori, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, two minutes on foot from the Otesuji Shopping Arcade and close to Momoyama-Goryo-mae and Fushimi-Momoyama stations. Staff in kimono greet you inside. With the kimono option, arrive 30 minutes before the start for fitting. There is no hotel pickup.
Important information
- Arrive 30 minutes early for kimono fitting in the default option
- Bring socks, as shoes are removed inside the machiya
- Guests more than 30 minutes late cannot join and are not refunded
- The kimono option is not available for pregnant guests; choose the option without kimono
- The venue is in Fushimi, about 20 to 30 minutes by train from central Kyoto
- Transport to the venue and personal expenses are not included
- Options: with kimono, without kimono, or a private session for your group
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
The default option is a small-group session of up to eight guests. A private session for your group only is also available in the booking panel.
How long does the tea ceremony take?
About one and a half hours, plus about 30 minutes for kimono fitting before the start.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The machiya is in Fushimi, south Kyoto, close to Momoyama-Goryo-mae and Fushimi-Momoyama stations.
What is included?
Kimono rental and dressing, the table-style tea ceremony, a hands-on matcha lesson with premium Uji matcha, seasonal sweets, a personalised calligraphy souvenir, photos with traditional props and an English-speaking instructor.
Is the price per person or per group?
The small-group options are priced per person, while the private session is priced for the whole group. The booking panel on this page shows the current price of each option.
Do I need to sit on the floor?
No. This is a ryurei table-style ceremony, so everyone sits on chairs, which makes it comfortable for all ages.
Is it suitable for children or reduced mobility?
Yes, children enjoy the sweets, the kimono and the photo props, and chair seating helps guests who cannot kneel. Contact us before booking if you need step-free access.
What should I bring?
Socks, a camera or phone for photos, and comfortable clothes that are easy to wear under a kimono.
What is the best time to visit?
The 11:00 session pairs well with a morning at Fushimi Inari or an afternoon in Uji. Spring and autumn bring the prettiest seasonal sweets and garden colours.
How do I get to Fushimi from central Kyoto?
Take the Kintetsu line from Kyoto Station to Momoyama-Goryo-mae, or the Keihan line from Gion-Shijo to Fushimi-Momoyama, then walk through the Otesuji Shopping Arcade.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your option, date and time in the booking panel. Our team confirms your booking on WhatsApp within minutes.
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