Whole package of Japanese cultural experience privately Tokyo

Noriko-san was the perfect host, introducing me to some aspects of Japanese culture I am mostly interested in as a foreigner. Starting with wearing the various layers that make up a Yukata or summer Kimono. The perfect way to know how it feels wearing a traditional japanese garment. After a photo session we went on to preparing and eat a delicious lunch followed by tea ceremony and a delightful Koto concert. All steps were hands-on, I was able to learn a lot and to ask questions. The hours just flew by... the host is very knowledgeable, graceful, patient (with all the pictures taking and questions and decisions making about which garment to choose from...), kind and fun to be with. Thank you Noriko-san for all the preparation that goes into organizing this private event at your cosy home.

This was one of our favorite things we did on our whole Japan trip. Noriko was so friendly, knowledgable, and passionate about traditional Japanese culture and helped set us up to really appreciate the details of everything we saw the rest of our time in the country. The food was amazing, the music was amazing, and we now can say we have a friend in Tokyo! Would recommend this to anyone traveling here!

For people who have visited Tokyo a lot and perhaps even for the first timers I would like to recommend visiting Noriko at her place. You book a private tea ceremony but you get a lot more. Noriko will meet you at the subway station and from there is it a short walk to her place. She introduces you to her family her husband and her wonderful daughter . Noriko speaks excellent english so there is no communication issues especially if you don’t speak any Japanese at all. The whole experience is amazing, you change into Kimono or Yukata, there is a wide variety of designs and colors , then you proceed to the kitchen where Noriko explains the history of the tea ceremony, the etiquette, and then the actual tea ceremony begins. Wonderfully prepared matcha with traditional sweets. There is some explanation of what you can and can’t do during the ceremony, how to drink and enjoy it. Noriko is a very skillful guide , everything runs very smoothly, not to mention that you get an amazing bonus of her playing Koto and traditional musical instrument. She could be a professional musician it is so impressive. We truly enjoyed everything. Tokyo has million things to offer but booking a tea ceremony with Noriko is something truly special. Needless to say we highly recommend it .

This experience was the highlight of our trip to Tokyo! Noriko was very attentive and made sure my daughter and I were fully emerged into the Japanese culture and tradition. We got to try on beautiful kimonos, learned about the tea ceremony, tried on delicious foods, desserts and tea, we learned how to play a song on a millennial instrument and also learned how to prepare some Japanese dishes. It was definitely the best 6 hours spent in Tokyo!

Our visit to Noriko's house was magical. Her explanation and her performance of the tea ceremonie was so insightful, serene and harmonious. And playing the koto was a special treat. We would recommend coming to Noriko to everyone visiting Japan because she can tell you so much about how things have been done and are being done in Japan. Noriko made us feel so welcome. For instance she was waiting for us at the station in her autumn kimono with a hand written paper with our names on it. I think this was with ease one of our best experiences in our trip of 4 weeks. Arigato, love from Sonja and Alex