Kyoto Tea Ceremony: Explore Gion and Wabi-Sabi Art

Explore Kyoto’s Gion, savor matcha, and experience a traditional tea ceremony. Discover wabi-sabi through art, pottery, and serene Zen gardens.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Gion - Begin your journey by exploring the history and art of Japanese tea-making.
    Wander through the historic district of Gion and visit a renowned matcha shop.
  • Kennin-ji Temple - Discover the ancient Kennin-ji Temple, a historical marvel that has stood for centuries.
  • 24 Tsukimichō - Explore the tools and vessels used by tea masters…
What's Included
  • Entrance fee of 2 temples included
  • Photos during a tour
  • An English-speaking guide
  • Tea Ceremony Experience
What's Not Included
  • Additional Food and Drinks
Additional Information

In Japan, the tea ceremony transcends the act of drinking tea—it’s about embracing the essence of beauty. While beauty is often linked to external appearances, the tea ceremony encourages appreciation for the inner beauty of nature, introducing the concept of “Wabi-sabi.”
Wabi-sabi is a traditional Japanese aesthetic that celebrates beauty in…

Location
Gion-Shijō Station
Right outside of Exit 5, in front of Izumo no Okuni Statue
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
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Alexandrasd7366ps
Jan 6, 2025
An amazing tour through Gion - This was the highlight of my Kyoto stay. We walked through an area I thought I had seen, but Shiori showed me new things and taught me so much. The tour went by too quickly. I will definitely be doing this again when I get the chance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U2929btjamesl
Dec 22, 2024
A beautiful afternoon! - We had wonderful guides! Shiori and Yuna spoke with great sensitivity and insight and gave us a beautiful sense of wabi sabi aesthetics and zen principles. It was a truly lovely afternoon with such delightful people. The time flew by; at the end of the afternoon we were enriched with our experiences and the appreciation of those experiences, including a very special tea ceremony. Thank you so much, Shiori and Yuna!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomaswuensche
Nov 29, 2024
Great experience in Kyoto - Wonderful experience with Akiko. We learned so much about tea ceremony in general before we enjoyed the traditional tea house
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Lovz28
Nov 14, 2024
Unique experience in otherwise busy Kyoto - It was just two of us and Louis was fantastic. We were not just interested in the sights but also so many cultural aspects of Japan and historical significance of Kyoto and all that we saw. We stayed away from crowds and I would wholeheartedly recommend Magical Tours and Louis if you are looking for a unique experience. The tea ceremony was with a bigger group but was still awesome,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Climber46314662352
Oct 14, 2024
Fun experience! - Louis was a great tour guide and kept a good walking pace for us all. He interacted with everyone in our group and always answered our questions. Just know you will be walking a lot! So bring some comfy shoes! The tea ceremony at the end was nice too and I felt like the overall tour is a great way to learn about the history and culture of Japan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A887cfcolins
Oct 9, 2024
Walking tour with Louis. - A great walking tour. Louis our guide was very informative, easy to understand and gave a great explanation of Japanese history and culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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