This Ikebana experience was truly special. The setting in a modern and sleek temple provided a calm and inspiring atmosphere which definitely influenced my mindset when creating the piece. Tae was extremely knowledgable and the selected seasonal flowers so beautiful. I really liked the “less is more” philosophy, which makes you realize how much expression can come from just a few simple elements. The bowl of matcha at the end just made it the perfect immersion into Japanese culture.

I felt like I was in good hands with Tae. She is not only an ikebana master, but a tea master, and a kimono master. She's a real repository for knowledge of the culture!

Try to envision ahead of time what you'd like to do. It could save you some time. You won't be rushed, and you should feel free to change direction, but it could help you get started.

I created my arrangement to express myself in my own way, but then I asked her to give me feedback on changing it to more closely reflect the values of ikebana. It was enlightening and fun!

One last thing- be prepared to take your flowers home if you would like!

We loved this peaceful experience in a neighborhood temple. Our instructor Tae was so patient and helpful in giving advice as we worked on our arrangements. The pacing was great as we didn’t feel too rushed, but were also able to fit this visit into our busy Tokyo itinerary. Tae delivered the lesson in English, and we used the Google Translate app for more complex questions. Because we expressed interest in the temple, Tae kindly gave us a small tour of the main hall and helped us with goshuin at the reception desk. We were also able to purchase some ikebana supplies at a very good price. This will always be a special memory from our Japan trip.

Tae sensei is very knowledgeable about ikebana and tea. Although we were very slow learners, Tae sensei was super patient with us. 12/10 would recommend!