Let’s Taste and Learn Japanese Tea Deeply. The Japanese Tea Cafes Where You can Experience Culture Activities in Tokyo
03/23/2018
The “Japanese green tea” is a traditional tea in Japan, in general, Japanese people have drinking in their life for ages. There are various kinds of tea in Japanese tea, and the taste differs depending on the type of tea leaves and production area. This time, I would like to introduce few cafes and class where you can experience, “Japanese tea.”
You can Taste the Depth of Long-Established Shop in Kyoto: Ippodo Tea Tokyo Marunouchi
©一保堂茶舗
“Ippodo Chaho” is a speciality Japanese tea store that has its head office in Kyoto. At here, they also have a tea lesson not only just can purchase Japanese tea. For foreigners, they holds English workshop, “The Japanese Tea Tasting” on the fourth Thursday of every month, which will be held for 10 people. You can learn the difference between Matcha, Gyokuro, Sencha and Bancha. The staff will make a brew while explaining how to make each tea in front of you. By knowing how to brew, you can learn the difference of each tea leaves, taste and depthness.
©一保堂茶舗
Not all tea can just pour boiled hot water. Then, it is impossible to bring out each tea flavor. The temperature of the water, the amount of tea leaves, and the time is important. Depending on how it is made, the taste of the tea changes and that is “Japanese tea.”
In this lesson, you will try 8 tastings(each 2 time) from 4 different tea leaves. You can learn the difference of each tea leaves and the grades among the same tea leaves.
©一保堂茶舗
For those who want to experience not only see the way tea is brewed, but also want to learn how to brew the tea themselves, it is possible to do “Hands-on Experience Preparing Tea (淹れ方体験コース）" at an additional charge. In that case, please tell the staff at the time of booking. This is an experience that you can make your own favorite tea after "The Japanese Tea Tasting." The staff will carefully teach you how to make delicious Japanese tea by yourself. It is included with a set of Japanese sweet.
For ”The Japanese Tea Tasting” and “Hands-on Experience Preparing Tea ” course, the reservation is required. Please send an email for reservation. Everything will be done all in English, so please do not worry about the language barrier and feel free to contact!
◎Information
[Place] Tokyo Marunouchi Store event room
[Time & Date] 11 AM to 12 PM on the 4th Thursday of each month.
※ If the 4th Thursday of a month is a public holiday, the workshop will be held on the following day (Friday).
[Content] Japanese Tea Tasting (matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and bancha)
※Hands-on experience preparing tea is available as an option (2,000 yen + tax. Request this option when reserving a place at the workshop.)
※Hands-on experience preparing tea is also available in the Kaboku Tearoom. Reservation is not required, but you may have to wait due to crowdedness.
[Price] 3000 yen per person
[Limited] 10 people
[Reservation] Please reserve your place in the workshop by email: event@ippodo-tea.co.jp
※If you like to do BOTH ”The Japanese Tea Tasting” and “Hands-on experience preparing Tea ” course, or just ”The Japanese Tea Tasting”, the reservation is required. If you prefer ONLY “Hands-on experience preparing Tea ” course, it is also available in the Kaboku Tearoom and reservation is not required.
※Please note that changes in reservation accepted until the 3 business days before and for cancellation, a fee of 3000 yen will be charged per person, if it is later than 3 days before the workshop. Thank you.
[Shop Detail]
[Operation hours]11:00～19:00（L.O 18:30）
[Holiday] New Year
[Address] 1F Kokusai Building, 3-1-1 Marunouchi Nakado-ri, Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005
[Tel] 075-211-3631 (For reservation: event@ippodo-tea.co.jp or call (English is available）
[URL] http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/shop/marunouchi-tokyo.html (EN)
[Access] 5 min walk from JR Lines “Yurakucho station” Tokyo international forum exit
5 min walk from Subway Yurakucho Line “yurakucho station”, Chiyoda Line/Hibiya Line/Mita Line” Hibiya station” D1 exit
Enjoy the Goodness of Japan with 5 Senses: Ujien Urasando Garden
The "Urasando(back pathway)” is a collective facility that renovates old house built in 1952, and is an entertainment facility that you can enjoy as "Japan's food and culture experiences"! The second floor is a rental space, holding exhibitions of arts and fashion, etc. On the first floor, 4 cafes operate in a style like a food court. Among those 4 stores, I would like to introduce, "Ujien" that you can experience Matcha by yourself!
