Teahouse

The Hamarikyu Gardens in the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo, offer a bit of peace in the middle of the busy city. In stark contrast to the skyscrapers surrounding the garden, Hamarikyu is a beautiful oasis where you can enjoy a stroll along the pond or a bowl of matcha with sweets at the traditional teahouse.

We visited Hamarikyu with our friend Kyoko, who was our Tokyo guide for the day! After a walk through the gardens, we of course ended our visit with a traditional tea ceremony. Green tea is very important in Japan, and matcha, a ground green tea, is always served in the traditional tea ceremony. Because the ground leaves are part of the tea itself, the taste is a bit bitter so sweets are always served alongside the matcha.