A host in dark robes sits on tatami beside an iron kettle, with tea bowls and crafts laid out in the foreground.
The tatami room at aeru gojo, with a red tansu chest, low tables of tea bowls, and light from the street windows.
Two guests in white T-shirts sit on tatami, each whisking matcha in a glass bowl with a bamboo whisk.
A glass tea bowl on tatami, lit by a narrow shaft of light falling across the mat.
A host kneels on tatami beside an iron kettle, scooping matcha into a glass tea bowl.

Kyoto: Tea Ceremony Meditation
Make Your Own Matcha with a Tea Master

4.9/5 Klook · 339 reviews

4.8/5 GetYourGuide · 418 reviews

8,409guests welcomed to date

Experience an authentic yet welcoming tea ceremony in a 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse. Make your own matcha and discover the spirit of Japanese culture through dialogue with your English-speaking host.

aeru gojo — a 100-year-old machiya in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto. See it on Google Maps

Check availability ¥8,000 per person · free for children aged 0–2

Highlights

What to expect

Leave the bustle of sightseeing behind and give yourself a quiet moment to simply be present. Over a bowl of matcha, slow down, enjoy conversation, and let the calmness of tea ceremony unfold naturally.

We hope this becomes more than a memory of Kyoto, leaving you with a little more mindfulness and kindness to carry into everyday life.

A host in dark robes sits on tatami beside an iron kettle, with tea bowls and crafts laid out in the foreground.
Your host is trained in one of Japan's most respected schools of tea ceremony, known as Omotesenke, and will introduce you to the authentic and meditational way of preparing and enjoying matcha.
The tatami room at aeru gojo, with a red tansu chest, low tables of tea bowls, and light from the street windows.
Step inside a 100-year-old traditional townhouse, where the soft scent of tatami and the quiet stillness of the room invites you to slow down. As you settle into this serene Japanese space, you'll feel the sense of calmness begin to unfold.
Two guests in white T-shirts sit on tatami, each whisking matcha in a glass bowl with a bamboo whisk.
With gentle guidance, you will whisk your own bowl of matcha and experience the calm, mindful rhythm of the tea ceremony.
A glass tea bowl on tatami, lit by a narrow shaft of light falling across the mat.
Only in summer, our tea ceremony takes on a special seasonal form. To welcome you during Kyoto's warmest season, we prepare glass tea utensils whose clear, delicate beauty brings a quiet sense of coolness and lets you savor the season through your senses.
A host kneels on tatami beside an iron kettle, scooping matcha into a glass tea bowl.
No matter how simple a motion may seem, there is history and thoughtful intent behind it. Join us to encounter and embrace the Japanese spirit through tea ceremony culture.
A host raises a glass tea bowl with both hands to drink, in front of shelves of crafts at aeru gojo.
A host speaks with a gesture while four guests in summer clothing sit on tatami, listening.
Our English-speaking tea guides welcome every question as part of the experience. We believe that curiosity is one of the most beautiful ways to connect with culture.
A host speaks to a group of guests seated on tatami, some in kimono and some in everyday summer clothes.
A white-and-gold glass tea bowl on tatami, with a glass caddy of matcha and a bamboo whisk beside it.
Every utensil you use is handcrafted by skilled Japanese artisans. Feel the textures, shapes, and subtle details in your own hands, and experience the care and craftsmanship carried within them.
Two guests kneel side by side on cushions on the tatami, glass tea bowls in front of them.
Two guests in kimono kneel and raise glass tea bowls with both hands, beneath woven bamboo spheres hanging from the ceiling.
Four guests raise their tea bowls with both hands and drink together on the tatami.
Together with guests from around the world, you'll share a once-in-a-lifetime moment, exchanging perspectives over a bowl of tea.
A young guest whisks matcha in a bowl on the tatami while another guest watches beside her.
Children are warmly welcome to join our tea ceremony.
A guest holds a pale tea bowl in both hands, looking at it, in front of shelves of crafts at aeru gojo.
After the ceremony, you can explore select handcrafted pieces to take home. These carefully crafted items can be a vessel to carry the respect and calmness of the tea ceremony into your daily life.
Matcha packets, tea canisters and a box of seasonal sweets arranged on a red lacquer tray.
A small child in a red pinafore stirs a bowl with a wooden spoon at a low wooden counter.
aeru was founded 15 years ago, beginning with the creation of traditional Japanese crafts designed for children and growing with a mission to pass Japan's spiritual heritage on to future generations.
An artisan's clay-covered hands shaping a bowl on a turning potter's wheel.
We believe that both the objects created by skilled artisans and the moments shaped through tea ceremony have the power to bring mindfulness and kindness into everyday life.
The street frontage of aeru gojo: a wooden machiya with lattice windows, an aeru sign board and a chalkboard by the open entrance.
aeru gojo welcomes you inside a traditional Kyoto townhouse, where you can experience tea culture, Japanese artisanship, and warm hospitality.

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Guest reviews

4.9 on Klook from 339 reviews  ·  4.8 on GetYourGuide from 418 reviews

If you are looking for an authentic, intentional experience in Kyoto, do not miss this. Located in a central but wonderfully quiet 100-year-old house, it feels like a secret treasure. It was incredibly moving to see how much purpose was woven into every single movement.

Viator

The tea ceremony was enlightening. We learned all the steps and the meaning behind them as well as performed them ourselves. It was interactive and engaging. Our host was calm, kind and mindful and helped me to see into Japanese culture a bit more.

Klook

If I could leave more stars I certainly would… It was a calming, spiritual and beautiful experience, carried out with expertise, patience and perfect English!!

Klook

It was more than just a ceremony; it felt like a meditation on simplicity, harmony, and the art of being present.

Klook

The atmosphere was peaceful and intimate, and everything was presented with such care and attention to detail. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Japan who wants something authentic and memorable.

GetYourGuide

A wonderful activity to zen out from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto.

Klook

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What's included

Included

  • 45-minute tea ceremony experience
  • 1 cup of matcha tea
  • Traditional Japanese sweet
  • Use of authentic handcrafted tea utensils
  • English-speaking tea guide

Not included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Kimono and hair setting

Meeting point

If you are coming from Karasuma-dori Street, turn at the corner with the Family Mart convenience store. Then proceed straight for just one block. You will see the sign for aeru gojo next to Only Corporation and across from Zen Kyoto.

Open in Google Maps

Important information

Know before you go

Fragrance
To fully enjoy the aroma of matcha and ensure a pleasant experience for everyone, please refrain from wearing perfumes or colognes.
Arrival
Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your scheduled time. As our space is limited, we kindly ask for your understanding that the venue is not suitable for eating.
Kimono
Please note that kimono rental is not included in this experience.
Accessibility
Our venue is wheelchair accessible. If you will be using a wheelchair, we kindly ask that you arrive 5 minutes before your session so we can assist you comfortably.
Seating
Chairs are available for guests who prefer not to sit on the tatami floor.
Children
Children are warmly welcome. Free for children aged 0–2.
Parking
We do not have a parking lot. If you are arriving by bicycle, please use the public parking spaces. The closest one to our location is here.

Not allowed

Book your session

Price
¥8,000 per person · free for children aged 0–2
Duration
45 minutes
Group size
Up to 10 guests
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before. No refund after that. Changes are also possible up to 24 hours before.

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¥8,00045 min · English Check availability