Published on May, 2025
The Maikoya tea ceremony was a wonderful and very popular experience. When booking, I was only presented with a few 9:30am slots, which filled quickly—so I’d recommend booking in advance.
The tea house was easy to find. Upon arrival, I was given a wristband and directed to the building where we were dressed in kimonos. The process was smooth and enjoyable. We could choose from over 300 kimonos in a variety of colours, along with an obi (the decorative sash worn over the kimono). There was a good size range, from XS to XXXL, and even a young girl, around age 7, was dressed beautifully.
The lady who helped dress me was lovely and assisted in matching my kimono and obi. I kept some of my own clothes on—leggings and a vest top—which made me feel quite warm once dressed, so I’d recommend wearing light layers.
Once dressed, we waited in the peaceful garden and took photos while other guests were finishing. By 10am, we entered the tea house and were seated on the floor in a group of about 15 people.
Our host, DoDo, was charming and light-hearted, joking how the bird may be extinct, but she was very much here! She explained the history of the building, the significance of welcoming guests, and the detailed tradition of making matcha tea. She encouraged us to take photos and even offered to take pictures for us on our phones—both before the ceremony and while we whisked our matcha.
The ceremony lasted about 40 minutes. Afterwards, we had access to explore three beautiful gardens and take more photos. Everyone looked so elegant in their kimonos—it really added to the experience.
I would highly recommend the Maikoya tea ceremony for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Japanese culture in a respectful and enjoyable way.