Fukui: Mt. Asuwa Tea Ceremony

Enjoy tea, cake and nature in Asuwa Mountain Park!

Takako Sakamoto Jan 10, 2014 - 1 min read

Under the watchful eye of the master, the apprentice is making tea with a very serious face

Waiting eagerly for the tea & cake to be served

Beautifully attired in elegant kimono, one of the hostesses of the ceremony serves tea gracefully

Since each tea is served gracefully (slowly), guests have to wait for a long time for their turn to come

Some children are also wearing their festive dresses (kimono)

Chairs are covered with red cloth, and the parasol is also in traditional red

Depending on the tea school, tea is served differently in each area

Green is everywhere after the cherry blossoms have fallen

Guests are watching the master's masterly tea technique with wonder and admiration

In Asuwa Mountain Park at the top of Mt. Asuwa in Fukui, the Tea Ceremony Association of Fukui Prefecture, which consists of 14 Tea schools, holds their yearly Tea Ceremony in late April. They have held more than 60 ceremonies in the past and it's considered to be one of the most prestigious, historical tea ceremonies in Fukui. During the event a photo contest is also held, so even if you had no interest in tea, you could enjoy taking photos of lovely models. One ticket (1,000 yen) includes two tea&cake coupons, so you can enjoy different teas and cakes with one ticket. You can buy them on the spot. Sencha will be served as well, so you don't have to worry if you don't like the taste of the bitter/rich green tea.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...