Kyoto: Special price -Tea Ceremony and Kimono at Machiya
Description
Begin your cultural journey in Kyoto at Tondaya, a remarkable 140-year-old machiya nationally recognized as a cultural landmark. As you step inside this traditional townhouse, you’ll immediately sense the spirit of old Kyoto, with its finely crafted woodwork, serene gardens, and a collection of captivating historical artifacts that tell centuries-old stories. Your experience starts in the kimono dressing room, where our staff will assist you in choosing and fitting an authentic silk kimono. This is followed by an authentic Japanese tea ceremony performed by a seasoned tea master. Tea is an inseparable part of Japanese culture, and we offer an one-of-a-kind experience of watching a traditional tea ceremony performance in a historically significant machiya. Afterwards, our personable tea master will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding Kyoto and tea culture. We also look forward to guiding you around Tondaya, a treasure trove of the rich history of Kyoto culture.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(93)
Our group were blown away by the ceremony! The solemn and cultural experience was fantastic - as was the rice cookies! (The tea was different :))
It was a fantastic experience! The ladies really great care of us. From the moment we arrived we were personally guided to where we were quickly and expertly dressed in our kimonos and escorted back for pictures and the ceremony. It was all so well organized, so many opportunities for photos, and the house tour was fantastic. Such a wonderful experience, a must do!
We were expecting a cultural center that was easy to spot and similar to a museum. It is actually a Japanese house and if you get there before it opens it is easy to miss. Fantastic experience with a woman who lives and breathes the culture.
This was probably my favorite activity during my entire trip to Japan! We got to wear traditional kimonos and learn about tea ceremonies with our great guide!
Highlight of our Kyoto visit. Very quaint, authentic experience. The traditional garments are well made, you choose colors then you are dressed over your own clothing. The home is very authentic, historical home. Beautiful gardens. The tea ceremony is highly informative and interesting. Worth the money for this experience.
This experience completely exceeded our expectations from start to finish! We got to choose our own kimonos and matching hairpieces, and the woman who helped us with the fitting was so funny and incredibly sweet. The tea-making process was explained in great detail, with our guide using Google Translate to make sure we understood everything perfectly. After the ceremony, we were given a tour of the home, which was absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend this experience!
The tea ceremony experience was fantastic. It was in a historic building that made you feel like you went back in time. You get the chance to explore the building and enjoy learning about the history of the building and ceremonies before taking part in one. While the experience had a few more people than expected the ceremony itself was fantastic and our host was wonderful.
ありがとうございました 家 暮らしを受け継ぐことはとても大変ですが お客様のこのような言葉を励みに これからも守り 日本文化を伝えていきたいと思います 感謝です
This event was a true highlight during my 2 week visit to Japan. The staff was very friendly! They let me select my kimono and dressed me expertly, then took several photos and videos of me in the lovely garment around the property. The tea ceremony was brief, but the information presented was thorough. After the tea ceremony, the host led us on a short tour around the building and explained many cultural & historical aspects. During the tea ceremony and again after the tour, I was allowed and encouraged to take videos and pictures, and again, the host offered to take pictures of me, as I am a solo traveler. The small group size & courteous staff made this experience something I can't recommend enough.
We LOVED this tour for our family of 5 - and Michael was a fantastic tour guide that made the experience. It was incredibly informative, fun, light-hearted and felt like we were getting a true glimpse into life in Kyoto. We loved learning about the journey of geishas, the delicious 1000 year old store and everything in between. Michael was funny, considerate, very knowledgeable and engaging. Great tour and the bikes were awesome.
This tea ceremony was performed in a private room. The women assisting with the kimonos were very respectful and kind. This is not touristy. It is very authentic. Beautiful historical home.
ありがとうございました 長く続いた伝統をこれからも大切にしていきます
