Festival & seasonal event in Kyoto
Kencha-sai Tea Offering Ceremony, Kitano Tenmangu
A tea offering held in memory of the Great Kitano Tea Gathering of 1587, served in 2026 by the Urasenke school. Tea rooms are set up in the shrine grounds and in Kamishichiken. The ritual starts at 10:00 AM (about an hour); tea rooms 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Dates
- Dec 1 (Tue)
- Hours
- 本殿の祭典は10:00から約1時間。茶席は9:00～15:00予定。
- Venue
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- Nearest station
- Kitano-Hakubaicho
- Admission
- Tea ticket ¥10,000
About this event
The Kenchasai tea offering ceremony commemorates the grand tea gathering held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587. Tea is offered to the deity inside the main shrine, while tea gatherings take place in the shrine grounds and the nearby Kamishichiken district. The offering uses tea dedicated during a ceremony on November 26. Urasenke Konnichian conducts the 2026 ceremony. In Kamishichiken, visitors can also enjoy tea prepared by geiko and maiko. The preservation association, founded in 1888, has maintained this tradition across different tea schools.
Highlights
- Commemorates Hideyoshi's grand tea gathering of 1587
- Urasenke Konnichian conducts the 2026 offering
- Tea dedicated on November 26 is presented to the deity
- Tea prepared by geiko and maiko in Kamishichiken
- Good for
- For travellers interested in Japanese tea, samurai-era history and Kyoto's traditional entertainment culture.
Good to know before you go
- Tea tickets are scheduled to be sold at Bundo Kaikan from early November.
- Same-day tickets are limited, with reception beginning at 9:00.
- Check the official website shortly before visiting, as arrangements may change.
Pochikichi's story cornerHow did Toyotomi Hideyoshi's tea gathering become a shrine ceremony?
On October 1, 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi organised the grand Kitano tea gathering. The Kenchasai ceremony commemorates that event. Four tea-school families and two tea masters take turns conducting the annual offering.
Kitano Tenmangu enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar and statesman of the Heian period. His enshrinement at Kitano in 947 marked the beginnings of the shrine, which became associated with scholarship.
The Kenchasai Preservation Association was established on January 15, 1888, to safeguard the ceremony and encourage ties between tea traditions. The shrine's Meigetsusha tea room also preserves this culture.
Tea culture is connected not only with preparation and drinking, but with faith, history and human relationships. That is why the shrine's tea rooms deserve attention alongside the ceremony.
Sources: Kitano Tenmangu: Tea Offering Preservation Association (Japanese), Kyoto City Tourism: Kenchasai (Japanese), Kokugakuin University: Kitano Tenmangu (English/Japanese)
Long ago, around hereWhy did Kitano become a place of worship in the Heian period?
Sugawara no Michizane was exiled to Dazaifu in 901 and died in 903. Later disasters in Kyoto were associated with his spirit. In 942, Tajihi no Ayako reportedly received a divine message from Michizane. These traditions contributed to his enshrinement at Kitano in 947.
In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held his grand tea gathering here, adding another layer to Kitano's history.
While walking through Kitano Tenmangu, notice how the shrine buildings dedicated to Michizane coexist with spaces for tea culture.
Sources: Kokugakuin University: Kitano Tenmangu (English/Japanese), Kitano Tenmangu: Tea Offering Preservation Association (Japanese)
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FAQ
- What is Kencha-sai Tea Offering Ceremony, Kitano Tenmangu?
- The Kenchasai tea offering ceremony commemorates the grand tea gathering held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587. Tea is offered to the deity inside the main shrine, while tea gatherings take place in the shrine grounds and the nearby Kamishichiken district. The offering uses tea dedicated during a ceremony on November 26. Urasenke Konnichian conducts the 2026 ceremony. In Kamishichiken, visitors can also enjoy tea prepared by geiko and maiko. The preservation association, founded in 1888, has maintained this tradition across different tea schools.
- When is Kencha-sai Tea Offering Ceremony, Kitano Tenmangu?
- On Dec 1 (Tue), 2026.
- What are the opening hours?
- 本殿の祭典は10:00から約1時間。茶席は9:00～15:00予定。
- How much does it cost?
- Tea ticket ¥10,000
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. The nearest station is Kitano-Hakubaicho.
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