One-on-one Tea Ceremony Lessons

One-on-one Online Tea Ceremony Lessons

“Let’s learn Japanese tea ceremony which is one of the most traditional Japanese culture.”

Matcha and green tea are getting popular in all over the world.
Do you know how to make tea and how to drink tea correctly?
The Kudan Institute now provides One-on-one Online Tea Ceremony lessons via Zoom.
You can learn basic knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony and intended to be able to make an excellent tea “Matcha”.
Lessons will be conducted in real time and it's one-on-one lessons so that you can learn about Japanese tea ceremony from anywhere in the world and arrange your lessons which suits your request.
If you get in touch “The way of Tea”, you could know comprehensive art of Japan and it would be sure to expand your view of the world.

Features

  • Tea master of Urasenke, Sokei SATO sensei will teach.
  • You can choose to take tea ceremony lessons in one of three languages from Japanese, English, or Italian!
  • Lessons are conducted in real time so you can get answers to your questions right away.
  • Lesson content can be customized to meet your purpose of study and schedule.

Overview

  • Lessons are available on between Tuesday and Friday
    *Lesson are scheduled on Japan Standard Time (JST)
  • One lesson is 60 minutes
  • You need to apply for at least 8 lessons in your initial application
  • Download the Online Private Lesson Agreement

How to apply

1.Contact us via the form below

2.Consultation (Checking schedule and contents of lessons)

※Please note that depending on things like your requested lesson schedule or the contents of the lesson you want, there may be some situations where we cannot arrange the lessons with the teacher.

3.Verification of your internet connection quality

4.Submission of application

5. Issuing an invoice
※In case if you need to get some tea ceremony supplies or utensils, we can include the fee for both supplies/utensils and the applicable shipping fee and send it to you. (There might be a case which we cannot send it to you due to the situation of COVID-19.)

6.Payment

Tuition

Arrangement fee 10,000yen

 

Online

In person

 

Tuition(1h/60min)

Tuition (8 lessons)

Tuition(1h/60min)

Tuition (8 lessons)

In Japanese

5,000 yen/1h

40,000 yen

6,000 yen/1h

48,000 yen

In English or Italian

6,000 yen/1h

48,000 yen

8,000 yen/1h

64,000 yen

※The above prices are subject to a 10% consumption tax.

Contents Example:

※These are a list of Shokyuu (beginner level) lessons.

Basic knowledge

  1. History of tea
  2. The spirits of tea ceremony
  3. Basic seven principle of Rikyu
  4. Pottery and type of tea bowls
  5. Good manners and courtesy
  6. Japanese lesson for tea ceremony

Basic hands-on training

  1. How to use tea utensils
  2. Warigeiko (divided practice)
  3. How to make tea (usucha or koicha)
  4. How to drink tea (usucha or koicha)
  5. How to eat sweets
  6. How to decorate flowers

The basic tea procedure (hands-on training)

  1. Warigeiko (divided practice)
  2. Bonraykutemae (Youtube movie)
  3. Hakobi-temae (hirademae)

※Since it is difficult to teach the tea procedure which use charcoal via online, so we can provide online students with the basic tea procedure of usucha and koicha. However, if you don’t have required tea utensils for the certain lessons, it might be not possible to provide you with the lesson you want to learn.

Tea Ceremony Lesson Curriculum for beginners

（an example. It is possible to arrange the contents）

1. Basic knowledge of tea ceremony

  • Good manners and courtesy for tea ceremony
  • Tea utensils for beginner
  • History of tea
  • The spirits of tea ceremony

2.Let’s try to make an excellent tea

  • Warigeiko (divided practice) -1
  • How to make an excellent tea
  • How to eat sweets
  • How to drink tea
  • Japanese lesson for tea ceremony

3. If you are invited to the tea ceremony...

  • What you need to prepare if you are invited to the tea ceremony
  • Good manners for tea ceremony
  • Warigeiko (divided practice) -2
  • Review: How to make matcha and how to eat sweets and how to drink tea Japanese lesson for tea ceremony

