JAugust 3, 2017
Color autumn in Tokyo! Large-scale tea ceremony for enjoying the culture of Japanese tea

The 10th Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2017~23,800 visitors last year~
October 7 and 8 at Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
October 21 and 22 at Hama-rikyu Gardens
Application deadline for the tea ceremonies: postmarked by Aug. 31, online by 23:59 on Aug. 31
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Historyand Culture) are organizing Japanese traditional culture programs with the aim of introducing
world-renowned Japanese traditional culture and performing arts at home and abroad and passing on theunderlying “Japanese hospitality” to the next generations. As part of these projects, Tokyo Grand TeaCeremony 2017 will be held to encourage visitors to experience and become more familiar with Japanesetraditional culture and performing arts.
A number of programs will be provided for both beginners and advanced level, including young people
and foreigners, to enjoy and experience the “heart of Japanese culture” in accessible locations. The
support in English is available some of the ceremonies.

Outdoor Tea Ceremony in Englishat Hama-rikyu Gardens

Outdoor tea ceremony at Hama-rikyu Gardens

Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony will take place over four days in total at two venues: on October 7 (Saturday)
and 8 (Sunday) 2017 at Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (Koganei City, Tokyo), which exhibits
a number of buildings whose historical and cultural value is highly praised, and on October 21 (Saturday)
and 22 (Sunday) at Hama-rikyu Gardens (Chuo-ku, Tokyo), where rich natural environment is appreciatedin central Tokyo with easy access to the Ginza shopping district.
The entrance to Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum will be free during the event period, but ischarged at Hama-rikyu Gardens. Admission to the tea ceremony event is charged separately. TheAdmission fees are 700 yen for indoor tea ceremonies and 300 yen for outdoor tea ceremony. “Ceremony
workshop for children” costs 200 yen (In all ceremonies, tea and Japanese confectionery will be served.
Tax is included with these fees.) The prior applications are necessary for all of the indoor ceremonies,except “Tea ceremony in English” that tickets are available at the venue on the day of the event.
Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony started in 2008 in the hope that foreigners and anyone unfamiliar with tea
ceremony could casually enjoy tea culture. Held annually, this will be the 10th year. This large-scale teaceremony where various schools of tea get together attracted about 23,800 visitors last year and a total of
178,000 in past years, to become widely known as an autumn institution in Tokyo.

Indoor tea ceremony at
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Tea ceremony workshop for beginners at
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

1＊Photos are from Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2016

«Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony»
Based on the historical event known as Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony, a large-scale tea ceremony
Hideyoshi Toyotomi organized in Kitano Tenmangu, a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, in October 1587, where he
set up more than 800 seats and served tea to all worshippers, Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony has been held
annually since 2008, marking 10th year this time.
In both venues, an “Indoor tea ceremony” will be held for authentic tea ceremony (prior application isnecessary), as well as an “Outdoor tea ceremony” to casually enjoy the fun of tea ceremony outdoors ingreenery, and a “Tea ceremony for beginners” designed for beginners and foreigners are able to learn thebasics of tea ceremony while making tea with two pairs.
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum offer “Tea ceremony in English,” where manners of tea
ceremony are explained in English. Other programs available will be a “Tea ceremony workshop forchildren,” where elementary school children or younger can learn through experience. In the garden,
dynamic performance "martial arts" and "jump rope" according to Japanese traditional songs. Stalls forfoods and beverages are opened by the local Koganei City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Programs provided in Hama-rikyu Gardens will include “Outdoor tea ceremony in English,” wheremanners of ceremony will be explained in English, and by the corporation of the Tokyo Metropolitan HighSchool Cultural Federation; Tea Ceremony department, “Outdoor tea ceremony by high school students,”
where high school students will serve tea. On the special stage, enjoy the talk show from a special guest,“Noh work shop,” “Shamisen,” and “ Kamikiri ” performances. In the garden, may purchase Japanese
sweets and green tea, which serve at the ceremonies. For visit commemoration and SNS post photos,
enjoy experience of the palanquin which used by common people in Edo-period.

«How to apply for tea ceremony»

Prior application is necessary to participate in an indoor tea ceremony held in either venue except for “Teaceremony in English.”
Please apply either from the official website (http://www.tokyo-grand-tea-ceremony.jp/en/) or by double
postcard. Applications will be accepted from August 1 (Tuesday) to 31 (Thursday). Applications
postmarked or received on August 31 are valid. In case of oversubscription, a drawing will be held. If thenumber of applicants falls under the capacity, or if cancellations occur on that day, tickets will be sold at
the venues on the day of the event.

