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A chaji is a much more formal gathering, usually including a full-course kaiseki meal followed by confections, thick tea, and thin tea. This enchanting experience blends authentic tea ceremony with kimono splendor, offering a window into Japan’s soul that lingers long after the last sip. Embrace the tranquility of this centuries-old setting, savoring the flavors and beauty of Japanese tea culture without a formal ceremony. Every detail, from the rustic tea utensils to the precise movements of the kimono-clad host, is a testament to the enduring spirit of chanoyu.
History of Japanese Tea Houses
Don’t compromise on the materials used in this phase because it affects your foundation’s strength. This Sencha Green Tea is certified 100% organic by JONA (Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association) and JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard). It’s sourced from Uji, Kyoto, Japan, known for its premium tea production.
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This design choice encourages a sense of closeness and intimacy among the guests. The use of sliding doors, known as shoji, allows for flexibility in the space, enabling the tea house to be adapted for different occasions. One of the key features of Japanese tea house architecture is its minimalistic design.
The Shoseian Teahouse
Chazen Tokyo isn’t just a teahouse; it’s a living tapestry where tradition embraces the present, inviting you to savor the timeless artistry of Japanese tea. An experienced tea master guides you through the serene ritual, each whisk whispering centuries of tradition. Originally built in 1949 in Kyoto, Japan, this teahouse was gifted to Royce Greatwood, a retired businessman, and later reassembled in California’s Hope Ranch. Hope Ranch eventually passed to the Esbenshade family, who, with assistance from the Santa Barbara-Toba Sister City Organization, donated it to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in 1998. Named “Shin Kan An,” translating to “Look Through the Heart,” by the 15th generation Hounsai Oiemoto of the Urasenke Tea School, the teahouse embodies the cultural heritage of Cha-do. Heartie Anne Look, a dedicated teacher of Japanese culture, inspired the name.
As tea began to grow in popularity beyond the temple, tea ceremonies became a source of entertainment for members of the upper class who could afford to gamble, read poetry and attend tea parties in extravagant pavilions. Because the entrance is extremely small, visitors must hunch over to pass through to the interior. It is a typical Japanese pavilion and there are eight windows on the side of the entrance. A different perspective of the Shokin-tei can be enjoyed from the east, north, and west. The Ichi-no-ma, or first room, has a blue and white checkered pattern on the sliding door and tokonoma (alcove).
Tea with Kabuki Masters at Jaku’an Tea House
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The layout of a traditional Japanese tea house is carefully planned to create a sense of harmony and balance. The entrance is intentionally small and low, requiring guests to bow as they enter, symbolizing humility and respect. Once inside, guests are greeted by a tokonoma, a small alcove that displays a scroll or a piece of art, adding a touch of elegance to the space. The main tea room, or chashitsu, is typically a small, intimate space with tatami mats covering the floor. The low ceiling and minimalistic furnishings create a cozy and intimate atmosphere, perfect for the tea ceremony. They may be located within larger tea houses, or within private homes or other structures not intended for tea ceremony.
These houses are mostly construct in the gardens of private homes, on the grounds of museums, parks, and temples. Shoji windows, sliding wooden doors, tatami mat floors, and a tokonoma alcove are there inside a typical traditional tea room. Usually, it is seen that the total size of the chashitsu is 4.5 tatami mats.
Tea ceremony procedure
During the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573), tea rooms were built in the shoin-zukuri architectural style, a very traditional style that is still employed in contemporary tea rooms. The term shoin originally meant a lecture or study room within a temple. It became later a drawing room, a study room, or a space devoted to various cultural activities. The most significant features of shoin-zukuri rooms were square pillars and tatami floors. There are dozens of real and imaginary lines that crisscross any tearoom.
A visit to the former Residence of the Ambassador of Japan, a striking historical dwelling in Washington, promises to be an awe-inspiring experience. A short stroll away from the bustling Massachusetts Avenue, nestled within the Embassy of Japan’s premises, you’ll find a serene haven of ancient culture. Enveloped by pine and cherry blossom trees, there lies the genuine Japanese tea house, Ippakutei. This exceptional tea house, known as the ‘Tea House of a Hundred Years,’ was constructed in 1960 to honor the 100-year mark since the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce was ratified. The Urasenke Tankokai Washington, DC practices the Way of Tea here for special events.
Both the center pillar and the alcove pillar are made from the same red pine wood. The ceiling above the host is lowered to indicate the separation between guests and host. There are various stories which say that the great tea master Rikyu was very fond of this tea room and used it to meditate in. 8.2 square meters is the usual and standard size of a traditional chashitsu. The room size is measure by the number of tatami mats covering the floor.
In summer, the hearth is covered either with a small square of extra tatami, or, more commonly, the hearth tatami is replaced with a full mat, totally hiding the hearth. The chaji begins in the cool months with the laying of the charcoal fire which is used to heat the water. Procedures vary from school to school, and with the time of year, time of day, venue, and other considerations. The noon tea gathering of one host and a maximum of five guests is considered the most formal chaji. The following is a general description of a noon chaji held in the cool weather season at a purpose-built tea house. Inhale the earthy aroma of freshly brewed sencha as a kimono-clad tea master performs with practiced poise.
Yusuian is the name of a traditional Japanese tea room in Malibu, California. It was named by Madame Sosei Matsumoto, who was a pioneering leader of the Urasenke School of Tea in the United States. It was not until Shukō that modern ideas behind tea ceremonies began to take root.
After being displayed there for several years, it made its way to Philadephia. Within the expansive 130-acre grounds of The Huntington in San Marino, California, lies a diverse collection of 16 themed gardens. Among these, Japanese Garden and its the Seifuan Tea House stand out as a unique addition. Seifu-an, meaning “Arbor of Pure Breeze,” was given its name by Zabosai Sen Soshitsu, a 15th generation Urasenke grand tea master. The tea house was originally built in Kyoto in the 1960s and was donated to The Huntington by the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. Initially supported by Dr. Yamazaki and designed by Hayahiko Takase, the Teahouse blends eastern and western influences, reflecting cross-cultural unity.
Savor the vibrant green elixir, complemented by delicate wagashi sweets. Beyond the ceremony, workshops unveil brewing secrets, while seasonal experiences paint the tea journey with new colors. Nakajima-no-ochaya is an oasis of tranquility nestled within Tokyo’s Hamarikyu Gardens.
