I am in charge of the tea ceremony experience at Chasanraku.


Thank you for reading this article. My name is Suzuki from Chasanraku.

I usually work in charge of tea ceremony experiences, introducing the tea ceremony and Japanese culture to customers, mainly from overseas.

Chasanraku has a small tea room at the back of the shop.
The room gets full with about five customers, but we ensure that those participating in the tea ceremony experience can enjoy it in a private space. Being able to have a thoughtful conversation with each customer is a meaningful experience for me as well.

Today's blog post is about how my memories from my time as a traveler are somewhat connected to my current work offering tea ceremony experiences. Please feel free to read it at your leisure.

A trip to Nepal 15 years ago


About 15 years ago, I went to Nepal alone.
It was a short trip, only about 10 days, but it was such a memorable journey that I can still talk about it at length. Of all the things I remember most,I was invited to the home of a Nepalese person.。


The location was Pokhara, Nepal's second-largest city. It was a relaxed town with beautiful lake views. I booked a private hiking tour with a small travel agency I found there, and the guide who assisted me (who was a student) invited me to come to his house.

To be honest, I hesitated a little at first. A solo female traveler in a foreign land. Nevertheless, my traveler's curiosity, and above all, her warm and cheerful personality, drew me in, and I decided to take the plunge and visit her.

I was invited to the home where she and her family live, where I was treated to curry, we chatted, and I played with the baby... While I did experience cultural differences (it was the first time in my life I ate curry with my hands!), I received such warm hospitality from them, and it was an unforgettable moment.

Reconnecting via Facebook message


After that, we became friends on Facebook and occasionally exchanged comments and such. Soon after this encounter, she moved to Australia, started a family, and I occasionally saw on Facebook that she seemed to be living a very happy life.

Then, around December of last year, I heard from him again after a long time. He messaged me to ask for advice about planning a trip to Japan. And when his visit to Japan in September was decided,Reunited after a long timeSo we decided to do it!

(Fifteen years ago, she invited me to her home. I wonder if she would be happy if I could treat her to tea this time...) With that in mind, I told her that I would like to invite her to a tea ceremony experience if she was interested, and she agreed to participate.

On that day, the whole family came to the store.
Fifteen years have passed, and her circumstances and environment have changed dramatically, but her bright and warm personality remains the same. After a reunion hug, I will guide you to the tea room.

Tea Ceremony Experience


First, I prepared and served matcha to everyone, and then I gave the children the opportunity to try making tea themselves. The tea that the children made was then served to their parents. Of course, as with a regular tea ceremony experience, I also gave a basic introduction to matcha, the etiquette of drinking tea, and the spirit of the tea ceremony.

In the tea ceremony,Establishment of a troupeThere is a phrase called "(Ichizakonryu)".
It means that the host and guest connect with each other on a deeper level and become one, creating a comfortable tea ceremony space.

Many of our customers who come for a tea ceremony experience are encountering tea for the first time and are unfamiliar with the procedures and etiquette. However, it's not a one-sided service from the host to the customer; most people actively participate in the experience.

They listened attentively to what I had to say. The warmth and consideration they showed for each other reminded me of the atmosphere when I visited their home 15 years ago. This tea ceremony experience is an unforgettable chapter in my journey.

It may not be exactly like a gathering of tea connoisseurs, but it was a very pleasant and gentle moment.

Travel memories are always about "people".


From Instagram @chasanraku_tea_ceremony


Not just in Nepal,What always leaves the biggest impression on me during my travels is the "people."I think that's how it was. Beautiful scenery, World Heritage sites, delicious food—they're all elements of a fun trip, but when asked, "What did you like best about this country?", the people are often what comes to mind.

I have so many memories: talking with local friends and my host family, being treated kindly by strangers, meeting fellow travelers at guesthouses, etc.

Now I'm working in the opposite position to when I was a traveler.

Perhaps, for the travelers who participated, the conversation they had with me during the tea ceremony experience will become a memorable moment, an experience they can talk about vividly even 15 years from now. Thinking about that makes me feel a sense of responsibility as a small, private ambassador.

I would be happy if my work could become a part of someone's memories. I will continue to welcome customers with that feeling in mind.