Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Enjoy 10% off

On your first order with us and get early access to new collections and more.
A Casual Tea Experience In Nara

A Casual Tea Experience In Nara

Posted on the former blog on August 12th 2018

If you know about Japanese tea ceremony it’s often associated with being very serious, having to kneel a long time and if you’re interested in learning it, the hurdles seems to be hight since it requires many years of practice. Simultaneously more people all over the world are starting to appreciate Japanese tea (another post about it can be found here).

Nara, the first capital of Japan before it moved to Kyoto and then Tokyo, is the home of a recently opened tea house named “Salon” which in Kanji is written 茶論 and can be translated as “Tea Theory”. The tea house is the newest venture by Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a company that has played a big role in the movement to revitalize traditional craft. They created a compact and beautifully handmade tea set that can be tried and purchased at Salon. The entire experience is made with the goal of making the tea culture more approachable and enjoyable.

The tea set by Nakagawa Masahichi Shoten. Photo by Pen Magazine

Traditional Japanese sweets can be enjoyed with the tea. Photos by Pen Magazine

Besides being able to enjoy a good cup of tea and Japanese sweets, Salon offers a range of workshop and classes that range from beginner to advanced. Both of them will require reservations that can be made via their website.

Photo by Pen Magazine

Entrance of Salon. Photo by Pen Magazine

Western style seating.Photo by Pen Magazine

Traditional seating space. Photo by Salon

The space is split into an area with western style seating and another one that is more traditional. The fusuma (space dividers) in the traditional space illustrate deers that are symbolic to Nara. If you ever visit the city you’ll most likely encounter live deers before you get to Salon.

Matcha green tea with traditional Japanese sweets “dango”. Photo by Pen Magazine

Stories

Every piece of japan comes with a story

The Longer Path: Crafting Ceramics Through a Collaborative Process

The Longer Path: Crafting Ceramics Through a Collaborative Process

POJ Studio collaborated with Okuda-san of Oogoya for over a year to get the Shigaraki Collection just right. Mutual respect and creative partnership allowed both teams to translate the tradition of...

Read more
Bringing Stonework of Japanese Gardens Inside Modern Homes

Bringing Stonework of Japanese Gardens Inside Modern Homes

As part of the team carrying on seven generations of legacy stonework at Nishimura Tōrō-Ten, Ishiura Kenji set out to bring stone craftsmanship beyond the garden and into the modern home.

Read more
Kazuto Yoshikawa, Reawakening Dormant Techniques

Kazuto Yoshikawa, Reawakening Dormant Techniques

Kazuto Yoshikawa guided a collaboration to revive the traditional wood-bending techniques of a Mie Prefecture multi-generational frame workshop, resulting in a striking interior design element for ...

Read more
The Weight of 400 Years

The Weight of 400 Years

Carrying on the legacy of 16 generations of potters, Hosai Matsubayashi is the human embodiment of the evolution of tea culture in Japan. Find out through this documentary how he pursues Kireisabi ...

Read more
Hiromichi Nakade, Maker of Oryoki Bowls

Hiromichi Nakade, Maker of Oryoki Bowls

Meet Hiromichi Nakade and Kazuya Fujimoto, the makers of the Oryoki and Kodaiwan bowls. A master craftsman sits with his former apprentice to speak about their hope for the declining crafts industr...

Read more