Overview
Camellia Garden's striking surroundings make ours one of the most beautiful locations to experience tea ceremony in Kyoto. The traditional Japanese house, which sits amongst stunning gardens, is now 100 years old. Once a private property, providing tea ceremonies is a way to preserve this important house and give visitors a taste of authentic Kyoto. Located close to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ryoan-ji, Ninna-ji and Kinkaku-ji, we offer an accessible experience and an oasis of calm.
What you will be doing
At the start of your session, your instructor will welcome you with a brief introduction to the history and culture surrounding tea in our sofa room, overlooking the front garden. Here you'll enjoy seasonal sweets from one of Kyoto's most renowned confectioners
Next your host will move you to the tearoom itself where you'll watch an authentic tea ceremony with the back garden as background. After being served tea you'll have the opportunity to make your own bowl of delicious matcha.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: 13 Ryōanji Goryōnoshitachō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8001, Japan
🗺️ Instructions: Meet at Camellia Tea Ceremony Garden Teahouse
Things to know
Accessibility:
Pregnancy friendly
Wheelchair accessible
Pram accessible
Infant friendly
Children friendly
Service animal/dog friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
We have chairs and tables available for guests that find it difficult to sit on the floor
All sweets are gluten and nut free, and vegan
Feel free to take photos throughout the experience, but please turn the flash off
Our tearooms are located upstairs...for those with walking difficulties or those in a wheelchair please get in touch (our Garden Teahouse is wheelchair accessible)
Infants and babies are more than welcome. Please let us know if you have any special requirements
Kimono rental is available for an additional fee, but it is not necessary to dress in kimono. Please come as you are
Depending on space, we ask that guides remain in the waiting room (where we have WiFi and refreshments) There is a toilet available to guests.
Inclusion ✅
Refreshments
Instructor
Exclusion ❌
Gratuities
About your host
Camellia Tea CeremonyFor over 10 years, our director Atsuko Mori have dedicated herself to spreading the joy of tea ceremony to foreign visitors to Kyoto. We are established in the spring of 2014 in Ninenzaka. Two years later we moved to a larger machiya, and at this time were also invited to become caretaker of another property close to Ryoan-ji in order to preserve the old house and promote Kyoto’s culture to a wider audience. Like many small businesses during the pandemic, the last couple of years have been exceptionally challenging, but your support has given us the encouragement we needed to get through it safely and in good spirits. The kettle’s always on at Camellia, so come and join us for tea.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.