Yamagata Prefecture
Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture
Japanese tea ceremony is more than just a way to whip up a delicious cup of matcha. Commonly referred to in Japanese as sadou, which translates to “the way of tea,” it is a cultural and artistic philosophy of living, one which takes the everyday act of making tea and cultivates it into the ultimate expression of Japanese omotenashi.
In this exclusive private tea ceremony experience hosted at Kumano Taisha shrine, you will learn the basics of authentic tea ceremony from a master of the Omotesenke school and take part in a shinto ritual at the same time.
This special tea ceremony experience will be lead by Sourei, an associate professor of Omotesenke tea ceremony who has dedicated herself to this art form since she was a child. She believes that Shinto and Japanese tea ceremony share many common principles, such as purifying the space, refining one’s actions, and facing the experience with a calm mind. Shinto’s respect for people, nature, and the unseen is deeply connected to the spirit of tea ceremony.
Through the tranquil experience of tea, this authentic, exclusive experience will convey the Japanese aesthetic and the spirit of hospitality.
A Location Like No Other
Yamagata is a land where the changing seasons are clearly felt, and its climate resonates well with the world of the tea ceremony. Through seasonal decorations, Japanese sweets, and the arrangement of tea ceremony utensils, this private experience will convey the unique tea experience of this region.
Kumano Taisha, one of the most revered shrines in all of northern Japan, enshrines the gods Izanagi and Izanami. The Kagura-den is the stage on which traditional sacred sings and dances (kagura) are performed for the gods in Japanese Shinto rituals. These dances have been passed down since ancient times as an important religious ceremony to welcome the gods, purify people of impurities, and offer gratitude and prayers.
The Kagura-den (Kagura Hall) is a special space used only during festivals and religious ceremonies. In this sacred place, you will have the unique chance to offer tea to the gods and, through this time before the deities, experience the authentic spirit of the tea ceremony and traditional Japanese culture.
Purifying the Space
With the help of experienced, licensed kimono dressers, change into authentic multi-layer kimono (no tourist-style quick-change kimono and obi sets here). After you are dressed, take part in a private purification ceremony lead by one of Kumano Taisha’s priests to cleanse your hearts and minds inside the inner sanctum of the shrine itself.
You will then make your way across to the Kagura-den to begin the tea ceremony itself, led by an associate professor of the Omotesenke school.
The Tea Ceremony
Enjoy a cup of matcha and a traditional wagashi sweet during this exclusive tea ceremony experience between your group, the gods, and your teacher, surrounded by the tranquil environs of the shrine’s sacred wood.
Observe and learn the careful, pre-assigned duties and roles of tea ceremony as Sourei-sensei guides you through the centuries-old script which bonds tea host and guests. After experiencing a full ceremony once, try your hand at whisking the matcha yourself under her direct guidance.
- Tea Ceremony Guest Experience: Observe a short tea ceremony demonstration with explanation (Note that chairs are an available modification for guests with disabilities).
- Matcha Whisking Experience: Practice the roll of the host on yourself and try to create a perfectly frothy matcha.
- Question and Answer session: afterwards, chat with the tea ceremony master about this art form and the thought put into the decorations and utensils present in the space you entered on the day.
The Tea Ceremony Master
Saitou Sourei was born in Yamagata in 1983 to a mother who was a professor of Omotesenke tea ceremony. Influenced by her mother and a childhood spent immersed in tea ceremony, she is now an associate professor in the Omotesenke school based in Nanyo City, Yamagata.
Upon entering university, Sourei moved to Tokyo and began seriously studying tea ceremony under a professor of the Omotesenke school who had been trained alongside her mother. In 2026, she obtained Associate Professor status in the Omotesenke school.
In 2024, she opened “Chado CAFE Seigaiha” in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Her cafe reinvents the small, intimate space of tea ceremony into a modern cafe setting, allowing customers to experience the tea-making process up-close as she prepares their matcha at a traditional kettle built into the counter itself.
Experience Snapshot
What's Included
Kimono rental, tabi socks, and dressing, Shinto purification ceremony, Tea ceremony instructor fee, wagashi and matcha, special Goshuin shrine stamp, English interpreter, arrangement fee
*Inquire below for a non-kimono option.
Participants
1 – 5 people
Experience Availability
Available Year Round, excepting certain shinto holidays and observances. Please inquire below for your desired date’s availability.
Daily Tea Ceremony Experience Schedule:
- Morning session: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Afternoon session: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
If kimono dressing is included beforehand, please allow approximately one more hour.
- With kimono (morning): 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- With kimono (afternoon): 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost
With Kimono Option: From ¥106,000 per person for group of two
Without Kimono Option: From ¥67,500 per person for group of two
Booking Deadline and Important Notes
Requests for reservations for this experience must be made at least three weeks in advance.
Reservation availability may vary. Reserve to confirm availability.
Please notify us at least 3 days before if you must cancel or modify your reservation.
Cancelation policy
Our cancelation policy for this experience is below. Percentages represent the non-refundable portion of your experience fee.
7 days before date of experience
30% of total price
2-6 days before date of experience
40% of total price
1 day before date of experience
50% of total price
Same day
No refund
