Miyajima Cooking Class, Tea Ceremony, and Calligraphy

Experience a combination of Japanese cultural activities during this experience on Miyajima, the famous “shrine island” across from Hiroshima City, formally called Itsukushima. This Miyajima Cooking Class, Tea Ceremony, and Calligraphy Experience even has a kimono wearing experience included! With Itsukushima Shrine’s red torii gate emerging from the ocean, it’s a beautiful sight (one of the most beautiful in Japan) and is the perfect location to immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture. First, you’ll get to try on a kimono and take some great photos. Then, you’ll enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony. The practice of sado (“The Way of Tea”) is one of the refined practices deeply rooted in Japanese culture. You’ll participate in the tea ceremony with a tea master, using local pottery from the Miyajima area, and learn how to drink and appreciate matcha tea. You’ll also learn about the history and ritual of tea ceremonies in Japan, and how to prepare your own matcha green tea. Next, you’ll try your hand at Japanese calligraphy, shodo, a relaxing and meditative cultural practice in Japan. Calligraphy takes patience and practice, so your guide will teach you techniques to create your own beautiful piece of writing: your name written in hiragana! Or, if you request this, you can write on Miyajima’s specialty shamoji (a rice scoop paddle) which you can take home as a souvenir. Here, you’ll experience painting using a traditional brush and Japanese sumi ink. Finally, you’ll find yourself making some simple yet delicious Japanese food during a mini Japanese cooking class. Whether it be sweets or an onigiri rice ball, the menu changes with the season and is flexible with your preferences. Japanese food and culture go hand-in-hand. It’s no wonder Japanese cuisine was named a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage! Enjoy the best of Japanese culture and join this Miyajima Cooking Class, Tea Ceremony, and Calligraphy Experience for a wonderful day trip from Hiroshima.