A Guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony

What happens when you attend a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony? Here's everything you need to know to be fully prepared to reserve the ultimate cultural experience. [Based on my full year undergoing the rigorous training of Tea Ceremony club in Sapporo]

If you are curious about Japanese culture or planning travels, you must have heard of the famous “Japanese Tea Ceremony”. What happens behind those sliding paper doors? What are the formal steps to take and how can I prepare to attend a traditional tea ceremony? Become the perfect guest by reading the guide below.

What Happens in a Traditional Tea Ceremony

Upon entering the tatami room, guests are seated in traditional seiza on the tatami floor in a line, facing the main teapot. You are served sweets on a small paper, after bowing upon reception, you’ll place the sweets on the floor to your left, near your knee. When the demonstrater enters with a greeting phrase, you bow in reciprocity with both hands flat on the floor.

Winter Tea Ceremony Style

Enjoy watching the smooth, deliberate movements of the performance, and wait until the person says “Please enjoy the sweets” to take up the paper and enjoy the sweet given earlier as you would any elegant finger-food. The timing aligns so that once you’ve finished the sweet, the freshly whisked matcha will have just arrived.

Before drinking, you acknowledge the person before you, after you, and the main host. You do so by playing your bowl accordingly on the floor: right, bow, left, bow. Then, with the bowl placed on your left hand, nod and slightly raise the cup in gratitude for the person who prepared your tea.

Finally, turn the cup twice so that the design is facing outwards, and drink leisurely in small sips. When finished, pinch the rim with your right hand and wipe where you have drank it from. Turn twice again, place the bowl on the tatami in front of you, and admire the design, relaxing with your elbows on your knees and holding the bowl in both hands. Once finished, turn the bowl again to point the design outwards, and place it on the tatami.

Once your bowl has been cleared away, enjoy the last lingering moments of the second half of the ceremony. Depending on the type of tea ceremony and number of people, time can vary but it will usually last around 30 minutes. At the end, guests will be invited to contemplate the utensils and alcove, carefully designed in theme with the seasons.

Japanese Sweets & Matcha

The sweets served will be Japanese-style sweets. Some may have very interesting tastes, with marzipan-like sweets and red bean paste filling, or more peculiar savory miso-flavored treats. Another traditional style of sweets are small sugar-based candies which melt on the tongue.

Assortment of typical sweets with matcha

Ceremonial matcha is whipped plain, without milk or sugar. In a warm bowl, around 5 grams of finely sifted matcha powder is placed, close to boiling water is poured on top, just enough to retain the flavor. Then the matcha is whisked with fervor, with a particular movement of the hand until a smooth layer of froth has formed. The actual taste can be light or bitter depending on the kind of powder, but I find the enjoyement of good matcha comes from the warmth of drink, full of unique umami flavor.

Mindset to Appreciate a Tea Ceremony

How do I prepare for a Japanese tea ceremony? It’s important to note four main principles: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

Feeling the harmony of the group within the room and trying to preserving an atmosphere of cordial enjoyment is highly important in Japanese culture.

Respect is shown in appreciation of the careful arrangements made by the host. Each element in the room is chosen based on beauty, value, and seasonal significance. Teaware and accessories are handmade and expensive, making discreet praise highly appreciated to acknowledge the efforts made for the tea ceremony.

Purity is an integral part of the performance, in both the cleanliness of the utensils and personal attire. Makeup is preferrably light, jewlery, watches and perfume are forbidden so as to not damage the teaware, or disturb the delicate scent of incense. Modest-formal clothes and white socks are preferred.

Finally, tranquility during a tea ceremony relates to a meditative state of mind. One is present, still, calm and poised. The neat sitting form of seiza allows for little movement, and despite the discomfort one does not fidget nor chatter during the performance.

While this may feel strict, you may find this tranquility comes naturally as the atmosphere is made so lovely, the scents so sweet and drink so warm you may feel a tinge of sorrow as the performer takes their final bow.

Key Notes:

• When dressing: think formal, not fancy

• The tea served is plain matcha, to be sipped

• Japanese-style sweets can be easily enjoyed

• Thank the main host by slightly raising your cup to chest level

• Each bowl has a main design. The main design is always facing outwards, except when you’ve finished drinking and wish to admire the bowl.

• Express admiration for the alcove and teaware

• Refrain from fidgeting, as would a buddhist monk Enjoy the performance! Don’t worry if you forget the specific movements, just appreciating the atmosphere is essentially the purpose of a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.