Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RELAX & HAVE A CUP OF TEA
If you are lucky enough to participate in a tea ceremony, the main thing to remember is
this:
relax!
Concentrate on enjoying the tea, the flowers, the scrolls, the scenery and the
beauty of the utensils. Don't worry too much about committing some dreadful faux pas.
Keep in mind that even most Japanese people don't know the exact rules of the ceremony;
just follow the person next to you and savour the experience. The mark of a good tea host
is his or her ability to put you at ease and allow you to concentrate on the true meaning of
the tea ceremony: hospitality, community and aesthetic enjoyment. In many circumstances,
this means relaxing or transcending the rules, rather than rigorously adhering to them.