At here, you can choose from 2 different Matcha, “Koban(考槃)” and “Rakushi(楽只).” “Koban” is more high quality than “Rakushi.”
©宇治園
After you done choosing which Matcha to drink, the staff will teach you verbally how to make the tea. The important thing is how good you can foam it. It seem it is good to mix quickly while writing the word "M" vertically.
There are also Japanese sweets and drinks using tea besides Matcha experience. This is Matcha and Hojicha parfait with raw chocolate.
©宇治園
◎ How to get to hidden Urasando Ujien?
Shop Detail
[Operation Hours] Weekdays 12:00~19:00（L.O 18:30) Weekend&Public Holiday 11:00~19:00 (L.O 18:30)
[Holiday] Monday（Open if it is PH）
[Address] 4-15-2 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
URL:http://www.urasando-garden.jp/#!page5
※Chinese and English is available
[Access] 5 min walk from Tokyo Metro “Omotesando station” A2 exit
Let`s Experience How to Make Matcha: JUGETSUDO Ginza Kabukiza, “Tea Ceremony for Beginners”
©meishu
"JUGETSUDO" is a Japanese tea specialty store that started with the desire to spread Japanese tea around the world. "Maruyama Nori" is famous for seaweed, founded in 1854. The meaning of "JUGETSUDO" is "to gaze at the moon." While viewing the moon and the moon on the mountain on the surface of the water, you can imagine the appearance of people enjoying tea with a thought of Japanese poem.
©meishu
The interior of the store is handled by famous architect, Mr. Kengo Kuma and he used about 3000 white bamboo for the interior. It is a modern yet relaxing space, with thought of visitors to experience the traditional Japanese culture in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere(without BGM), while having JUGETSUDO tea.
©meishu
There are 2 types of experience course in JUGETSUDO. The "Japanese Tea Experience Course", which you can experience the tea as a full course menu; you can touch the various ways of enjoying Japanese tea, and how to make it. The "Tea Ceremony for Beginners" is a course which actually make Matcha by yourself. At here, you can learn the real history of Matcha, how to make it, and how to drink. For this time, I would like to introduce, "Tea Ceremony for Beginners", which is popular among foreigners and you can experience Matcha by yourself. This information will be translated on Japanese and English.
©meishu
Matcha has a different time and labor depending on how to grind, and also the smell and taste changes. It seems that high grade Matcha will become an elegant and well-rounded taste. While having Japanese sweet, the staff first explains the history of Matcha, the hospitality, and shows you the procedure of how to make Matcha. The history of Matcha is deep, it has been transmitted about 800 to 900 years ago, so that you can learn why it is called "a single dose(ippuku)" when you serve matcha. You can enjoy learning while experience.
©meishu
After listening to the story, you will experience on your own. Start by warming the tea bowl, then put the green tea into the tea bowl using Chashaku (bamboo spoon) and put the hot water. The temperature depends on your Matcha, but in general, they often use hot water of 80 degrees.
©meishu
If you put hot water, please use chasen (tea stirrer) and mix the tea. Mix gently and do it in the way staff taught you not to have a lump. Then shake back and forth quickly using your wrist will have nice foam.
©meishu
Hold a tea bowl in your hand and let's drink Matcha made by yourself! It is courteous to drink up to the last drop. Also, in this course, they give you,”Set of Matcha Tea Kit for Beginners” that you can enjoy making Matcha by yourself at home. Why do not you try make your own Matcha and give “a dose” to your family and friends?
©meishu
Shop Detail
[Place] JUGESTUDO Ginza Kabukiza
[Tel] 03-6278-7626 (Until 10:00-18:30）
[Starting time] 11：00/12：00/16：00/17：00 (About 45min)
[Content] Tea Ceremony for Beginners : 6,000 yen per person (tax included)
・Tea ceremony experience（Matcha & Japanese sweet）
・Booklet: How to make Matcha
・Set of Matcha Tea Kit for Beginners
（4,270 yen value）Present
[Limited] 10 people ※Reservation is required ※Reservation can only made by phone call
[URL] http://www.maruyamanori.com
How was it？ This time we introduced the places where you can easily can make Matcha, where you can listen and learn Japanese tea seriously, and the place where you can learn the history and manner plus experience how to make Matcha your own. You will be surprised by knowing the world of Japanese tea deeply. Please try it and experience.
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