Kimono Tea Ceremony Experience At Kyoto Oritzuruya, Nishiki

I booked this experience hoping to dive deeper into Japanese culture, and it exceeded all my expectations—especially for such a surprisingly reasonable price! The activity was perfectly split into two parts: First, we spent about an hour indoors being fitted into authentic kimonos—complete with gorgeous hair styling! After taking initial photos, we were invited into a serene tea room where our host gently guided us through the precise art and customs of serving the perfect Matcha. It felt deeply authentic and truly made us feel connected to the spirit of Japan. The second part made it even more special: we were allowed to wear our kimonos outside for the rest of the day until their 6 PM closing time. While we didn't need that full duration to capture all our amazing photos, having that freedom made the afternoon feel completely unhurried. Wandering past historic Japanese homes and streets in full traditional attire was magical, and we walked away with memories we'll treasure forever. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Kyoto!

A fun experience. I particularly enjoyed the getting ready process where we chose our kimonos and were dressed by the lovely ladies. The tea ceremony was very interesting. We had also booked the calligraphy class which we also enjoyed and were able to bring away our efforts as a souvenir. All in all I would recommend this if you find yourself in Kyoto.

Very well organised, very friendly and helpfull staff, beautiful, well exercised ceremony. Both interesting and mindfilling.

While the entire experience was conducted well, it felt rushed and there was a lot of unnecessary waiting. Also the value for money is questionable for this activity, when compared with other similar activity providers.

What an incredible experience! First, you are dressed in a traditional Kimono (by a literal team) and then another lady styles your hair in the traditional way including hair pin and flowers. There is the opportunity for pictures before taking part in a traditional tea ceremony, which was absolutely amazing. Being part of the historic ritual was really magical, led by a tea master. She was very friendly and gave so much information about what was happening and why. I had booked to do calligraphy afterwards which was harder than it looks but still fun and you get to take home the finished product.

Such a fun experience. Everyone that helped us with our kimonos was super nice and friendly and the tea ceremony itself was lovely. Learned so much more about this beautiful culture.

First tea ceremony and loved it! The history and process was very interesting. Our host was great at explaining all with calming and at the same time high energy!

This was such a lovely experience. It was great learning about the history of the tea ceremony and how it’s led by a traditional tea master. The calligraphy portion was really fun too and we get to bring it back as a souvenir. You also get to wear a kimono and they let you borrow it until 6pm. It was so fun! I definitely recommend, I’d do it again.

Done this today to get a Japanese tea experience. Absolute great set up and worth while if this is your thing. Very well organized.

Beautiful glimpse into traditional arts of tea ceremony and calligraphy. We witnessed the purification of the tea, ate wagashi (Japanese sweet) and whisked our own matcha. I enjoyed learning about calligraphy. It requires much more grace than I possess but I was allowed to practice a character until I felt confident and made a final one on nice paper to take home as a souvenir. Being invited to wear a kimono made this experience even more special, and afterwards the they allowed us to wander around Kyoto in our kimonos for the day. It was overall a truly lovely experience! Staff was very friendly and informative. I highly recommend!

It was a great opportunity to gain knowledge in Japanese culture.

This was probably what I expected. It was scheduled to last 90minutes, however about 30minutes was spent with everyone getting changed and photographs. And it wa lovely getting changed it part of what we wanted to do. The actual ceremony element was maybe 25-30mins but very informative and our host was outstanding. It was then time for more photos and to get changed. We were definitely all done well before the 90mins. We hadn’t opted for the writing element.

This wqw wonderfully organized and efficient without feeling too “touristy” although we were all tourists! We did the tea ceremony with kimono and calligraphy lesson. It was a great experience and the bonus was you were allowed to wear the kimono out afterwards until 6pm! My daughters (14 and 18) wore them for about an hour afterwards and then returned them. Would highly recommend!

This was an excellent experience. Everyone was amazing, including the front desk staff, the stylists behind our kimonos, and the ladies doing our hair. The tea ceremony was meaningful and insightful.

