Kakinuma – Matcha Experience in Asakusa

Kakinuma (茶道具・花器 柿沼) is a shop in Asakusa that not only sells fine tea-and-vase tools but also hosts a fully-fledged tea-ceremony experience inside its dedicated tea-room.

Participants can savour a guided class where they learn about Zen teachings, the meaning and history of the tea ceremony, and then make their own matcha.

Kakinuma Matcha Experience Overview

Concept & Story

At Kakinuma, the poster-motto is “more familiar to tradition”.

The store wants visitors to meet the tools and cultural practices of tea and flower arrangement (kadō) in a welcoming way.

The tea-room is directly inside the shop space, meaning you pass from browsing fine pottery into the ritual of tea seamlessly.

This store-experience model links the act of enjoying tea with the act of owning tea-tools, making the journey both experiential and collectible.

Tea Instructor & Ceremonial Tools

In the tea-room at Kakinuma, your instructor will not only guide you in the tea ceremony, but you’ll also be using a kama (tea-kettle) crafted by the living national treasure Takahashi Keiten.

A detail that elevates the experience beyond beginner-friendly to genuinely craft-oriented.

This attention to historically meaningful tools underlines that you’re dealing with genuine Japanese tea culture, not just a simplified version.

The instructor begins by making the matcha for you, then you take over in your own turn—first observing, then doing.

Location & Access

Kakinuma is located at 3-21-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032, in the heart of the traditional Asakusa district.

When you arrive, you actually walk through a small path (roji) and pass a tsukubai (water-bowl) to cleanse your hands before entering the tea-room.

This sequence helps set the tone of stepping out of daily life and into tea culture.

Learn and Make Your Own Matcha at Kakinuma

You learn the ritual, you pick your favourite tea-bowl from the collection, you follow the instructor, and then you get your own turn to prepare and drink matcha.

By doing each stage you gain not just taste but understanding—and a sense of participation.

Step-by-Step Tea Ceremony Etiquette

Your session begins with a formal yet friendly orientation.

You are shown how to bow, the reason for handling each tool in a certain way, how to manage body posture and the way of entering the space via the nijiri-guchi (low tea-room entrance).

This part helps you feel prepared and respectful rather than lost.

Whisk and Serve Your Own Matcha

First, the sensei will prepare the matcha and you’ll drink that bowl and observe the method.

Then the exciting moment comes:
you choose your favourite tea-bowl, you scoop the powdered tea, add hot water from the kettle you draw, and you whisk your matcha.

This hands-on stage is what makes this not just a demonstration but a lived experience.

Seasonal Wagashi & Tea Tools Shopping

After the tea is made and enjoyed, you’re served wagashi (traditional sweets).

On our visit we had ino-ko mochi (亥の子餅), a confection tied to the seasonal festival—it changes depending on time of year.

Because Kakinuma is also a tea-tools store, you then have the option to browse and purchase the bowl you used or other utensils after the session.

Kimono Option & Cultural Depth at Kakinuma

While the core experience is the matcha session, Kakinuma allows you to deepen your cultural immersion.

Wearing casual clothes is fine—but some visitors opt to wear kimono or yukata for added context.

The setting is already steeped in Japanese aesthetics, making the moment meaningful!!

Select-Your-Favourite Tea-Bowl

As part of the session, you are invited to pick your own vessel from the shop’s collection.

This gives the experience a personal dimension.

Because the shop handles high-quality items, this selection helps you feel like you are both guest and collector.

Experience Matcha with Depth

When you sit in the tearoom, hold the tea bowl you selected, and whisk your own matcha using the kallied equipment, the process becomes ritualistic rather than recreational.

Kakinuma’s focus on tools and tradition means you aren’t just enjoying matcha.

You’re entering its world.

Best for Explorers of Culture

If you’re the kind of traveller who wants more than a photo op, Kakinuma is ideal.

Solo travellers, couples, or friends who want to explore Japanese aesthetics, craft and quiet ritual will find this a rewarding stop.

The integrated store lets you shop after your experience, turning a cultural moment into a souvenir.

Matcha Tools & Tea-Culture Purchase Opportunity at Kakinuma

One of the strong points here is that you don’t leave the tearoom and never think of the tools again.

Instead, you go from ceremony to tool-retail—and that continuity is rare.

The tea-bowl you used, the whisk you held, might be available for purchase.

Buy the Tools You Used in Class

After your matcha session, you’ll have the chance to purchase the exact vessel you used—or others in the same style—directly in the shop.

Owning a tool you’ve just used helps anchor the memory of the session, and makes it easier to replicate tea moments at home.

The teacher will often explain proper care and usage, so your purchase becomes meaningful beyond display.

Supporting Craft & Tradition

Kakinuma’s inventory includes high-quality items: tea bowls, caddies, water-jugs, and more, often made by renowned craftsmen.

By purchasing these tools you are participating in sustaining Japan’s craft economy—not just consuming tourism.

Take Home the Essence of Matcha Culture

When you leave, you don’t just walk away with a photo or a memory; you may walk away with:

• A tea tool you used.
• Understanding of the ritual.
• The desire to recreate calm in your daily life.

That transition—from guest to hopeful practitioner—captures the spirit of the experience.

Booking & Visitor Information for Kakinuma

Booking this experience is straightforward and visitor-friendly.

The shop provides English-friendly information and the location and details are clearly published.

Class Duration, Price & Group Size

Typically the experience takes about 1 hour in standard form, though extended versions may last up to 90 minutes.

Prices start around ¥3,500 for the introductory session.

Group sizes are modest, allowing for personal attention and comfort.

Detail	Information
Duration	~60–90 minutes
Price	From approx. ¥3,500
Group Size	Small groups (varies)
Languages	Japanese; check for English support

Reservation Process & Access

Reservations can be made via the shop’s website, Instagram or by phone (03-3876-3903).

The venue is located at 3-21-9 Asakusa, Taitō-ku—just a short walk from Asakusa Station.

With its combination of retail and ritual, you’re advised to arrive a little early to browse the tools before the session begins.

FAQ About Kakinuma Matcha Experience

This FAQ addresses common visitor queries for a smooth experience.

Do I need prior knowledge of tea ceremony?

No. The instructor guides each step clearly, making it beginner-friendly.

Can I choose the tea‐bowl I will use?

Yes. You pick your vessel from the collection before you begin.

Is the tea kettle by a renowned maker?

Yes. A kama crafted by the living national treasure Takahashi Keiten is used.

Are the sweets seasonal?

Yes. The wagashi vary by season—for example, the visit we recorded had “ino-ko mochi.”

Can I buy the tools afterwards?

Yes. The shop inventory is available for purchase post-session.

Final Thoughts on the Kakinuma Tea Experience

If you’re seeking a matcha experience that immerses you in craft, culture and calm—then Kakinuma, with its tea-room, national-treasure-level kettle, and on-site tool shop, is a standout.

You watch, you pick, you whisk, you taste—with meaning behind each action.

Walk away not just enriched, but perhaps ready to make a bowl of matcha on your own someday.

For travellers who value substance over spectacle, this is not just another activity.

It’s a quiet doorway into Japanese tradition in the heart of Asakusa.