Kyoto Tea Ceremony & Imperial Garden Walking Tour

Kyoto

Highlights

Experience a traditional matcha ritual at Tea Ceremony KOTO, complete with freshly prepared green tea and seasonal Japanese sweets
Walk through Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, the historic grounds surrounding the former Imperial Palace
Explore Nijō Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns
Hear the famous “nightingale floors” inside Nijō Castle designed to chirp as a security measure

About

Start your morning at Imadegawa Station and walk together to Tea Ceremony KOTO. Here, you’ll join a small-group tea ceremony led by a local host. You’ll learn the basics of matcha preparation, understand the meaning behind the gestures, and enjoy freshly prepared green tea with traditional Japanese sweets. It’s a simple, hands-on introduction to Kyoto’s tea culture without feeling rushed or formal.

From there, we walk a few minutes to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. This spacious park surrounds the former Imperial Palace and offers wide gravel paths, seasonal trees, and a quieter side of the city. Your guide shares historical context so you can better appreciate what you’re seeing, rather than just passing through.

We continue on foot to Nijō Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its “nightingale floors” and detailed interiors that reflect the power of the Tokugawa shogunate. With guided insights, you’ll understand the political role the castle played in Japan’s history.

The tour ends around 12:30 pm, leaving you with a deeper understanding of Kyoto and plenty of time to explore more on your own.