Best experience in Japan so far. The staff was so nice and inviting making us feel comfortable and excited for every activity. Very orderly and clean!

The place was very crowded and changing rooms were shared with very little privacy. However the ceremony itself was quite nice

This experience exceeded every expectation I had. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with genuine warmth and kindness. The instructors were gracious, patient, and wonderfully engaging, creating an atmosphere that felt both peaceful and inviting. The tea ceremony was beautifully explained, allowing me to understand that every gesture has meaning. Rather than simply watching a demonstration, I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility that are woven into this centuries-old tradition. The calligraphy lesson was equally enjoyable. I quickly discovered that it is far more challenging than it appears, which only increased my admiration for the skill and years of practice required to master it. The instructors were encouraging throughout, making the experience fun while honoring the artistry of the tradition. The intimate setting allowed us to slow down, disconnect from the busy world outside, and fully appreciate the beauty of Japanese culture. It never felt rushed or commercialized. Instead, it felt like being welcomed into a meaningful cultural tradition. If you are visiting Kyoto and want an authentic experience that goes beyond sightseeing, I cannot recommend Kyoto Oritzuruya highly enough. I left with a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture, wonderful memories, and a renewed respect for the beauty that can be found in slowing down and being fully present. Thank you to the entire team for sharing your knowledge, your patience, and your hospitality. It was a truly special experience.

A wonderful, authentic experience in Kyoto! The kimono dressing and hair styling were seamless, and the tea and snacks were delicious. Highly recommend!

Wow what an amazing experience!!! It was so wonderful to learn about a tea ceremony and make our own matcha. It was a bonus to be able to dress up in traditional kimono. We had so much fun!!!

Welcoming, informative, beautiful and peaceful. We got to choose our kimonos, they helped us get dressed and we learned a lot.

Our family (kids 12 and 18) thuroughly enjoyed the experience. We were a bit apprensive about getting dressed in the Kimono, but the staff was extremely kind and helpful. The tea ceremony was educational and enjoyable.

A very calm and peaceful introduction to this part of Japanese culture. Our hostess, Taicho, was very informative and cordial, making us comfortable. My 12 and 14 yo enjoyed selecting their kimono and learning to make matcha properly.

A wonderful experience shared with family and friends. A must for everyone visiting Kyoto. Dressing in a Kimona and walking around the city was definitely a highlight.

Great experience! They dressed us so well, there was so much choice, it was so welcoming. The tea ceremony was lovely, honestly please book it!

This has been one of the highlights of my trip. Being dressed for the tea was fun and very considerate. All the women helping were very kind and gentle. The tea ceremony was beautiful and felt so meaningful. If you’re worried about sitting for so long or have bad knees they have some mini chairs. It was a wonderful experience!

I absolutely loved this experience start to finish. It’s definitely a must do for men and women in Japan.

We loved this traditional tea ceremony and the kimonos. It was also nice to be able to leave for the day to take photos with the kimonos at other locations.

The staff was so friendly and the experience was all we dreamed it would be. It’s so intimate. Would do again.

Phenomenal experience. Our experience felt very authentic and it was such a respectful and honorable ceremony. The staff was so kind and helpful with our kimono fitting. Plus, it is conveniently located just next to the market. Highly recommend!!

The staff was very friendly, you cam choose your own kimono and can walk around the city with it. Tea ceremony is short but very nice, it is explained well.

Lovely traditional tea ceremony experience and such good fun to wear a kimono too. The whole experience was amazing - would 100% recommend

We had a fantastic time at the kimono tea ceremony in Kyoto Oritzuruya. The setting was calm and traditional, creating a truly authentic cultural experience. The host was warm, welcoming, and explained each step clearly, making it easy to follow and appreciate. Wearing the kimono added something special, and the calligraphy session was a fantastic bonus—such a fun and memorable hands-on experience. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a genuine taste of Japanese culture.

My friend and I travelled with our partners who chose to not participate. We had a fabulous time and meet up with them for a whiskey drink around the corner.

