Immerse yourself in one of the most recognised traditions in Japan—the time-honored tea ritual. Arrive at a local tea house, where you get outfitted with an authentic kimono and then enjoy a morning ceremony as you learn how to make your very own green tea.
Upon arrival at the tea shop, a multilingual host greets you and escorts you towards the kimonos. You then have your choice of many colours and patterns, which you can mix and match with different obis. To further heighten the experience, the women of the group can undergo a hairstyling session with styles ranging from soft curls to structural updos.
Following your makeover, it's time to prepare for the tea ceremony, a ritual dating back more than 1,000 years. Settle into the traditional seating position on the floor and watch as your host methodically uses a bamboo whisk to combine hot water with powered matcha tea. Follow along as they explain the intricacies of the art, which many spend years attempting to perfect.
You then learn how to make your own tea and sip it alongside a sweet treat that's used to balance out the bitterness of the drink. You're also given a bowl of traditional gruel, a rice porridge often eaten for breakfast.
Once the ceremony and lesson are over, the afternoon is yours to do with as you please. Head out into the streets for a few hours of sightseeing in your kimono. You can pose for photos in front of the many ornate temples in the area, sit down for a fresh sushi lunch, or go shopping among locals at the Nishiki Market before returning your garment.