Tea Ceremony in Beppu: Learn Matcha from a Local Expert

Make your own matcha tea under expert instruction in a restored traditional house

Learn the history and etiquette of the Japanese tea ceremony in Beppu's century-old town house, guided in English by a local instructor in traditional kimono. You'll watch a professional demonstration, then prepare and taste your own cup of matcha with a traditional Japanese sweet.

The experience

You arrive at a recently modernised century-old Japanese town house in Beppu, a community space built to host this kind of hands-on cultural experience. An English-speaking local guide dressed in traditional kimono walks you through the history, etiquette and cultural weight of the tea ceremony step by step, not as abstract information, but as context for what you're about to do. You watch a professional perform the ceremony in full, seeing how each movement and pause carries meaning.

Then you make your own cup. The guide sets out the full tea ceremony equipment and shows you how to whisk the matcha powder into hot water, adjusting your grip and rhythm as you go. You taste what you've made, sitting with a traditional Japanese sweet served alongside. The whole experience runs about an hour, which is enough time to move past watching into actually doing it yourself.

Arrive on time: the guide asks all participants to be punctual so the pacing works for everyone in the group. Public transportation stops are nearby if you're coming from elsewhere in Beppu.

What’s included

• Full tea ceremony equipment.
• one cup of matcha tea per person.
• traditional Japanese sweets.
• live instruction in English from a local guide in traditional kimono.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 and 15:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Space Beppu

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you can follow the history and technique comfortably even if you've never encountered a tea ceremony before. If you prefer Japanese instruction, that option is available at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

What exactly happens during the tea ceremony demonstration?

A local instructor in traditional kimono performs the full ceremony, showing you the precise movements, pauses and gestures that make up the ritual. The demonstration explains the history and cultural importance of each step before you try it yourself.

Do I actually get to make the tea, or just watch?

You make your own cup of matcha after the demonstration. The guide provides all the equipment and walks you through whisking the tea powder and hot water together, then you drink what you've prepared.

What's included in the price?

The full set of tea ceremony equipment, one cup of matcha tea per person, and a traditional Japanese sweet are all included. The guide and instruction are also part of the experience.

How long does the whole thing take?

The experience runs for about an hour from start to finish, including the demonstration, your own tea-making and tasting.