Traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Nara

You take part in a traditional tea ceremony in Nara. The host prepares the tea with slow movements, and you follow the order of the room and the calm of the conversation. The slightly bitter taste of matcha and the sweet served alongside are part of the ritual. It is a quiet tea hour rather than a quick tourist stop.

This experience appears in 4 tour programmes on the site. Nothing about it is demanding. You often sit on tatami, kneeling or cross-legged; anyone who finds long sitting hard can mention it beforehand. Shoes come off at the entrance, so wear clean socks.