The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Culture Creation Project (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), and Tokyo Traditional Arts Program Executive Committee will hold the Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2014, a set of events designed to showcase different tea traditions in hopes of introducing tea culture and the Edo-Tokyo culture that gave shape to the Japanese tea world. The event is part of the Tokyo Traditional Arts Program, which aims to disseminate Japanese traditional performing arts and culture both inside and outside Japan.

Spanning a total of four days, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (located in Koganei-shi, Tokyo) will play host to event participants on Sep. 27 (Sat) and 28 (Sun), while the Hama – rikyu Gardens (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will hold its ceremonies on Oct. 11 (Sat) and 12 (Sun). The “Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony” program, founded in 2008 to provide a relaxed introduction to the culture of tea or Chanoyu for citizens and foreigners unfamiliar with the tea ceremony, is now in its seventh year. The event drew over 23,000 participants last year, bringing the six-year running total to an incredible 105,000 guests and solidifying the gathering as one of Tokyo’s proudest fall traditions.

The Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony events will be held at a garden and outdoor architectural museum that feature gorgeous natural scenery and tremendous historical and cultural value. Both venues will host authentic Cha-seki (reservations required), Nodate outdoor teas, and “Tea Ceremony for Beginners” introductory workshops. The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum will feature “Tea Ceremony Workshop for Children” (for elementary school students and younger children). The Hama – rikyu Gardens will hold an “Outdoor Tea Ceremony in English,” where experts will explain the art of the tea ceremony in English, as well as a Tea culture groups from Tokyo high schools will conduct an “Outdoor Tea Ceremony by high school students” .