4. Warigeiko (divided practice)

  • Type of tea: Usucha and Koicha
  • Warigeiko (divided practice) -3
  • Bon-Ryaku-Temae（1）
  • Let’s try to make an excellent tea

5.Bon-Ryaku-Temae

  • Basic seven principle of Rikyu
  • Warigeiko (divided practice) -4
  • Bon-Ryaku-Temae（2)
  • Let’s try to make excellent tea

6. Bon-Ryaku-Temae

  • How to decorate flowers
  • Bon-Ryaku-Temae（3）
  • Let’s try to make excellent tea

7. Bon-Ryaku-Temae

  • Pottery and type of tea bowls
  • Bon-Ryaku-Temae（4）
  • Let’s try to make excellent tea

8. Organize for tea ceremony by your self

  • Last performance of your temae

*Please note that the contents of the lecture will be subjected to change.

QA

Do I need to prepare any tea ceremony supplies or utensils in advance?
Yes, you need to prepare Matcha, Chawan (tea bowl or café au lait bowl), Chasen (tea whisk) at least. Required supplies or utensils depends on the contents you want to learn. If you would like to learn the curriculum for beginners, you need to prepare, Matcha, Chawan, Chasen, Chashaku, Fukusa, Chakin, Natsume, and Obon. Even if you don’t have all utensils, the tea master can teach with the utensils you have now.
*In case if you need to get some tea ceremony supplies or utensils, we can include the fee for both supplies/utensils and the applicable shipping fee and send it to you. (There might be a case which we cannot send it to you due to the situation of COVID-19.)
Am I still eligible for the lesson without understanding Japanese at all?
Yes, you are. You can choose the languages either Japanese, English or Italian. becouse the tea master can speak English and Italian as well. You might need to say some sentences in Japanese, but the tea master will teach you in Romanized Japanese.
How do you decide when the lessons will be held?
When you sign the course contract, you will be asked to decide the lesson schedule (time and day of the week). Please see the Terms and Conditions for information on how to reschedule a lesson.
Are there any rules about how long I have to complete my lessons?
We ask that you complete your lessons within a three month period.
Can I continue my lessons after 8 lessons? And do I need to pay for another 8 lessons fee?
You can continue your lessons if you would like to learn more. About the payment, you don’t need to pay another 8 lessons fee. You can continue your lessons with the number of times that you want to extend.

Teachers

The Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture has three tea ceremony instructors on staff. Depending on your preferred lesson style, language, and schedule, we will introduce you to the most suitable instructor.

TAKAHASHI Soukou (Instructor)

Ms. Takahashi has studied the art of tea ceremony for over 15 years under the guidance of Ms. Aoyama of the Hakukei-kai school. In addition to hosting tea gatherings within her tea group, she has served as the host for numerous formal tea ceremonies welcoming a wide range of guests, demonstrating his extensive practical experience.
She currently teaches at the Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture, where she leads tea ceremony experience classes for international students, the [Short-Term Tea Ceremony Course – Friday Afternoon Class], as well as in-person semi-private lessons and online on-on-one tea ceremony lessons.
Known for her gentle demeanor and calm teaching style, Ms. Takahashi provides clear and thoughtful instruction, making her especially well-suited for beginners. Her lessons are ideal for those who feel that tea ceremony might be intimidating or who wish to start casually.
She is also available for lessons in the morning and daytime, allowing for flexible scheduling to suit students’ needs.
As she can conduct lessons in English, her classes are highly recommended for non-Japanese speakers as well.

