Tea Household Japanese Style

On the grounds of a large common due south of Kyoto 

(a curt trip on the train) in that place is a 

traditional tea house.

On before work concern trips to Nippon I had attended a 'tea ceremony' for tourists.  But this was a edifice inwards a garden without signage.

this would hold out a novel sense as well as I was the ONLY non Japanese patron.

Peeking through the doorway I questioned if this tea identify was opened upwards to the public

I was greeted pleasantly past times an attendant as well as exhibit an 'English' version of the offerings.

You pay before entering for the type of tea (hot or cold) yous wishing to order.

Many of the visitors to the common on this Dominicus wore their traditional kimonos.

I left my shoes at the entrance inwards a cubical supplied for guests.

The edifice was much larger than I expected from the entrance.  

The perfect garden is on display from the glassed inwards room where nosotros all were seated

                There were many tatami rooms inwards this tea identify as well as the largest overlooked the garden.

The tea room was large as well as open.  A platform covered nearly of the room as well as was covered alongside a thick tatami mat.   There was NO seating hence a westerner non accustomed to sitting on their knees for a long catamenia of fourth dimension mightiness convey a problem.

I had never tried cold, greenish tea hence I selected this as well as i of the edible bean sweets offered.  It was delivered alongside a drinking glass of H2O on a tray for each visitor.

As I sipped the smooth, mutual depression temperature tea as well as sampled the edible bean sweet, a low-cal pelting started.
The audio was real tranquil as well as soothing.    I could easily run into why someone would watch a tea identify instead of the local fast nutrient dispenser.

I must advert another observations:    I expected this to hold out a real relaxation event.  This was non the case.  There were entirely half dozen or 8 other clients.  There were no other solo visitors.   The 2 women seen inwards the photograph inwards a higher identify sat as well as chatted alongside each other as well as took photos of each other.*  This is something I witnessed inwards the park.   EVERYONE took photos of themselves or each other.
The grouping of iv however, were real boisterous as well as spoke inwards loud voices.  This surprised me.  But i time to a greater extent than this was a totally Japanese sense as well as perchance it was to a greater extent than authentic than other tourist stops.

Finally I volition acknowledge that inside a few minutes my muscles were screaming 'where is a chair?".  Even leaning against a wall did non eliminate all the pain.     Sitting inwards front end of a estimator for months before the trip did non stimulate me for the Japanese way.

* photos of the dorsum of your head:  I convey read that the nape of the cervix is an expanse of beauty as well as for sure many of the pilus styles worn alongside a kimono highlights the dorsum of your head.

I create non recollect the terms of tea precisely it was non over $20.00 per person.