Matcha tea ceremony in Matsuyama Castle: Whisk your own

Make matcha in a quiet garden inside a castle

A 50-minute tea ceremony experience at Matsuyama Castle where you whisk matcha using traditional tools in a private tea room overlooking the Ninomaru Garden. Your instructor is a certified tea ceremony master who also teaches flower arrangement and calligraphy, and guides you through the history and etiquette of the practice while you prepare and taste your own bowl. Admission to the garden and seasonal Japanese sweets are included. English-language instruction is available.

The experience

The tea room sits in the Ninomaru Garden of Matsuyama Castle, a historic setting designed to pull you away from the crowds outside. You'll spend about 50 minutes in a small, private space where the instructor walks you through the gestures and philosophy behind the tea ceremony before you pick up the whisk yourself. The matcha preparation is hands-on: you learn the proper technique for whisking the powdered tea into hot water, and the instructor explains the etiquette and history as you work. Afterward you drink what you've made, paired with seasonal Japanese sweets.

Your guide is a tea ceremony instructor with master qualifications in flower arrangement and calligraphy, so the teaching goes beyond the mechanics of whisking. You'll hear about the aesthetic principles and the concept of "omotenashi" (Japanese hospitality) embedded in the practice. The small group size and private setting mean the instructor can give careful attention to each person, and even first-timers leave understanding what they've done and why it matters. English-language guidance is available.

The garden backdrop makes this a popular spot for photographs, and the quiet location inside the castle grounds gives the experience a sense of separation from the rest of Matsuyama. Public transportation stops are nearby if you're coming from elsewhere in the city.

What’s included

• Admission to Ninomaru Garden.
• instruction from a certified tea ceremony master.
• matcha whisking using traditional tools.
• seasonal Japanese sweets.
• English-language guidance available.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Friday5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by 宗里

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you can follow the instruction and the cultural context comfortably even if Japanese is new to you. Small groups mean the instructor can adjust the pace and depth to where you are, making this work equally well for couples, families and solo travelers encountering a tea ceremony for the first time.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can I do a tea ceremony experience if I've never tried matcha before?

Yes. The instructor teaches beginners with confidence and the content is designed to be easy to follow. You'll learn the history and etiquette while actually whisking, so the practice and the explanation happen together.

What exactly do I make and drink during the experience?

You whisk matcha powder into hot water using traditional tools, creating the frothy green tea yourself. You then drink the matcha you've prepared, served alongside seasonal Japanese sweets.

Is the tea room really inside Matsuyama Castle?

The tea room is located in the Ninomaru Garden, which is part of the Matsuyama Castle grounds. You'll have views of the historic garden while you prepare and drink your tea.

What's included in the price?

Admission to the Ninomaru Garden, the tea ceremony instruction, and seasonal Japanese sweets are included. You bring nothing except yourself.