The spirit of wabi-cha

The spirit of wabi-cha

The tea ceremony (chanoyu) was brought to Japan in the 13th century from China by Zen monks, and it spread as a luxurious pastime of the upper class during the Muromachi period. The “wabi-cha” style is the result of incorporating Japanese “wabi-sabi” into the conventional tea ceremony in pursuit of deep spirituality. “Wabi-cha” involves being grateful for things as they are without being swept away by extravagance. In terms of “wabi-cha”, which is based on the belief that communication is best accomplished in places that are pure and simple, Japanese hospitality involves one person doing their best to offer another a taste of their intentions.

How we prepare to welcome our guests

Only one “Wabichakai tea ceremony” is conducted per day, and we finish the cleaning and get the room in order no later than one day before each ceremony. In addition to the tea-ceremony room itself, we sweep the outdoor garden clean, and we meticulously wash each stone. On the day of the ceremony, we head out to fetch famous water starting early in the morning. We also carefully select charcoal, strain the matcha carefully, and prepare seasonal ingredients. Our ceremonies are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for our guests, which means they’re the same for us. We look forward to having the chance to meet you at one of our “Wabichakai tea ceremonies”.