Reset your heart and mind. Sharpen your spiritual sensitivity.
If you are interested in Japanese tea ceremony but would like to avoid touristy experience, please come to Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe & Osaka.
Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe
Why Kobe?
Kobe is a cosmopolitan port city, with refined urban culture, beautiful nature, interesting history, good food and good people. Easy access from Kyoto and Osaka. Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe is conveniently but quietly located in a peaceful residential area close to refreshing, purifying Nunobiki Waterfall, just at the back of Shin-Kobe Station (convenient for Shinkansen Bullet Train and subway).
It is perfect to have a mindful, serene private tea ceremony and then head to a pleasant walk to the waterfall through a quiet Zen temple and a Shinto Shrine with the tea master, who is also a national-licensed guide.
Have a heart-to-heart, non-touristy private tea ceremony.
The tea master will prepare the tea ceremony just for you, not having anyone before or after you -- it's only one group per day.
At Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe, after the tea ceremony, she will give you a tour of Kobe walking through a tranquil beautiful path through a Zen temple and a Shinto shrine, explaining their philosophy, then reaching the purifying Nunobiki Waterfall. The total 3 hours in the afternoon will be a beautiful, serene, refreshing time for you to sharpen your spiritual sensitivity.
Mindfulness Tea Ceremony is best suited to...
- those who would like to experience a private, non-touristy, heart-to-heart tea ceremony - those who are well-traveled and looking for an in-depth experience - those who would like to have a peaceful moment to reflect on themselves
Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Osaka
Why Osaka?
Osaka City is known for lively, crowded, exciting city life but where Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Osaka is located is the northern distrcit of Osaka Prefecture -- Toyono Town 60min away by train from Osaka Umeda Station -- in the peaceful residential area with very clean air and beautiful mountains.
This is near Mt. Myoken, one of the sacred mountains in Japan which is a small, 660-meter mountain straddling the border between Hyogo Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, and Kyoto Prefecture. This is a sacred place of worship of the North Star, which enshrines the star “Polaris” that governs our destiny. Many people visit there wishing for good fortune.
On your way to Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Osaka located near Nose Railway Tokiwadai Station, you could also stop at Ikeda Station to enjoy visiting Nissin Cup Noodles Museum, which is simply lovely and fun.
Detailed Instruction and Repeated Practice to Make You Ready to Host a Tea Ceremony Yourself!
At Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Osaka as well, the tea master will conduct the tea ceremony just for you, not having anyone before or after you -- it's only one group per day.
After the tea ceremony conducted by the tea master, then it's your time to practice whisking matcha with detailed instructions and tips to make tasty matcha.
Normally at tea ceremony experiences for tourists, even if you have a chance to whisk matcha yourself, you don't really get too much of detailed insturction because of the time constraint (oftein it's only 30-45min).
At Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Osaka, however, we have as long as 3 hours just for you, to make you ready to host your own tea ceremony for your family and friends at your home. This is the rare place where you can learn tea ceremony in depth as a visitor.
Testimonials for
Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe & Osaka
Testimonials for Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Kobe & Osaka
"We had a unique moment in time with Kana. She took us to a beautifully decorated room where she performed an incredibly graceful tea ceremony. We felt part of a peaceful historic tradition and enjoyed every minute of this experience. I had the taste of matcha on my lips for hours after which pleasantly prolonged the sensation. I can warmly recommend this event." (U from Denmark)
"The tea ceremony was wonderful and very tasteful. We left her house filled up with new energy and kind spirit.
Thank you so much Kana - you couldn’t have been a better host and it is a day that will last long in our memories due to your thoughtfulness." (S from U.K.)
