Private Tea Ceremony Experience with Cha-kaiseki Cuisine and Lounge Drinks at a Special Tea Room in Tokyo

Discover the Tea Ceremony in a Casual Ryurei-Style Tea Room

Yobanashi Sahan is a tea room located in a quiet Shinjuku neighborhood. Supervised by Soukou Udagawa, the head of the Sowa-ryu school of tea ceremony, it offers a rare fusion of two cultures: the tea ceremony and the bar. As you enter through the small nijiriguchi entrance, you will find a modern and elegant tea room, designed for comfort in the ryurei style, doing away with traditional floor seating.

Bowing upon entering through the small doorway symbolizes equality in the tea room

An attentive mind will note the soft gurgling of the tea kettle, the shadows that stretch across the tatami mats, and the gentle flickering of candlelight. In this serene private setting with its extraordinary ambiance, discover a space of your own in which to explore the delightful nuances of tea, and bond over talk of your cha-kaiseki meal, sake, matcha tea, and cocktails.

Tea room lit by candlelight

Enjoy the Exceptional Space

After entering, visitors sit down to a traditional multi-course cha-kaiseki meal in the serenity of the tea room.

In the world of tea ceremony, a private tea party where the host entertains close friends over fine tea is called a chaji. Cha-kaiseki cuisine is customarily served to the guests before the tea ceremony itself. Cha-kaiseki follows the concepts of "one soup, three dishes,” and “just enough to warm up the stomach while the water boils.” It is a light meal with drinks that serves to enhance enjoyment of the tea in the ceremony itself.

Cha-kaiseki that makes the most of the flavors of the ingredients (photo for illustration purposes only)

The cha-kaiseki meal meticulously prepared in this plan begins with the kosen seasonal refreshment – a roast ground barley mixed into hot water as a porridge, served with rice and soup – followed by the restaurant’s choice sake recommendation, along with a mukozuke appetizer of sashimi and pickled fare. Next comes the nimowan, a dish of seasonal ingredients stewed in light dashi broth, the yakimono grilled seasonal fish or vegetables, and the yozakana “Western-style” dish, inspired by European cuisine. Finally, komono pickled vegetables are served alongside a bowl of yuto, pan-crisped rice steeped in a warm broth.

Enjoy a dried persimmon and tofu paste snack with a fragrant floral cocktail

Each of these dishes is made from seasonal ingredients, prepared just right for the season. Enjoy Sahan’s unique dishes, blending Western culinary sensibilities into traditional Japanese cuisine. As a tea ceremony master hailing from France, Zac is uniquely able to explain the traditions of hospitality and the spirit behind the meal. Visitors can also feast their eyes on an assortment of gorgeous luxury tableware while delighting in the courses of cha-kaiseki.

Enjoying Matcha in a Special Setting

When the meal is over, your bartender will serve you a cup of usucha light tea. Sipping matcha in the unique candle-lit tea room adds an extra atmospheric touch. Experience the lingering warmth of the moment alongside the rich flavor of matcha.

Finish the cocktail course with usucha (light tea)

Blending tea ceremony and lounge drinks may seem odd at first, but they share similarities. Both involve enjoying drinks prepared before you, the host's hospitality, and the joint effort of creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Original Cocktails and Nibbles Themed around Traditional Japanese Culture

When the tea ceremony is done, it’s time for some relaxing lounge drinks. Two types of cocktails and snack pairings are offered. Cocktails are prepared according to guest preferences. During your author’s visit, the bartender served up two recommendations: First, the “Croque de Crown,” a refreshing fruity elixir of sumomo plum liqueur and citrus named for a tale from a Zen-inspired wall scroll.

The narrative of the tale unfolded with each sip of the cocktail, told not in words but in flavor, mouthfeel, and feeling through the drink and its thoughtfully paired snack accompaniment.

Deep-fried kelp, a recipe passed down from Soukou Udagawa's master, the monk of Daitokuji Temple

The second drink was the “Chakabuki”, a cocktail made with matcha green tea, served with umeboshi pickled plums, cucumbers, and shibazuke pickles. Matcha was brewed there on the countertop before being incorporated into a masterful cocktail with a striking full-sensory personality drawing on the aroma, flavor, and brilliant green hue of the tea. “Chakabuki” literally means “tea kabuki,” in reference to the vibrant and highly stylized melodrama of the famed Japanese theater art.

The Chakabuki cocktail, inspired by the glamor of tea culture

Japanese Culture, Felt Intimately through Tea Ceremony and Lounge Drinks

Blending tea ceremony and lounge culture may seem odd at first, but they share similarities. Both involve enjoying partaking in drinks prepared with a flourish right there on the spot, enjoying the host's hospitality, and a collaborative effort to create a welcoming atmosphere.

The cocktails here offer a fresh perspective on tea ceremony, while the bartender’s insights offer new understanding of Japanese culture and help you feel more familiar with tea ceremony.

“I hope everyone can relax and enjoy their time in this special space,” says the bartender

Come visit and relish a serene ambiance while indulging in tea ceremony and Japanese cocktails, absorbing the stories behind each with all five senses. Immerse yourself in this unique Japanese cultural experience in the special tea room of Yobanashi Sahan.