Tea Ceremony
Regular Lessons — Starting at $60
Introductory Tea Ceremony Experience — $50
Matcha and Japanese sweets are included.
Lessons
One-time Trial Lesson — $50 per person / 60 minutes
Experience Tea as a Guest
This one-time lesson introduces the basic etiquette of a guest in a tea gathering. You will learn how to enter the tea room, sit and bow, enjoy a Japanese sweet, and receive a bowl of matcha.
A simple and welcoming introduction for anyone experiencing tea ceremony for the first time.
6-Lesson Introductory Course — $50 per lesson / 60 minutes
Lesson 1 — Basic Etiquette
Bowing, walking and entering the tea room, and how to enjoy traditional Japanese sweets and matcha.
Lesson 2 — Tea Utensils
Learn about the essential tea utensils and how to appreciate them, including the tea bowl, tea caddy, and tea scoop.
Lesson 3 — Basic Preparatory Movements
Learn how to fold and handle the fukusa and practice the basic movements used in preparing tea.
Lesson 4 — Preparing Matcha
Learn how to prepare a bowl of matcha.
Lesson 5 — Guest and Host Etiquette
Learn proper manners as a guest and basic greetings and hospitality as a host.
Lesson 6 — Bonryaku Temae
Practice the complete Bonryaku Temae and serve a bowl of tea to a guest.
All tea utensils are provided at no additional cost.
Regular Classes
Continue your study of Chado through regular practice at the level appropriate to your experience.
Participants who wish to do so can also earn a certificate upon completion of the course. Certificate application fees are separate.
Beginner Class — $60 per person / 90 minutes
Throughout the year, students learn a variety of tea procedures while using different utensils for each season. The focus is on Konarai (16 procedures: 8 for Furo and 8 for Ro), foundational tea procedures using everyday and traditional Japanese utensils. Students also learn basic charcoal procedures and ash preparation.
Intermediate Class — $70 per person / 90 minutes
When practicing Beginner-level procedures, the Beginner Class rate of $60 applies.
Students deepen their practice through five intermediate subjects, working with treasured utensils and textiles with long histories, including karamono tea containers, tenmoku tea bowls, and meibutsugire (historic textiles treasured in Chado).
Students also practice Shichijishiki, group exercises designed to develop both the skills and spirit of Chado through tea, flowers, incense, and charcoal.
Advanced Class — $80 per person / 90 minutes
When practicing Intermediate- or Beginner-level procedures, the corresponding class rate of $70 or $60 applies.
Students study formal and advanced tea procedures that preserve centuries of Chado tradition. By learning these more complex forms, they come to understand the refinement and minimalism of usucha and koicha—how each movement has been distilled to its essential form.
Advanced practice requires greater concentration, precision, and composure, deepening both technical mastery and presence in the tea room.
Chaji — $120–$200 per person / 1.5–4 hours
Chaji is the complete form of a tea gathering and a profound expression of ichigo ichie and Omotenashi.
A full Chaji includes the guests’ arrival and entry, charcoal preparation, a kaiseki meal, koicha, a second charcoal preparation, and usucha. Much of what we practice in regular lessons is drawn from this complete tea gathering.
For All Lessons
Please wear or bring white socks for the tatami mats.
If you have long hair, please bring a hair tie.
〈Workshop〉
After a brief overview of the history of the tea ceremony, you’ll watch a demonstration of the tea preparation process and then prepare and enjoy matcha together. You’ll also have the opportunity to make and enjoy your own nerikiri (a traditional Japanese sweet made with lima beans and red beans). Please let us know if you have any preferences or requests.