Languages available: Japanese / English

NAKAJIMA Soshin (Associate Professor)

Ms. Nakajima has long served as an instructor for formal tea ceremony classes at public elementary schools. After teaching at the “Urasenke Tea Ceremony Class for Beginners,” she established her own tea school using the tea room at the Kudan Tea Ceremony Classroom, where she currently holds lessons three times a month. She actively participates in a wide range of tea-related activities, including events with the Urasenke Youth Division and tea ceremony classes held at kimono shops.
At present, Ms. Nakajima teaches tea ceremony experience classes for international students at the Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture. Since 2017, ahe has also been in charge of the [Short-Term Tea Ceremony Course – Thursday Evening Class], long-term courses, and private in-person lessons.
With extensive experience teaching beginners—both Japanese and international students—Ms. Nakajima provides a welcoming and accessible environment for those new to tea ceremony.
She is approachable, highly knowledgeable, and offers clear, thoughtful instruction suitable for learners at all levels, from novice to advanced.
Her lessons are also recommended for those who have had some prior experience and wish to restart their tea journey.

Languages available: Japanese

Ms. SATO Sokei Sato (Associate Professor)

With over 58 years of experience in the practice of tea ceremony, Ms. Sato teaches international students at the Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture using English. She also regularly provides instruction to Japanese students and currently leads tea ceremony experience classes for international learners, online tea ceremony lessons in English, and in-person sessions at the Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture. In addition, she serves as a lecturer for external workshops upon request from companies.

Professional Background：

After working as an international flight attendant for Japan Airlines, Ms. Sato joined the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, a joint initiative operated by the governments of Japan and the European Union. There, she contributed to projects promoting economic relations between Japan and the EU, serving as the Chief Secretariat Officer for international conferences and as the Programme Manager for internship programs targeting university students from both regions. While working in these roles, she privately organized tea gatherings for over 500 guests, including VIPs, business professionals, and students from abroad. In recent years, she has actively conducted tea ceremony workshops in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia, welcoming over 100 participants and expanding her international outreach. Ms. Sato is fluent in Japanese, English, and Italian. Her multilingual ability allows non-Japanese speakers to comfortably ask questions and participate in lessons in English or Italian. With extensive experience in corporate and overseas tea ceremony workshops, she also offers on-site lectures and demonstrations in English.

Languages available: Japanese / English / Italian

Photos from the course

Impressions from Online Tea Ceremony Course Students

Indonesian student (taking a course from Indonesia)

It is very important for us to pay attention to Sensei and Sensei is very humble, willing to answer every question if we have, so we must ask Sensei if you not clear with something.

Australian student (taking a course from Singapore)

After this course, now I know Chado is not just making a cup of green tea that simple, I’m glad I did attend this course, highly recommend for those who are interested. Teacher is friendly and well experienced.

Tea Ceremony supplies or utensils

Name of utensils English Photo
茶碗（ちゃわん）
Chawan		 Tea bowl or Café au laitbowl Tea bowl or Café au laitbowl
茶筅（ちゃせん）
Chasen		 Tea whisk Chasen
抹茶（まっちゃ）
Matcha		 Powdered green tea Matcha
帛紗（ふくさ）
Fukusa		 Silk cloth Fukusa
*Red/Orange color: for female Purple color: for male(This rules are for Urasenke Tea Ceremony, there are other colors.
You can use one you like.)
*There is a size. The fukusa in the photo is 8号.(8号 is a level of thickness)
*The orange one is not silk. This can be red orpurple color. This is cheaper.
茶杓（ちゃしゃく）
Chashaku		 Tea scoop Chashaku
茶巾（ちゃきん）
Chakin		 linen cloth Chakin
棗（なつめ）
Natsume		 a plastic container forpowdered thin tea Natsume
山道盆（やまみちぼん）
/Yamamichi-bon		 a tray with a slope-shaped edge used fortray tea service inJapanese tea ceremony Yamamichi-bon
懐紙（かいし）
Kaishi		 a packet of paper Kaishi
扇子（せんす）
Sensu		 folding fan Sensu
楊枝（ようじ）＆
楊枝差（ようじさし）		 Yoji&Yoji-sashi　sweetpick &sweet pickholder Yoji&Yoji-sashi　sweetpick &sweet pickholder
 

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