Trying Matcha in Kanazawa? The Few Manners You Need
You do not need to study the tea ceremony to enjoy a bowl of matcha. I'm Yuri, born and raised in Kanazawa, and these are the few steps that cover a first visit.
Tea house hours checked October 2026
The short answer
🍵 Hosts expect first-timers. They show you each step.
Why matcha feels harder than it is
A tea ceremony looks strict because it is a real practice. People study it for years, and every movement has a meaning.
Kanazawa takes tea seriously. The Maeda lords who ruled this area studied tea under Sen no Rikyu and later tea masters, and they supported tea culture in the city. Tea gatherings are still held here almost every day.
Kanazawa is also named with Kyoto and Matsue as one of Japan's leading centres of wagashi, the sweets served with tea. Morihachi first made its Choseiden rakugan in 1625.
A tea experience for travellers is not a formal gathering. It is a short, relaxed version. Nobody expects you to know the rules before you arrive.
How to drink matcha without worrying
Sit comfortably, then eat the sweet
Kneeling, called seiza, is traditional. Many tea experiences also accept sitting cross-legged or with your legs to the side. If your knees hurt, tell the host.
The sweet comes on a small plate with a wooden pick. Hold the plate in your left hand, cut the sweet into small pieces, and finish it before the tea arrives. The sweetness balances the bitter tea.
Bow back, then use both hands
When the bowl is set in front of you, the person serving bows. A small bow back is enough.
Pick the bowl up with your right hand and rest it on your left palm.
Turn, drink, wipe, turn back
The front of the bowl faces you as a sign of respect. Turn it about a quarter turn clockwise, so you do not drink from the front.
Drink in a few sips. Wipe the rim where your lips touched with your thumb and finger, then turn the bowl back before you set it down.
Where to try matcha in Kanazawa
Shigure-tei tea house
Shigure-tei is a tea house inside Kenroku-en. It was rebuilt in 2000 from a preserved floor plan of a villa of the Maeda lords. It serves matcha with its own Japanese sweet, which changes with the season.
| Open | Closed |
|---|---|
| 9:00–16:30 last entry 16:00 | 29 Dec – 3 Jan |
Groups reserve directly with the tea house. Programs and hours can change, so check before you go.
What I do on my tours
- I can build a matcha experience into your tour. The experience fee is separate from the tour price
- I explain each step before it happens, so you are never guessing what comes next
- A break whenever you want one
I recently shared a matcha experience with a family from Belgium.
I was born and raised in Kanazawa, and I am a licensed nurse. If sitting on the floor is hard for you, tell me before the tour and we will plan around it.
Quick answers
Do I have to kneel?
No. Many tea experiences accept other ways of sitting. Tell the host if kneeling is hard.
Is matcha very bitter?
It is a little bitter. That is why the sweet comes first.
Which way do I turn the bowl?
About a quarter turn clockwise, so you do not drink from the front. Follow your host if they show a different way.
Can I take photos?
It depends on the tea house. Ask before you take any.
Is a matcha experience included in Yuri's tour?
It can be added to your tour, but the experience fee is separate from the tour price.
When is Shigure-tei open?
9:00 to 16:30, last entry 16:00. It closes from 29 December to 3 January.