The traditional tea ceremony (or chado) is a big part of Japan’s cultural heritage. We’ve always found them quite fascinating, but they can also be slightly intimidating because there are so many rules involved (starting with how to hold the cup).

That said, people in Japan are definitely aware that most foreigners didn’t grow up learning the cultural etiquette, so everyone we met was very indulgent. Still, you probably want your tea ceremony to go well, so check out this little guide for a few pointers on what to do.

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A Brief History of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

We were surprised to learn that the tradition is comparatively young in Japan and was only introduced during the Nara Period in the 8^th century AD, most likely by Japanese emissaries sent to the court of the Chinese Tang Emperors.

Granted, this is only young if you compare it to the Chinese themselves, who’ve been drinking tea for several thousand years, as has been shown by recent finds of tea plants in the tomb of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD).

In Japan, tea was the drink of choice among the royalty and priesthood for centuries, until it was made more popular during the Muromachi Period (14^th to 16^th centuries). The Shoin architectural style from that time is still the one that you can find in many Japanese tea houses today.

The formal procedure of the ceremony goes back to Master Sen no Rikyū, a 16^th-century philosopher, who defined the four main principles that he found necessary for tea drinking as a spiritual practice: harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.

These four leading concepts have influenced the tea ceremony to this day.

Tea Houses, Tools and Sorts of Tea

The tea ceremony takes place in the traditional chashitsu or tea room, which consists of a simple room with a tatami floor that is sometimes decorated with flower arrangements or inscribed scrolls displayed in an alcove (tokonoma).

Historically, the tea halls were often surrounded by a garden, and if you’re looking for the full experience, I highly recommend finding a place where that is actually the case. For instance, we had our first tea ceremony at the beautiful Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu.

The tools that are used to prepare and serve the tea (chadougu), are supposed to represent the Zen philosophy which explains why they’re relatively simple and functional.

The tea that is served at the ceremonies is matcha, a powdered green tea that is produced by grinding dry tea leaves. It has a sweet taste with a slightly bitter note, and we always got a little sweet together with it.

Japanese Tea Ceremony Etiquette

Because of the history that I outlined above, the Japanese tea ceremony has a pretty codified etiquette and procedure with a lot of dos and don’ts.

Tea Ceremony Dress Code

The tea ceremony is usually done in modest clothes, so avoid shorts, sleeveless shirts, etc. I’d say a good benchmark is dress as you would when visiting a temple.

Something else that’s frowned upon is wearing too much perfume as this is thought to distract from the smell and taste of the tea.

Entering the Tea House and How to Sit

Often, there’s a basin with water near the entrance of the place, where you should wash your hands before entering. Afterwards, you step through a small door (nijiriguchi), which means you’ll have to bow a little when walking in.

This is supposed to give a sense of humility and equality among everyone who’s taking part in the ceremony. If you are physically able to, you should sit down in a seiza position (with your thighs resting on your calves).

This can get a little painful if you’re not used to it and if it’s not a super formal ceremony, it’s also okay for women to sit with their legs folded to one side and for men to sit in the cross-legged agura style. If you can’t do it at all, the houses sometimes have little chairs, too.

The Preparation of the Tea

Here you don’t have to do anything other than watch the tea being prepared, which is usually done right in front of you. The host will mix the matcha powder with water and stir it with a little bamboo whisk called chasen until it becomes foamy.

Drinking the Tea

If the tea comes with a small sweet (wagashi), you should eat it before you start drinking the tea. Once your cup has been filled by the host, it’s thought polite to slightly bow before taking it.

As the cups have no handles, you should grab it with your right hand at a 90° angle (or 3 o’clock if you will) and place it atop of your left hand, which should cradle it from underneath. Then you should rotate it a bit so you don’t drink from the front of the bowl, which is usually decorated with a picture.

After sipping the tea, you should put the empty cup back on the tatami mat and bow again to the host. If you’re asked for a refill, you can accept or decline it (no option is considered impolite here).

Cleaning the Equipment and Departure

After everyone has finished their tea, the host will clean the equipment and then show you to the exit, where you will bow once more to each other before leaving.

Where to Try the Tea Ceremony in Japan

We saw traditional tea houses in basically every city and village that we visited in Japan. As the ceremonies are usually very intimate, it could happen that they are booked out, so if you want to try it at a particular place, I’d say it’s best to pre-book it.

If you’re still unsure about the correct etiquette, there are different tea ceremony experiences, which are specifically aimed at foreigners to give you an introduction, so you won’t have to worry about making mistakes.

Many can be booked online, like this one in Kyoto, which is presided over by a Geisha or this one (also in Kyoto), where you get to wear a kimono during the ceremony. If you prefer plain clothes, they’ve got you covered, too.