The Japanese cultural immersion experience was great! We learned a great deal of kimono and if the Japanese tea ceremony!

It was such a wonderful experience. They make you feel special. Loved wearing the kimono and you can keep it on and walk around for a couple of hours.

Most of the time is spent changing in and out of kimonos. Tea ceremony short but as expected with ample time to take photos in the tea room afterward.

The most magical experience. 30/10. Highly highly recommend. I would even do it again. Incredible staff, clean & explain the tea ceremony to really understand the authenticity

Most of the time is spent getting dressed in kimono and taking pictures. The tea ceremony itself is relatively short. But the time was well spent and would recommend as a break from the market.

This was a good Experience learning about Japanes tea ceremony history. The ladies who help you with the Kimonos make you feel very special. You can wear the gowns out until about 6pm. If you’re solo, someone at the facility will help you take a few photos

It was very streamlined. Took our 19yo son and his GF along and he did not want to do it (insert kicking & screaming emoji) Anyway everyone loved it especially the girls dressing up in the traditional kimonos and getting our hair done! Loved the demonstration of the tea ceremony & seeing the passion with the staff around keeping and showing this tradition- Yudai really touched our hearts💖 The matcha tea is definitely a unique taste! Definitely recommend- you can also wander around with your kimino if you wish outside, not sure for how long as we didn’t.

From the moment we arrived, it felt so calm and inviting and we were looked after so well. From choosing the kimonos, getting our hair done, the tea ceremony and the explanations of the significance of drinking and sharing matcha tea to the calligraphy lesson afterwards... it was all an absolutely incredible experience. I highly recommend taking time to do this while in Kyoto.

This was such a lovely experience for me. I'm a solo traveler and I loved being able to get all dressed up and join a ceremony. The kimono was put on me so meticulously and there were many hair piece options. The staff also took photos for me, which was nice and very thoughtful (I even got a photo with a beautiful katana)

One of the best experiences we’ve ever had—definitely not something to skip. My wife had been wanting to do this, so I booked it for her and she absolutely loved it. Being able to walk around in the kimonos made it even more special.

It was wonderful to wear the cultural Kimonos - so much fun to experience having hair done and picking out all the pieces and accessories for this event!! The ceremony was so nice as well!

Wonderful experience and Kyoto Oritzuruya made a Tripadvisor mishap all right. First the experience itself; you can feel the reverence and care taken with their guests through the whole experience, from preparing for the tea and explaining each step in sharing tea together. We also participated in the calligraphy experience. Also very fun and informative. As for the Tripadvisor mishap, they confirmed our request to change the date (by one day), but the ticket they issued was not updated. This change was not communicated to Kyoto Oritzurury and they assumed that we did not show, as initially scheduled. On arrival, we explained our request to change the date was confirmed by TA, but our ticket was for the prior day. KO understand the situation and added us to the next session. Wonderful.

Fantastic Touristy but really nice experience Highly recommend 🤩 great time was had by all and the ladies were so lovely

Such a wonderful and educational experience about the tea ceremony and how so much time with the purifications process goes into it before the tea ceremony and welcoming people in. Also, the fun part was learning how much time goes into the kimono dressing.

They had beautiful kimonos in all sizes and colours. I am plus sized and was worried that they would not fit but they carried wide selection and i had many to choose from. They did my hair beautifully even though i am black and have a different hair texture. Staff was very efficient and kind and accomodating. Tea ceremony was interesting and a unique experience to have while on vacation.

This experience was one of the absolute highlights of my entire two-week Japan trip! It was so much fun picking out our own kimono prints, choosing hair sticks, and having our hair beautifully styled. Being pampered by 4–5 women who dressed us and shared insights about their culture made the experience feel so special and immersive. I loved that we could keep the outfits on until 6 PM to explore the town, it really extended the magic of the day. The only minor downside was that getting ready felt a bit rushed and overwhelming at times; I wish there had been more opportunity to savor the moment. The tea ceremony was brief, but the guide was knowledgeable and added a lovely cultural touch. Overall, an unforgettable experience that I would highly recommend!