Tours/Kanazawa/Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master
Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master
5.0(4)Kanazawa1h 30min
VIATOR5.0(1)TRIPADVISOR5.0(3)
+14 photos
At a glance
Duration
1h 30min
Price from
$120 / person
Location
Kanazawa, Japan
Rating
5.0 / 5 · 4 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Private
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Tea master
Meeting point
Come directly to 2-3-28 Nomachi, Kanazawa. Look for a traditional wooden machiya with a small sign “TEA BASE” beside the entrance. Your host will greet you at the door. 10 min by taxi from Kanazawa Station, or 5 min walk from Nishi Chaya District. Please arrive 5 minutes early.
Description
• Receive koicha — thick tea, rarely offered to visitors
to Japan
• Prepare usucha (thin tea) with your own hands, under
the guidance of a tea master of 19 years
• Spend 90 minutes as the sole guests in a 1923 machiya —
the home where your host Yuta lives and practices
• Learn Enshu-ryu, the samurai lineage of tea founded by
Kobori Enshu, tea advisor to the Tokugawa shoguns
• Taste seasonal jounamagashi, handcrafted the morning of
your ceremony by a Kanazawa artisan
• Speak openly about tea, aesthetics, or the philosophy
of a life devoted to the way — as much as you wish
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Next available
Tue, Oct 13
Adult (ages 20–80)
$120
Child (ages 3–19)
$120
In demand: 34 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master
What's included
Included
Fully private ceremony (no shared sessions)
Hands-on matcha preparation
Commemorative photo
English narration and extended Q&A
Use of a private tea room in a 100-year-old machiya
Tea ceremony demonstration by a practitioner with 19 years of experience
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transportation to/from venue
Gratuities (not expected in Japan)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
4 reviews
5
4
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Kanazawa
Starting price $120 is 54% above the typical $78 for tours of similar length in Kanazawa
Excurgo comparison of 244 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master take?
Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master lasts about 1h 30min.
How much does Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master cost?
Prices start at $120 per person for this Kanazawa experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
How much does Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master cost for children?
Children aged 3–19 pay from $120, adults from $120.
Does Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master sell out?
It can: 34 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Come directly to 2-3-28 Nomachi, Kanazawa. Look for a traditional wooden machiya with a small sign “TEA BASE” beside the entrance. Your host will greet you at the door. 10 min by taxi from Kanazawa Station, or 5 min walk from Nishi Chaya District. Please arrive 5 minutes early. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Kanazawa: Private Koicha Ceremony with a Samurai Tea Master offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 5 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(4)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
T
Trip60243581769
July 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A true authentic experience
It was a true delight to be guests of Yuta and his wife, learning more about the Japanese tea tradition. It felt as the most authentic experience of our journey. They made us feel very welcome in their house, and enjoyed their genuine mindful explanations about their culture. Highly recommended!
Operator response
Thank you so much for these generous words — they truly warmed our hearts, and my wife joins me in gratitude for your kind mention of her.
To hear that ours felt like the most authentic experience of your entire journey is, honestly, the highest compliment we could receive.
Sharing not just a bowl of tea but the meaning and care behind our culture is the whole reason we open our home — and knowing it reached you this way means a great deal to us both.
It was a genuine pleasure to welcome you. Should your travels ever bring you back to Kanazawa, our door will always be open to you.
With warm gratitude,
Yuta
TEA BASE Hakutaku (白澤) — Nishi Chaya, Kanazawa
J
Jojanneke_K
July 22, 2026 · via Viator
A real authentic experience
If you want to learn more about the Japanese koicha tea ceremony, and experience it yourself, this is the place to be! We really enjoyed the warm hospitality of Yuta San and his wife. Everything was explained with great care and patience and we could feel the love for the Japanese culture and traditions. Experiencing this authentic ceremony was truly inspiring and enriching - a wonderful addition to our stay in Japan. Highly recommended! ❤️
Operator response
Dear Jojanneke san,
Thank you so much for these heartfelt words — reading them truly moved me, and my wife was equally touched to be mentioned.
Koicha, the thick tea, is the very heart of the tradition and the experience I care most about sharing — so to know it resonated with your family, and that you felt the love we hold for this culture, means more than I can say. Welcoming you and hosting a family who engaged so warmly was a genuine joy✨
That this became a memorable part of your time in Japan is the greatest gift a host could ask for. Should your travels ever bring you back to Kanazawa, both my wife and I would be delighted to share another bowl with you.
With warm gratitude, and safe travels home to the Netherlands,
Yuta
M
M6821LBlourdesa
April 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience ! Yuta is the best
We had such a wonderful tea ceremony experience—truly one of the highlights of our time. Yuta was fantastic, guiding us through every step with so much care and attention to detail. You can tell how much thought and respect goes into each part of the ceremony, and he made it all feel both meaningful and welcoming. We learned a lot, felt completely immersed, and genuinely had a great time. Highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something special and authentic.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am thrilled to hear that our session was a highlight of your time in Japan.
It was truly impressive to see how deeply you sought to understand the "meaning" behind every movement and tradition. In our session, I was glad to serve you Koicha (thick tea), which is the most formal and heart of the tea ceremony. Even for many Japanese people, experiencing authentic Koicha is quite rare, as most only know the casual "Usucha" (thin tea).
Your respectful and curious attitude made the ceremony even more meaningful for me as a host. I believe that tea ceremony is not just about drinking tea, but about the spiritual connection and mutual respect shared in that moment.
I hope the "Zen" spirit you found in my 100-year-old home continues to stay with you. You are always welcome back to Kanazawa!
Warm regards,
Yuta Takahashi
TEA BASE Hakutaku
A
AzimKafi
April 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Have to try it to understand the heritage of samurai household traditions during edo period Japan.
If you are in the beautiful and historic city of Kanazawa and would like to experience the heritage of a tea ceremony within a samurai household, look no further. It was a lesson in history and etiquette which I wish to remember and learn from in the future.
Operator response
Dear Azim san,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience at TEA BASE Hakutaku.
I am truly honored that you described our session as a "lesson in history and etiquette." In the tradition of Warrior Tea (Bukke Sado), the tea ceremony is not just about the tea itself, but a discipline of the mind and a way of showing respect through form and presence.
It was a pleasure to share these historical nuances with someone who appreciates the depth of Japanese culture. I believe that understanding the "why" behind each movement makes the experience timeless, and I am delighted to hear that you wish to carry these lessons with you.
The 100-year-old Machiya always stands ready to welcome guests who seek a quiet, thoughtful, and authentic encounter with Kanazawa’s heritage. I look forward to the day we might meet again to deepen our study together.
Warm regards,
Yuta Takahashi
Tea Master | TEA BASE Hakutaku