<Application procedures>＊A person is allowed to apply only one time per venue.
■ By the official website
Fill in necessary information on the application form on the official website and send it to us.
<The official website URL> http://tokyo-grand-tea-ceremony.jp/en/■ By reply-paid postcard
On a reply-paid postcard, write your preferred venue (1.Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum or
2.Hama-rikyu Gardens), date, time (AM or PM), the total number of people (up to 2), and therepresentative’s name, address and telephone number, and mail the postcard to the Tokyo Grand Tea
Ceremony Office.
＊Please write name, postal code and address of the person representing your party on the replying
side (the back side) of the post card.
[Application period]

August 1 (Tuesday) to 31 (Thursday) 2017
＊Online application will close at 23:59 on August 31.
＊Postcards, postmarked by August 31 are valid.

[Address for postcard registration]

Japan Post Holdings Co.,Ltd Tokyo Post Office PO Box No. 79
Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony Office[Inquiry]Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony Office
Phone: 03-6426-0558 (weekdays 10:00-17:00)

2

[Results of drawing]

The result of the drawing will be e-mailed or be sent by the reply postcard to theapplicants around September 8 (Friday).

[Other]

Personal information obtained via the application process will be used only for thepurposes of contacting event operations.

Outline of “Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2017” (As of August 3)
Event outline
Venue
DateTime

Location
AccessAdmission

Organized by
Co-organized by
Supported by

Cooperated by

In case of rain

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural
MuseumOctober 7 (Saturday) and 8 (Sunday),2017
9:50-16:10(Museum is open 9:30-16:30)＊Reception (9:30-15:30)＊Entry to Museum is allowed until
16:00
3-7-1 Sakuracho Koganei Shi,
(inside Koganei Park) Tokyo■ From the North Exit ofMusashi-Koganei Station (JRChuo Line), take the Seibu bus at
platform No. 2 or 3 near the northexit of Musashi-Koganei
Station.Get off at Koganei-koen
Nishi-guchi and walk for 5 minutes.
■ From Hana-Koganei Station (SeibuShinjuku Line), take the Seibu bus
for Musashi-Koganei Station, get
off at Koganei-koen Nishi-guchi,and walk for 5 minutes.
Free during the Tokyo Grand Tea
Ceremony 2017 (on October 7 and 8)

Hama-rikyu Gardens
October 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday),2017
9:30-16:10(Gardens are open 9:00-17:00)＊Reception (9:00-15:40)＊Entry to Gardens is allowed until 16:30
1-1 Hama-rikyu-teien Chuo-ku, Tokyo■ 7 minutes walk from Shiodome Stationor Tsukijishijo Station on Toei Oedo
Line, or from Shiodome Station on
Yurikamome Line.
■ 12 minutes walk from Shimbashi
Station (JR, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, orToei Asakusa Line)■ Adults: 300 yen; Seniors over 65 years
old: 150 yen; Elementary school
children or younger, and junior highschool students living or studying inTokyo: Free

Tokyo Metropolitan Government,
Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)
Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association
Koganei City,Chuo City
Koganei City Chamber of Commerceand Industry
Tokyo Metropolitan Tea Ceremony
Tokyo Metropolitan Tea Ceremony / FlowerAssociationArrangement Federation, Tokyo
Edo-Tokyo Open Air ArchitecturalMetropolitan High School CulturalMuseum
Federation; Tea Ceremony department
To be cancelled only in case of heavy rain

3Program outline
Tea ceremony

Tea ceremony inEnglishOutdoor tea
ceremony inEnglishOutdoor teaceremony

Tea ceremony
for beginners

Tea ceremony
workshop forchildren

Outdoor tea
ceremony byhigh school
students■ Venue
1. House of Korekiyo Takahashi (Up to30 people per ceremony)
2. Second House of the Nishikawa
Family (Up to 30 people perceremony)
3. Kawano Shoten (Up to 20 peopleper ceremony)■ Fee: 700 yen＊Prior application is required. (In caseof oversubscription, a drawing willbe held.)＊Submit the notice or reply card of
win to receive a ticket at the ticket
counter on that day.
＊Participation fee to be paid on thatday.
＊If the number of applicants falls
under the capacity or if cancellations
occur on that day, tickets will be soldat the venues on the day.
■ Venue: Farmhouse of theTsunashima Family (Up to 20
people per ceremony)■ Fee: 700 yen＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
＊English explanation is available.