"Kana est une jeune femme délicate et attentionnée, elle a accepté ma demande de voir une cérémonie du thé lors de mon très court séjour à Kobe. En plus de présenter un très beau rituel, Kana explique l'origine et la philosophie de la cérémonie. C'est une douce parenthèse hors du temps." (F from France)
"I had the best time with Kana's Tea Ceremony and Waterfall Walk. Although I'm learning about Japan and its culture, this was my first exposure to a traditional Tea Ceremony. Throughout the experience, Kana thoroughly explained and demonstrated the correct conduct and method for guests to progress in this art form. By understanding the roots and foundation of Tea Ceremonies you begin to develop a deeper appreciation not only through this experience but throughout our daily life. I not only saw the peace and tranquility during this Tea Ceremony but I found myself coming to small realisations and further self awareness. To get the most out of this Tea Ceremony, immerse yourself in that exact moment and realise there won't be any other just like it :) The walk to the waterfall just further emphasises that tranquility and peace. You slowly move up through residential areas and into nature, metaphorically showing the struggle and reward of life (But I think I'm reading too much into it now haha). Kana is a very kind and lovely lady with a very high fluency in English. And her entire demeanour makes her welcoming, humble and patient towards her guests. I am grateful and thankful that I was able to attend Kana's Tea Ceremony. If or when I visit Japan again, I feel like I can attend another Tea Ceremony to learn something new or visit a new-made friend." (E from Australia)
"I had the best time with Kana's Tea Ceremony and Waterfall Walk. Although I'm learning about Japan and its culture, this was my first exposure to a traditional Tea Ceremony. Throughout the experience, Kana thoroughly explained and demonstrated the correct conduct and method for guests to progress in this art form. By understanding the roots and foundation of Tea Ceremonies you begin to develop a deeper appreciation not only through this experience but throughout our daily life. I not only saw the peace and tranquility during this Tea Ceremony but I found myself coming to small realisations and further self awareness. To get the most out of this Tea Ceremony, immerse yourself in that exact moment and realise there won't be any other just like it :) The walk to the waterfall just further emphasises that tranquility and peace. You slowly move up through residential areas and into nature, metaphorically showing the struggle and reward of life (But I think I'm reading too much into it now haha). Kana is a very kind and lovely lady with a very high fluency in English. And her entire demeanour makes her welcoming, humble and patient towards her guests. I am grateful and thankful that I was able to attend Kana's Tea Ceremony. If or when I visit Japan again, I feel like I can attend another Tea Ceremony to learn something new or visit a new-made friend." (E from Australia)
1) We first introduce ourselves. The tea master would love to know how you got interested in Japanese tea ceremony.
2) The master will explain the background history and the important basic philosophy of Zen Buddhism for better understanding of Japanese tea ceremony.
3) She then will demonstrate the modern table tea ceremony, and if you have your own matcha set (detail listed below) please follow what she does as she gives detailed instruction. In that case please prepare your matcha tea set prior to the session. But this is optional, so if you just want to watch and learn, you don't have to prepare anything and please enjoy watching the choreographed movements, which are very calming.
4) Question and Answer time
Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Online Details
Duration: 90min Staring time: To be decided based on guest's request and time difference Capacity: Maximum 50 Price: 11,000 yen up to 4 guests; 1,100 yen per additional guest
Items to prepare (if you would like to whisk matcha during the online class):
<Necessary items to whisk matcha>
1. "Matcha" powdered green tea (ceremonial grade, NOT culinary grade) 2. "Chasen " bamboo whisk (cooking whisk will NOT do...please use a bamboo whisk designed for matcha making.) 3. "Chashaku" bamboo tea scoop (tea spoon will do) 4. "Chawan" tea bowl (rice bowl or café au lait bowl will do) 5. Another bowl (any bowl is good) to throw away the hot water that we used for purification of the tea bowl 6. "Chakin" cloth (a small kitchen cloth will do: it's for wiping the tea bowl after warming it up with hot water) 7. Hot water (about 400-500 ml, about 70-80 deg C/158-176 deg F)
<Additional items to try the whole tea ceremony>
8. "Natsume" tea container (small cup or sugar pot will do) 9. "Fukusa" cloth (another small kitchen cloth will do: it's for ritually purifying utensils before making tea) 10. A tray or a placemat
<Tips to whisk smooth foamy matcha>
1) The ideal amount of hot water per tea bowl is about 60cc (2 ounces). To pour the ideal amount into the tea bowl during the tea making, it is recommended to measure 60cc (2 ounces) prior to the class to see how much (how little?) it is. The pot should contain in total about 400~500cc of hot water.
2) If you are not using "chashaku" bamboo scoop and instead using a regular spoon to scoop matcha, it is recommended to measure 1.8~2.0g of matcha prior to the class to see how much (how little?) it is. This will prevent putting too much matcha into the tea bowl and making too strong tea.
3) It is best to sift the matcha powder prior to the class to remove clumps and make it easy to whisk and have a smooth tea. You can sift using a fine-mesh tea strainer, if you have one. But if you don't sift matcha powder, that's also okay. This process is not mandatory.
<Necessary items to whisk matcha>
1. "Matcha" powdered green tea (ceremonial grade, NOT culinary grade) 2. "Chasen " bamboo whisk (cooking whisk will NOT do...please use a bamboo whisk designed for matcha making.) 3. "Chashaku" bamboo tea scoop (tea spoon will do) 4. "Chawan" tea bowl (rice bowl or café au lait bowl will do) 5. Another bowl (any bowl is good) to throw away the hot water that we used for purification of the tea bowl 6. "Chakin" cloth (a small kitchen cloth will do: it's for wiping the tea bowl after warming it up with hot water) 7. Hot water (about 400-500 ml, about 70-80 deg C/158-176 deg F)
Online Mindfulness Tea Ceremony for Team Building
Online Mindfulness Tea Ceremony has been chosen for team building events by international corporate teams including Google USA, Google Singapore, Netflix, Unilever, Target, Sydney Opera House, etc.
