Osaka Dotonbori Tea Ceremony: Learn from Expert Instructor

Learn the ritual and make your own matcha in the heart of Osaka

A traditional Japanese tea ceremony class in Dotonbori, central Osaka, where an instructor with over 10 years of experience teaches you the culture and etiquette of the ceremony, then guides you through making and drinking matcha tea with Japanese sweets. The session runs 45 minutes and welcomes children from age 5. Caffeine-free matcha milk is available for younger participants.

The experience

You arrive in Dotonbori, the busy shopping and entertainment district in Osaka's Namba/Shinsaibashi area, and step into a space built for this single purpose. An instructor with over a decade of experience in the tea ceremony greets you and begins by explaining the culture and history behind the practice, not as a lecture, but as the foundation for what you're about to do. The room settles into a different pace.

You watch the instructor perform the ceremony first, seeing the precise movements and the care that goes into each gesture. Then you make your own matcha: the instructor guides you through the steps, showing you how to whisk the powdered green tea into hot water, how to hold the bowl, how the ritual itself is the point. You drink what you've made, and Japanese sweets arrive alongside it. If you're bringing children, they get caffeine-free matcha milk instead, so everyone participates the same way.

The whole experience takes 45 minutes. Public transportation stops nearby, so you don't need a car to get there. Just use Google Maps and search for the address at 1-chome Higashi-5-26 in Dotonbori (note the "Higashi" character, the most common mistake is leaving it out). Children under 5 need advance notice and may not be able to join the regular class, so contact the instructor ahead if that's your group.

What’s included

• Instruction from a tea ceremony instructor with over 10 years of experience.
• two cups of matcha tea.
• Japanese sweets.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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 today

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Theosaka

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to watch and taste tea rather than make it yourself, and you're in Namba. The Dotonbori location means no travel time from nearby shopping.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I learn in the tea ceremony class?

The instructor teaches you the culture, traditions and etiquette of the Japanese tea ceremony, then walks you through making matcha tea yourself. You watch the full ceremony performed first, so you understand the movements and their meaning before you do them.

What's included in the 45-minute session?

The class includes instruction from the tea ceremony instructor, two cups of matcha tea, and Japanese sweets. All fees and taxes are included in the price.

How do I get to the tea ceremony location in Dotonbori?

The facility is in central Osaka's Namba/Shinsaibashi district, with public transportation options nearby. Use Google Maps and search for the address at 1-chome Higashi-5-26, Dotonbori. Make sure to include "Higashi" in your search, as it's often left out by mistake.

Can I make my own tea, or do I just watch?

You both watch and make. The instructor performs the full ceremony first so you see how it's done, then you prepare and drink your own matcha tea under their guidance.