外国人客ウケ抜群！白老で『茶道体験』しよう！本格的な茶室体験

Have you ever experienced a green tea ceremony in Shiraoi? Hosts who may have fifty years or more of experience will demonstrate full-fledged tea ceremonies from their homes. This is for children or adults experiencing a tea ceremony for the first time. Visitors from overseas will also be pleased with the experience! I experienced a very authentic green tea ceremony that taught me carefully with Nick, who is in charge of re-editing this blog English.

Lecturer is Chizuko Hanawa.

Aコース：

和の雰囲気の中でお抹茶と和菓子を味わえます。

Bコース：

本格的なお道具を使い、ご自身でもお茶を点ててお召し上がりいただけます。
参加者同士で飲み比べることもできますよ。

【Tea ceremony experience contents and application method】

Course contents of tea ceremony experience

※Please make your tea ceremony reservations at least 3 days in advance.
※Please tell us your name, number of reservations, desired date, etc. by phone / email.

The teacher will welcome you in a kimono.

There is an entrance to the tea room from the left side. I was so excited since I had never entered a full-fledged tea room!

Does Nick’s big body, over 100kg, pass through here? I wondered, but it was fine! The narrow entrance to the tea room is “to prevent samurai with a sword from entering” In the world of tea the ceremony, they explain that all are equal, regardless of their status.

The tea room with a scroll and 4.5 tatami mats covering the floor. First, you greet the scroll.

This is the next room where you can sit on a chair and experience the tea ceremony. The practice of sitting on this chair and making a point is called Misonotana. I saw this for the first time. 

This is more comfortable for foreigners who are not good at sitting in the traditional manner.

Start of tea ceremony experience!
Nick, who began studying Japanese in 2013 and attends calligraphy classes in Canada, experienced the first tea ceremony! Nick also trained in karate many years ago, and loves Japanese culture.

First, the tea confectionery is prepared.

Tea is brought in. They also explained how to hold the bowl which has seasonal patterns.

Nick touched on his favourite aspects of Japanese traditional culture. He is pleased! He also tried it in the tea room.

He struggled to sit at first because he had no habit of sitting on the floor. If there is no wall, there is likely to be a roll behind.

He’s finally sitting with his hands on his knees … Ganbare!

The sweets that the instructor chooses are seasonal sweets. They were very delicious.

Here you are.

Green tea is delicious!

The ceremony was over and he extended his legs.

After that, we returned to the tea room with the Misonotana, and Nick brewed green tea. 

He is done!

Instructor’s history

Chizuko experienced a tea ceremony for the first time at age 19. She began performing tea ceremonies at the age of 33 as a student at the Muroran branch of the tea ceremony. When she expanded her house in 1989, she created two tea rooms. Her tea ceremony history is over 50 years! I’m a super teacher! She hopes that the tea ceremony will be more familiar and that foreign customers will also experience it.

This tea ceremony location is an 18-minute walk from Upopoy (National Ainu Museum). As an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, isn’t it just good to look at this room and take pictures? It is a highly recommended experience for small children, foreign visitors and international students!