It also has been chosen as a special event for Japan Study/Asian Study classes at Universities and Colleges.
The time can be shortened to 60 minutes if necessary.
Testimonials for Online Tea Ceremony
"It's quite amazing how much influence you left us, especially given that everything was done virtually. In my previous tea ceremony experiences, I hadn't quite connected with the hosts on a personal level, but after your class, I found myself kept referring to the teachings you shared and reflecting upon them. Thank you again for your hospitality and for sharing the once in a lifetime moment with us. " (E from Korea)
"Kana was a great host - she was a very good communicator/teacher; and created a welcoming environment via Zoom! I genuinely enjoyed this experience with my colleagues; and I learned so much about the history behind the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Matcha. Definitely recommend if you like to try new things and learn something new!" (J from the US)
"Kana is such a great host. We had a private event with Kana and we all highly recommends this ceremony for team building, or just getting to know matcha a bit more. Some reasons why I recommend: - Super informative: the workshop covers history, philosophy, ceremony process, etc - interactive: Kana would send a long list of prep items before the class and make us fully prepared for the class - joyful and meditative experience… would practice it at home :)" (H from the US)
“Treat yourself to the Mindfulness Tea Ceremony with Kana!!! This was my second time experiencing a Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kana. The first one was a few years ago when my family and I visited Kobe, Japan and participated in a Tea Ceremony with Souka. She is gracious, knowledgeable, friendly, articulate and funny. She loves to laugh. She loves what she does and it shows. For me, hearing Souka explain that one purpose of the Tea Ceremony is to focus on the present is SO powerful. I think we all spend so much time doing so many different things (and necessary things) that we often forget to take out time for ourselves. Well, Kana's presentation reminds us that we need to take time out for ourselves; focus on the moment and enjoy ourselves. I am so thankful to have Kana in my life!!! In closing, treat yourself to Kana's Mindfulness Tea Ceremony.” (M from the US)
"Experiencing Kana's online Mindfulness Tea Ceremony is simply a must! Having practised for many years, she is perfectly qualified to transmit this ancient tradition, yet does so with a modern twist and a light-hearted, joyful approach. When I signed in at the scheduled time, there she was waiting for me in her elegant kimono with everything beautifully prepared in a tranquil setting. Throughout the demonstration, she gave me the opportunity to ask questions. By the end of the experience, I felt that I had learnt so much and was calm yet uplifted at the same time. Nothing was lost in the online format, either. I would recommend this to anyone wishing to explore Japanese culture with a seasoned expert -- all from the comfort of your own home! (M from the UK)
"We had met Kana as our guide in the Kyoto-Nara area and had absolutely loved the itinerary she had prepared for us, as well as being amazed by her immense knowledge and expertise. The tea ceremony was no different: Regardless of the physical distance and missing the essential component of touch & smell, we didn’t feel the experience lacked anything. Souka beautifully explained the history and the philosophy behind, which was followed by the actual ceremony itself. We had many questions, all of which she answered, satisfying our curiosity. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with harmony and tranquility. We plan to repeat it in person amongst our friend group (we were 4 people who joined) the next time we can get together. The online tea ceremony with Kana was a very nice experience we would recommend everyone. It would probably even be better to have it in person, but considering the circumstances and what the future of leisure travel will become, this is really the next best thing in terms of experiencing a part of the Japanese culture with the guidance of such a kind and knowledgeable friend! (Z & I from Turkey)
Kana Associate Professor of Urasenke School of Japanese Tea Ceremony
Through her study of Urasenke tea ceremony for 15 years, the Zen philosophy "live in the moment" has been always the core tenet of her life.
Pursuit of the beautiful spirit of tea ceremony gave her a strong background in the important spiritual philosophy deeply running through Japanese traditional/modern culture.
She has been also giving tours around Japan to more than 5000 English-speaking visitors ever since she got the national guide license in 2009.
Through her tea ceremony, she looks forward to offering a beautiful, serene time, where you can get away from your daily thoughts and reset yourself.
Booking Procedure
1) Please use the inquiry form below to give us your booking request details.
2) Upon agreement of the details, invoice will be sent to you. In case of scheduled open online class, invoice will be sent right away. (Please pay by credit card or paypal.)
3) Upon payment, reservation will be confirmed. In case of online class, zoom link will be included in the booking confirmation email.
Inquiry
Please kindly put your email address correctly. Otherwise we cannot contact you back!
