Camellia Flower, off Ninenzaka
The group house sits at 349-13 Masuyacho, down a narrow alley that branches off Ninenzaka. The landmark is the Park Hyatt: opposite it is a Studio Ghibli shop, and the alley runs to the left of that shop. Trained tea instructors lead the 45 minutes, and every guest gets a bowl, a scoop and a whisk to make matcha with. Questions are encouraged, and photos and short videos are allowed.
Guests usually sit on tatami; chairs and tables are brought on request. A kimono is not part of the booking and is arranged by message at extra cost. The house states plainly that it has no connection to geisha or maiko houses. Children under 6 cannot join, and the building is not wheelchair accessible. Reviewers describe the room as small and simple and some would have liked more background on the ceremony, which fits a short group format.
Camellia Garden, opposite Ryoan-ji
The private house is across the road from Ryoan-ji, the temple of the rock garden. From the Ryoan-ji-mae bus stop a small path leads downhill to a residential street, and the house is the first one on the right, behind a high wall; the Ryoanji tram stop is less than 10 minutes on foot. While you are there, no other guests are in the house. The session lasts 50 minutes to an hour and starts in a sofa room before you move to the tea.
Chairs and tables are available for anyone who finds the floor difficult, and the house is listed as wheelchair accessible. Guides and translators can join at no charge. The sweets are vegan and free of gluten and nuts. Photos are fine without flash, video is not. The listing names a kimono among the inclusions without describing it, so ask before you count on one.
House rules side by side
| House | Photos and video | Access | Children | Also worth knowing |
| Camellia Flower |
Photos and short videos allowed |
Not wheelchair accessible |
From 6 |
Kimono at extra cost, requested by message |
| Camellia Garden |
Photos without flash, no video |
Wheelchair accessible |
Not stated |
Sweets are vegan, gluten-free and nut-free |
Which one fits
Camellia Flower is a short stop on the Kiyomizu-dera to Yasaka walk, priced like the other group ceremonies in Higashiyama. Camellia Garden is a planned outing in its own right, best combined with Ryoan-ji and Kinkaku-ji in the north-west, and priced as a private session. If you came here comparing Camellia with Maikoya, the two are different products: the Maikoya page explains its kimono format, and the guide to choosing a tea ceremony puts both next to Ju-An.