■ Venue
1. Nakajima-no-ochaya (Up to 35 peopleper ceremony)
2. Hobai-tei (Up to 25 people perceremony)■ Fee: 700 yen＊Prior application is required. (In case ofoversubscription, a drawing will be held.)＊Submit the notice or reply card of win toreceive a ticket at the ticket counter onthat day.
＊Participation fee to be paid on that day.
＊If the number of applicants falls under thecapacity or if cancellations occur on thatday, tickets will be sold at the venues on
the day.
＊During the Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony
2017, normal tea service will not beavailable at Nakajima-no-ochaya.

■ Venue: Nakano-hashi area (Up to 32people per ceremony)■ Fee: 300 yen＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
＊English explanation is available.
■ Venue: Gate of Date Family■ Venue: Nakano-hashi area (3 sections,Residence (Up to 50 people perup to 32 people per ceremony).
ceremony)■ Fee: 300 yen■ Fee: 300 yen＊One section is for Sencha tea.
＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
■ Venue: Farmhouse of the Yoshino ■ Venue: Kaboku-en (Up to 40 people inFamily (Up to 40 people in 20 pairs
20 pairs per ceremony)
per ceremony)■ Fee: 300 yen/person■ Fee: 300 yen/person＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
＊Participation by individuals is allowed.
＊Participation by individuals is＊English explanation is available.
allowed.
＊English explanation is available.
■ Venue: House of the Leader of theHachioji Guards (Up to 20 people
per ceremony)■ Participants: Children up toelementary and four and underelementary school students■ Fee: 200 yen＊Tickets will be sold on that day.
■ Venue: Nakano-hashi area (Up to 20people per ceremony)■ Fee: 300 yen＊Tickets will be sold on that day.

4

Performance /Stalls■ Performances＊Martial arts (October 7)＊Jump rope (October 8)■ Stage events＊Talk show from a special guest(October 21)■ Stalls by Koganei City Chamber ofCommerce and Industry■ Providing photo spots＊Shamisen performance(Common for 2 days)＊Kamikiri performance(Common for 2 days)＊Noh work shop(Common for 2 days)■ Providing photo spots■ Experience getting in a palanquin of
Edo period and taking photos■ Stalls for small Japanese goods,Japanese sweets, green tea, etc.

Events held concurrently with Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2017 in Hama-rikyu Gardens
Traditional culture
Organized by Arts Council
For foreign visitors, prepare casualexperience program forTokyo
experience in traditional Japanese culture.
foreign visitors
Supported by and＊Flower arrangement
incoopertion with Tokyo＊Making chopsticks
Metropolitan Government＊Kimono dressing*Making chopsticks charge 500 yen, others
for free*Application is not required*Inquiry: Tokyo Tradition Office,Arts Council Tokyo
Phone: 03-5428-3655 (10:00～18:00)
The Metropolitan Bonsai
Organized by Nihon Bonsai Bonsai, traditional Japanese culture popular
Exhibition
Cooperative Association
overseas, will be exhibited in the outdoor rest
Co-organized by Tokyospace
Metropolitan Park
*Inquiry: Nihon Bonsai AssociationAssociation
Phone: 03-3821-4587＊Content may be changed or cancelled depending on situation.

□ Venue outline
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
30 historic buildings of high cultural value from Edo through the middle of Showa period have been
relocated, restored, preserved, and exhibited in this outdoor museum. “House of Korekiyo Takahashi,”which is used as a tea ceremony venue, is the main building of the residence of Korekiyo Takahashi, wholed Japanese politics from Meiji to early Showa period. The second floor was used as his study room andbedroom, where became the site of "2 · 26 incidents" of the Showa period 11 (1936).

Hama-rikyu Gardens
Hama-rikyu Gardens are representative of daimyo gardens built in the Edo period. They are the only
gardens in Tokyo that have both Shio-iri-no ike, or a tidal pond, and two kamobas, or duck hunting
grounds. The gardens serve as a familiar “urban oasis,” with a rich variety of seasonal flowers blooming
within the view of nearby skyscrapers built in the Shiodome area where large-scale urban redevelopment
projects have continued. Since these Japanese gardens have high historic and academic value, as wellas value in art appreciation, they are designated as special places of scenic beauty and special historicsites, according to the Cultural Assets Preservation Act.

□ Inquiry regarding this press release«General inquiry»
Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony Office Phone: 03-6426-0558 (weekdays 10:00-17:00)
E-mail：tgtc2017@shutten-support.biz
Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony official website http://www.tokyo-grand-tea-ceremony.jp/en/«Press release inquiry»
PR Office of Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony
PR officers: Hiro Hishinuma (mobile: 080-3359-2780) E-mail：tgtc2017_pr@shutten-support.biz
5