Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

About this tour

Step into a three-century-old samurai residence in Kyoto for a 50-minute tea ceremony and sake tasting. You'll have the entire historic house to yourself, learning to prepare organic matcha in a traditional tea room whilst sampling locally-brewed sake. The experience sits just eight minutes' walk from Kyoto station, so it slots neatly into any itinerary without requiring transport faffing.

Highlights

• Private access to 300-year-old samurai house
• Prepare organic Uji matcha in traditional tea room
• Sake tasting from local Kyoto breweries
• Try on silk kimono or handle genuine katana
• Purchase matcha bowls and kimono as keepsakes
• Eight-minute walk from Kyoto station

What to expect

You'll enter a working samurai residence that feels genuinely lived-in rather than staged. After removing your shoes, you'll move to the tea room where you'll learn the fundamentals of matcha preparation—how to whisk it, what the ritual signifies—before tasting it yourself. A guide walks you through the ceremony's etiquette without making it feel like homework. Afterwards, there's time to dress in a silk kimono or hold a katana for photographs. The sake tasting happens alongside the tea, letting you taste how local producers approach their craft. It's quiet and unhurried, a genuine break from Kyoto's tourist circuits.

Good to know

Wear slip-on shoes for easy removal. The experience suits most visitors, though those over 120kg may find kimono sizing restrictive. Photography is welcome throughout. Allow time to browse the shop for bowls and garments if you want to purchase.