Uji Matcha Provsmakning & Te Ceremoni med Före detta Geiko + Uji Walk

We had a magical afternoon in Uji walking around the stunning town with our guide, Marina, and then enjoying a unique tea ceremony with former geiko, Ruriko and her charming and poised daughter, in a beautiful private setting. We felt so well taken care of and enlightened - about the town, its history, and a little about what it was like to be a geiko (we purchased her book to learn more, we were so intrigued). The tea ceremony itself was ethereal - it seemed we were transported to another place and time. It was like an ancient ballet of perfectly choreographed movements and we were completely enchanted, feeling like we were in the presence of something truly special. Not to mention, we had a marvelous tasting with 3 different types of matcha, exploring our personal preferences and being schooled in the fine art of making the tea! This experience exceeded our expectations in every way and we are so delighted to have had time with Marina, Ruriko and her daughter and truly admire their efforts at preserving and sharing this special ritual and place they call home.

I would really like to thank Ruriko-san and Eri-San for an amazing experience. I’ve visited a couple of tea ceremony experiences before, but never expected it to be so professional. We started with a walk and Eri-San was kind enough to brief us on tea production details and even tea producers who use an ancient method of tea shading. I’m not a first timer in Uji and I thought I more or less tried all the tea producers there but it turned out even I had some new information to pick up. We also visited several places on our way to the tea house while talking about tea. As we ordered a kimono dressing, we were able to choose from a variety (even I as a 175 cm tall had several options). It’s a very nice add-on option as a tea ceremony experience without kimono is not authentic. You should definitely try it at least once because wearing a kimono makes you move in a different way. Ruriko-San is an exceptional master I greatly enjoyed watching her movements. The tea included both thin and thick kinds (usucha and koicha) which is also a rare experience because so far I’ve only been served thin kind on the other ceremonies I visited. The garden was also nice and beautiful we went there before the ceremony to clean our hands and mind. Overall the experience was extremely satisfying I will definitely come back again.

The ladies were so warm and welcoming. We felt like this was perfect mother daughter experience. The walk was very informative next to a tea field and then in a quaint neighborhood. They carefully dressed us in kimonos and let us see a wonderful book that featured life as a geiko. The tea ceremony was beautifully performed.

Outstanding experience of traditional Japanese culture in Uji! We had tea ceremony in kimono in a peaceful traditional house and our host was so kind.

My daughter (13) and I both love matcha. We wanted to find a tea ceremony that wasn't kitschy or commercialized. When I read that this was a private experience with a retired geiko I had high hopes, but even my expectations fell short. Our guide/translator is an aficionado of matcha, and thus has educated herself on the history, farming, and strains in the area (much like a wine sommelier, though she will deny the title). Normally we would have a small tour of Uji, but due to the rain we went straight to the beautiful house along the riverwalk. Our elegant and sweet host was incredibly gracious and made sure we were warm and dry while chatting with us. The tea ceremony itself is beautiful, and I could think of no one better to show us and teach us than a geisha with decades of experience. We even received directions on some great spots to buy the matcha we liked best (we tasted 4 varieties during our time). It was one of the highlights of our trip, and also got us down to Uji, which we would have bypassed otherwise amd missed out on it's unique beauty.

Really great experience! The owners were incredibly friendly and helpful, and I truly felt involved throughout the entire ceremony—even traveling solo. The tea, matcha, and sweets were all delicious, and the performance was absolutely beautiful. The kimonos were stunning, and they thoughtfully considered all my preferences. Highly recommend—such a special and memorable experience!