Journeys in Japan - 2012/12/04 - All About Matcha Green Tea Matsue

Dec. 4, Tue.
All About Matcha Green Tea Matsue

Gessho-ji Temple

Matcha and wagashi

Chashitsu tearoom

The chanoyu is a ritual celebration of tea. Isis, who studied the art for two years, visits a Japanese teashop, wagashi sweet store, and a local resident's home to get in touch with the deep tea ceremony culture in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture.

Matsue Castle
Location: 1-5 Tonomachi, Matsue City
Open hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (October to March), 8:30 am to 6:30 pm (April to September)
Admission fee: 280 yen /adult, 140 yen /child (Discounts for overseas visitors. Passports or other ID must be presented at the ticket office to apply.)
Website: http://www.matsue-tourism.or.jp/m_castle/index.html (in Japanese only)
http://www.kankou-matsue.jp/m-guide/good/page1.html (for details on English guides)

Shimane Prefecture Matsue Tourism Guide (in English, Chinese, Korean, and French)
http://www.kankou-matsue.jp/

Gessho-ji Temple
Temple with shrine and portrait of Matsudaira Fumai. Visitors to the hereditary temple of Matsudaira Fumai can enjoy matcha and wagashi (400 yen).
Visitors can enjoy matcha and wagashi (400 yen) while appreciating the view of the Japanese garden.
Location: 179 Sotonakabara-cho, Matsue City
Open hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (November to March),8:30 am to 5:30 pm (April to October)
Admission fee: 500 yen /adult or university student, 300 yen /junior high or high school student, and 250 yen /elementary school student
http://www.shinbutsu.jp/english/36.html (in English only)

WARAKU
Kimono rental shop
Location: Tonomachi 43, Matsue City (2F of Karakoro Art Studio)
Open hours: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
Rental charge: 3,500 yen ~/day (including fitting fee)
WARAKU is closed on Thursdays. Prior booking is required for rentals.
http://www.karakoro-kobo.com/ (in Japanese only)
Karakoro Art Studio also offers a wagashi making course and other courses.

Nakamura Chaho
Japanese teashop
Location: Tenjin-machi 6, Matsue City
http://www.nippon-tea.co.jp/ (in English, French, and German)

Horikawa Pleasure Boat
Moat tours around Matsue Castle
Open hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (winter season), departs every 20 minutes
Admission fee: One-day ticket 800 yen /adult, 400 yen /child (Discounts for overseas visitors.
Passports or other ID must be presented at the ticket office to apply.)
http://www.matsue-horikawameguri.jp/ (in English, Chinese, and Korean)

Furyudo (Tera-machi branch)
The shop sells wagashi named by Matsudaira Fumai and other creative sweets.
Location: Tera-machi 151, Matsue City
http://www.furyudo.jp/ (in Japanese only)

The Tanabe Museum of Art
The museum displays tea ceremony implements, including pieces from Matsudaira Fumai's Collection. With prior booking, a curator will explain the exhibits in Japanese.
Location: Kitahori-machi 310-5, Matsue City
Open hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Mondays)
Admission fee: 600 yen /adult, 400 yen /university and high school student, and free for junior high school student and under
http://www.tanabe-museum.or.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Shinjiko Cruising Hakucho
Pleasure boat tour of Lake Shinji (one hour)
Location: Higashiasahi-machi 150-7, Matsue City
Departure times: 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm (April 1 to September 4), Sunset cruises (depends on sunset times)
Admission fee: 1,400 yen /adult, 700 yen /child
http://hakuchougo.jp/ (in Japanese only)
Access Map

Access:
To reach Matsue, there are buses from Yonago and Izumo airports.
Date :
Nov. 5 - Nov. 8, 2012
Traveler :
Isis Tyminski Perez, Media Personality (Canada)
When I first came to Japan I was given the opportunity to study the Tea Ceremony for two years, and was excited to learn because I simply thought it would be interesting to see how "Japanese" or specifically how "needlessly complicated" the practice was. What I had learned was that everything you do is for your guest, to create the atmosphere similar to the phrase in Japanese "ichi-go, ichi-e" meaning that being together to drink tea in those specific circumstances would never occur again, a "once in a lifetime chance," an unforgettable moment of time spent together.

Visiting the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture made me realize that drinking "matcha" is definitely an act of showing appreciation for others, and also a very simple ceremony that anyone could do daily, and should do daily! It is beautifully artistic and detailed that in order to suit each guest perfectly, the paintings on the wall, even the cup you drink out of is carefully chosen, paying attention always to specific details according to season! In simpler terms, it means that no matter when you visit someone for a cup of tea, each time you may enjoy a different atmosphere, an intricate variety of artwork in the utensils, different colorful Japanese wagashi sweets all the while enjoying lovely company. The way the nature is always included in the ceremony, from the design of the cups to the very sweets you eat, makes you truly appreciate where you live; it makes you realize the absolute beauty of the surroundings you may have taken for granted before. Making the tea espec ially thick and creamy from the powder, and purposefully drinking it slowly from the same cup together with your friends, brings you closer together; sharing, appreciating, and simply enjoying your surroundings, these are all amazingly positive thoughts and gifts that one can give to each other through just one healthy cup of tea. I never knew something so ordinary and now a worldly popular drink had such a positive and influential background. It can sound complicated or look difficult, but Matsue showed me it can be done in any home at any time. I truly wish more people would take the time to appreciate this delicious gift of time spent with one another more often in all areas of Japan, and all over the world.

Isis

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