Day 9 – Kyoto Tea Ceremony, Kobo-sen Market at Toji Temple and Cinema

This morning we attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Juan. We were led through the ritual with demonstrations of tea making, explanations of historical significance and instructions on how to make our own tea when the time came. Traditionally a tea ceremony lasts 4 to 5 hours, including bitter matcha (green) tea drinking, followed by a meal and then the mild matcha tea being prepared and drunk at the end. Today we only did this final stage.

The ceremony is centred around the five principles of Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku and Wabi (harmony, respect, purity, tranquility and connection to nature). It was a great relaxing experience and the tea master was very kind in allowing us to sit comfortably and take pictures throughout the ceremony.

Each utensil used throughout the ceremony has its own specific meaning and symbolism. The matcha tea holder had carpe diem written on it, the tea master chose it because she wanted to seize the day with us. The name of the tea spoon translated to “light seen through dew drops on a rose petal”. The water used traditionally came from the mountain, but now it is gotten from the Temple. Each bowl also had a design that must be shown respect, by resting in your dominant had and cupped by the other hand, then turned twice to face the others when drinking and back to you when its sitting. The whisk made of one stick of bamboo is used to froth the tea, to give a creamy texture. When the matcha is drunk after eating the sweet, it has a nicer flavour.

Next we visit the Kobo-sen Market at Toji Temple, which occurs on the 21st of every month. It has over 1,000 store holders selling their wares in the grounds of the Toji Temple, everything from Japanese snacks and street food, to plants and bonsai and affordable kimonos.

After purchasing much more than we should have, we walked to a shopping centre for lunch and then bought tickets to a movie (Ladies Day!) in English but with Japanese subtitles.

Lunch: Udon noodles in fish broth, fried chicken rice and tempura veggie nest and water.

Then back to the ryokan for onsen and resting on our futons before visiting our favoured shrines tomorrow!