Japanese Tea Ceremony -- The Setting

Here's another tale from our tour of Japan in April of 2012 --

In the southern Japanese city of Uji, some members of our group attended a traditional Tea Ceremony. Behind these beautiful cherry blossoms and a meticulously sculpted tree, My Rare One and I located the Uji City Municipal Tea Ceremony House called Taiho-An.

We entered through its front gate . . .

. . . proceeded through the courtyard's waiting area . . .

. . . and arrived at one of the Tea House's three tea rooms.

This room was meant for Japanese guests because it was a mat room and required leaving your shoes at the door.

But as westerners, we were directed to the tea room with chair seating and no requirement for shoe removal. Hmmm, already not so traditional! But our middle-aged bones didn't argue about not sitting on the floor.

Tomorrow's post: Japanese Tea Ceremony -- The Experience.

[Photos 1 and 2 by Debra She Who Seeks; Photos 3 to 5 by My Rare One; all taken in April, 2012]