Osaka: Tea Master Heritage and Tea Ceremony in Sakai

Follow the footsteps of Sen no Rikyu, the legendary tea master who shaped the Japanese Way of Tea and the spirit of wabi-sabi. This tour takes place in Sakai, Rikyu’s birthplace and one of Japan’s most important cities for tea culture. Visit the site of his former residence and explore Sakai Risho no Mori, a cultural museum where you can learn about Rikyu, the history of tea, and Sakai’s role as a prosperous merchant city. You will also enjoy a casual seated tea ceremony experience, designed to make Japanese tea culture easy to approach even for first-time visitors. Depending on your selected option, the tour may also include kurumi mochi, a traditional Sakai sweet often enjoyed with tea, and Nanshuji Temple, a Zen temple closely connected to Rikyu’s training. Through tea, history, local sweets, and temple culture, this tour offers a clear and friendly introduction to the roots of Japanese tea culture.