Urasenke Chadō Research Center

Anyone interested in tea ceremony should make their first stop the Urasenke Chadō Research Center. Urasenke is Japan’s largest tea school and hosts hundreds of students annually who come from branch schools worldwide to further their studies in ‘the way of tea’. The gallery (admission ¥800; 9.30am-4.30pm, closed Mon) located on the 1st and 2nd floors holds quarterly exhibitions on tea-related arts; call to see if there is a show being held during your stay. The entrance fee entitles you to a bowl of matcha and a sweet. The Konnichi-an library (431-6474; admission free; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, to 3pm Sat, closed Sun & public holidays) has more than 50,000 books (about 100 in English) plus videos on tea, which can be viewed. If you’d like more information, contact Urasenke’s Office of International Affairs (Kokusai Kyoku; 431-3111).