Japanese Tea Ceremony Online! A Workshop by Voyagin

Japanese Tea Ceremony: Learn the Basics Online!

Photo by Pixta

If you've always wanted to know what Japanese tea ceremony is all about, now you can experience it online thanks to Voyagin, a booking platform for tours and Japanese cultural activities.

They recently released the Online Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience (1,500 yen), a 45-minute activity that lets you enjoy a tea ceremony from anywhere in the world!

The workshop is held by Rie Kuranaka, a Kyoto-based tea ceremony master of the Urasenke School. Rie-sensei is fluent in English and will explain the basics of this art while showing you utensils and the interior of the tea ceremony room.

Check Details and Book the Online Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience

A Fun and Inspiring Experience! Our Report on the Online Tea Ceremony

We took part in the online tea ceremony workshop held by Rie-sensei. It was amazing to find that, using only the computer camera, it felt as if we had stepped into Rie-sensei's tea ceremony house near Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto! Past the tranquil, elegant Japanese-style room, we were able to see the garden outside, full of the fresh green of early spring.

Picture courtesy of Voyagin
Keeping the current season in mind is very important in the tea ceremony. That is why we first received an explanation on the flowers and hanging scroll placed in the tokonoma alcove. "Every day is a wonderful day" is the message on the hanging scroll, implying that we live each day only once and we should do our best to make every day a memorable one.

Picture courtesy of Voyagin

Afterward, the tea ceremony began and Rie-sensei explained every step of the process, from how the host enters the room and greets the guests to how the tea is prepared and served. The sensei's composure while preparing the tea was impressive! We found ourselves enraptured following her elegant proceedings.

Picture courtesy of Voyagin

She also held a demonstration of how the guest drinks the tea. It's very important to show gratitude for being offered tea, as well as consideration toward the guests that will receive their tea after you.

Picture courtesy of Voyagin

The last 15 minutes of the session are kept for questions from the participants. Those who have Japanese tea bowls, tea whisks, and matcha green tea at home should keep them at hand because Rie-sensei will teach you how to prepare delicious matcha tea. Alternatively, you can practice how to drink matcha tea as a tea ceremony guest, as there is a set of gestures that need to be performed in a certain order.

Picture courtesy of Voyagin

The workshop was an extremely enjoyable and instructive experience that made us forget for 45 minutes where we were and had us transported in the tranquil environment of a Kyoto tea ceremony house.

We highly recommend this Online Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience as a preparation for the next time you visit Kyoto, and may attend a tea ceremony!

Take a look at the other online cultural activities offered by Voyagin, such as an immersive VR-guided tour of Kyoto or an online Kyoto walking tour guided by Samurai Joe, a living legend.

Check Details and Book the Online Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience

Main image courtesy of Voyagin

Written by Ramona
In cooperation with Voyagin