Many visitors to Japan may want to experience the tea ceremony. While Kyoto often comes to mind when thinking of tea ceremony, the founder of Sen-ke school of sado (Tea Ceremony), Sen no Rikyu, was actually born in Sakai City, Osaka. In Sakai City, there is a place called “Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko / Sakai Risho no Mori,” where you can experience this cultural tradition firsthand.
If you’re interested in exploring other hidden gem in Japan, please take a look below.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Who is Sen no Rikyu?
Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) founded the Sen-ke school of tea ceremony (sado) and introduced the wabi-sabi style, which values simplicity, imperfection, and the beauty of change. He learned tea ceremony from Takeno Jo-o, a wealthy merchant in Sakai, and later became the tea master for two powerful warlords, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who aimed to unify Japan. Under Hideyoshi, Rikyu reached the peak of his career, arranging large tea gatherings like the famous Kinchu and Kitano ceremonies, and is celebrated as Japan’s greatest tea master.
Referenced from: Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko
Chapter 2: What is Chanoyu(Tea Ceremony) Experience?
At Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko, you can try two types of tea ceremonies: a casual Seated Tea Ceremony and a more traditional Tea Room Experience.
In the Seated Tea Ceremony, you can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets while sitting in a chair. It’s a quick, easy way to experience Japanese tea culture and is perfect if you’re looking for something simple.
For a more authentic experience, the Tea Room Experience lets you enter a traditional tea room, where an instructor from one of Japan’s three main tea schools (Omotesenke, Urasenke, or Mushakouji Senke) teaches you proper tea-making steps and etiquette. You’ll even get to make tea yourself. The event for individuals is held only on the third Sunday of each month, so it’s recommended to check in advance.
Chapter 3: How to make the most of your visit to Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko?
To learn about the history of Japanese tea, start by visiting the Sen no Rikyu Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) Museum on the first floor. Here, you can explore the history of Sakai through the life of Sen no Rikyu, with displays of tea rooms he built in his youth and later years. In addition, you can view tea utensils and other artifacts from medieval Sakai that have been discovered through excavations.
On the second floor, the Yosano Akiko Museum highlights the life of Yosano Akiko, a poet from Sakai who greatly influenced modern Japanese literature. Known for advocating women’s rights and the importance of education, Akiko left a lasting impact on literary history.
At Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko, you can experience the depth of Sakai’s history and culture through the lenses of tea ceremony and modern literature—an experience not to be missed.
Details
Address:2-1-1 Shukuin-cho Nishi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka 590-0958
Official site: Available in English
