Chanoyu - Experience the Way of the Tea

About this event

Check-in at least 15 minutes at the Garden entrance before the start of your seating. Your prompt arrival will ensure a more pleasurable experience not only for yourself but for the other participants as well.

Chanoyu – The Way of Tea

Also known as  chado ,  chanoyu  is often referred to in English as the Japanese tea ceremony. This contemplative and communal art form has been cultivated over centuries, refining both the physical movements and mental discipline required for each tea gathering.

The word  chanoyu means “hot water for tea,” but it represents much more. As beautifully described by the Urasenke school:

“...the Way of Tea concerns the creation of the proper setting for that moment of enjoyment of a perfect bowl of tea. Everything that goes into that serving of tea, even the quality of the air and the space where it is served, becomes a part of its flavor. The perfect tea must therefore capture the 'flavor' of the moment — the spirit of the season, of the occasion, of the time, and of the place. The event called  chaji  — that is, a full tea gathering — is where this takes place, and where the Way of Tea unfolds as an exquisite, singular moment in time shared by the participants.” –  Urasenke Konnichian

A key concept in  chanoyu   is the phrase  ichigo-ichie  (一期一会), meaning “one time, one meeting.” This expresses the deep awareness that each moment is unique and will never occur again in the same way. Every tea gathering is, therefore, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As the current Grand Master (Iemoto) of Urasenke, Sen Soshitsu XVI, explains:

" Ichigo-ichie  is simply a matter of taking in everything we encounter, touch, hear, see, and feel around us, moment to moment, without pretense."

This spirit encourages participants to approach the tea gathering with sincerity, mindfulness, and gratitude, whether they are seasoned practitioners or first-time guests.

At the Japanese Friendship Garden, we welcome all to experience  chanoyu  with an open heart, embracing each moment as a treasured encounter.

Chanoyu at Our Tea House

At the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, the Tankokai tea group has been practicing the Way of Tea ( Chanoyu ) in our traditional tea house, Musoan (夢想庵) for 30 years .

Public tea gatherings are now offered one Saturday each month, from October through May. Each day includes four seatings, with a maximum of  eight guests per session .

Over the past year, we have deepened the Chanoyu experience to offer guests a more immersive encounter with this time-honored art. Join us to appreciate Japanese culture, community, and contemplation — and leave with a renewed sense of beauty, tranquility, and mindfulness.

Please Note:

Each tea seating accommodates up to eight guests, and reservations are limited. As this is a public tea gathering, all guests who reserve the same time slot will share the experience together.

Our Chanoyu (Way of Tea) program invites guests to observe a period of quiet reflection during the 30-minute tea ceremony. While complete silence is encouraged to honor the atmosphere of mindfulness and respect, a calm and respectful presence is most important.

The entire experience, including a brief tour, lasts approximately 2 hours.

Guests must be 12 years or older to participate.

What to Expect

The Tankokai Tea Group of the Urasenke school has practiced the Way of Tea at our Garden for over 30 years. Once a month, the public is welcomed to step into this world and experience Chanoyu in an authentic tea house setting.

Each session includes:

• A guided introduction through the tea garden ( roji ), where guests may:

• Wear  tabi  (traditional white socks) and  zori  (sandals)

• Cleanse hands and mouth at the  tsukubai  (stone basin)

• Walk along the  tobi-ishi  (stepping stones)

• Enter the tea house through the  nijiriguchi  (humble entrance)

• A traditional tea ceremony in the  Urasenke  style presented by  Tankokai

• A serving of freshly whisked  matcha  and a seasonal  Japanese sweet

• Instruction in the etiquette of receiving tea and appreciating the moment

• An invitation to explore the rest of our 3.5-acre authentic Japanese garden afterward

Reservations & Details

• Limited to 4 sessions per day

• Each seating accommodates up to 8 guests

• Reservations required; no walk-ins

• Members must present a valid card at check-in

• Event held rain or shine

Parking : Available at the Garden

By Light Rail : Exit at  Central & Roosevelt . The Garden is 0.3 miles west, behind the Irish Cultural Center (1106 N. Central Ave). The entrance is across the parking lot at 1125 N. 3rd Ave.