Tea Teachers from three Senke Tea Schools who lead the world of Japanese Tea Ceremony at Nara.

Session Details

Dates: 7th to 11th November 2023·

There will be 5 sessions on each day·

Number of participants: 12 guests·

Tea Ceremony Fee: 33,000 Yen/person per session·

Approximate time required for each session: 3 to 3.5 hours

Session Times

7th to 11th November: Five sessions starting at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00

Tea ceremony courses

1) Thin tea with a sweet at ‘Shinkyakuden’ New Guest Hall

2) Traditional Cha-kaiseki Japanese cuisine at ‘Shinkyakuden’ New Guest Hall

3) Thick tea with a sweet at ‘Shinkyakuden’ New Guest Hall  ＊Temple tour starts at 10:30 and 14:30. This is an optional tour – you can decide whether to join or not – and will be held in English and conducted by a Buddhist monk and an interpreter.

Please Note: Guests will be guided during the tea gathering by an interpreter and assistant tea host. We ask you to join us wearing plain and clean clothes with a pair of white socks and without any accessories. We will prepare chairs for you. Please advise us if you have any food allergies when you reserve.

Grand Head Temple: Chogosonshi-ji Temple or Shigisan-ji Temple

Chogosonshi-ji Temple is located on the Nara Prefecture side slope of Mt. Shigi towering on the border of Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture) and Kawachi Province (Osaka Prefecture). It might be built around the end of 8th century. The temple is famous for realizing all your prayers such as combatting your difficulties and recovering from all diseases. Then, Shigisan-ji means reliable and dependable temple.

Legend has it that when Prince Shotoku-taishi prayed for victory over Mononobe no Moriya, – an opponent of the Buddhism that the prince was promoting – Bishamonten appeared on Mt. Shigi at the hour of the tiger, on the day of the tiger, in the year of the tiger, and led the prince to victory. The emperor Daigo was also recovered from his disease. So, you can see lots of Tiger statues there.

Chogosonshi-ji literally means the guardian temple of human beings and creatures. Bishamonten has a super natural power to grant all your wishes and perform lots of miracles. Chogosonshi-ji is the Grand Head Temple of Shigisan Shingon sect located on Mt. Shigi in Heguri-cho, Ikoma County, Nara Prefecture. At Gyokuzoin Temple they burn small pieces of wood to invoke divine help every day. They have temple accommodations, so you can join the burning offerings and stay there.

The Shigisan Shingon sect is a Shingon sect that worships Bishamonten (Vaisravana; also called Tamonten) and its Grand Head Temple is Chogosonshi-ji (Shigisan-ji Temple).