Tea Ceremonies in the “Kōka” Teahouse, Saturday Dec. 7, 2019

We are very pleased to once again offer tea ceremonies in the historic “Kōka” teahouse in the museum’s Japanese garden. Although December can seem more like early winter rather than autumn, if the fall foliage progresses as usual the maple leaves in the garden will be at their very peak of color. These are true tea ceremonies but people with no prior experience with the tea ceremony are very welcome to participate.

Date and times: Saturday December 7
Session 1: 10:30-11:10
Session 2: 11:30-12:10 (with English interpretation)
Session 3: 13:00-13:40
Session 4: 14:00-14:40
Session 5: 15:00-15:40
Session 6: 16:00-16:40

Reservation has been closed.

Location: “Kōka” Teahouse, in the garden of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

Host: a tea master from the Chōsō group of the Mushakōji Senke School of Tea, one of the three historical households directly descended from the 16th century tea master Sen no Rikyū.

Capacity: Limited to 20 persons per session (reservations will be closed as soon as a session reaches capacity). Foreign visitors and residents (and Japanese accompanying them) will be given priority for Session 2, which includes English interpretation, but foreigners who don’t require English interpretation are welcome to apply for any session. Because this is a protected cultural property with many fragile fittings, we ask that you not bring children under 12 into the teahouse. Children 12 and older are welcome and should be registered as an attendee at the same fee as adults. (Museum admission is discounted for students and free, with I.D., for junior high school students living or attending school in Tokyo; please inquire at the ticket booth.)
We ask that you come to the museum’s ticket booth by the main entrance gate no later than 20 minutes before your session begins in order to make the necessary payments. You will receive your tea-ceremony ticket there. From the main entrance, please proceed to the garden and complete your registration at the teahouse at least 10 minutes before the start time.

Fee: 1,000 yen per person for one session (includes a serving of “usucha” tea and a traditional sweet. You will also need to purchase regular museum admission (1,000 yen; reductions available for students and those 65 or older), which gives you access to the museum, the current exhibition and the gardens, or garden admission only (200 yen).

Online registrations begin Thursday Nov. 7 through the museum website. It is not possible to register by telephone or fax. We cannot accept wait-list requests or changes in session times. The tea ceremonies will be held rain or shine, regardless of the weather. If you must cancel, we ask that you contact the museum no later than 20 minutes before the tea ceremony begins.

Please follow these points of tea-ceremony etiquette: do not wear short skirts or come with bare legs; please have white socks or tabi to cover your feet before entering the teahouse; remove all accessories including rings, bracelets and watches. This normally includes wedding bands and engagement rings.

Contact
Alice Gordenker
E-mail：gordenkeralice@gmail.com