Matcha is more than a café order. This Tokyo experience turns tea into a hands-on lesson, with comparisons of several green teas, a matcha ceremony practice, and pairing snacks that actually make sense.

I really liked the small group size (max five), so you can ask questions and actually see what’s happening with the leaves and tools. I also loved the variety of teas and drinks—you’re not just sipping one thing, you’re tasting multiple styles and finishing with both matcha latte and hojicha latte.

One thing to consider: if you only want a quick matcha drink without any tasting comparisons or preparation steps, this class-style format may feel a bit more serious than expected.

Key things I’d circle on your plan

• Tiny group (maximum of five) for a calmer, more interactive tea session
• Welcome drink first, so you start with context, not just a cup in your hand
• Leaf-by-leaf comparisons, including sencha, kabuse-cha, gyokuro, and more
• Hands-on matcha (ousucha) with a bamboo whisk you can repeat later
• Homemade sweets paired with the tea, plus time to taste how flavor changes
• Matcha latte and hojicha latte so you get both traditional and modern serve styles

First Sips at Henn Na Hotel’s Sports Bar Leaf

You’ll meet at matcha trip at Henn Na Hotel, 2F Sports Bar Leaf, in Taito City (Kotobuki 3-chōme 19-8). It’s a very specific meeting spot, which is good for finding it fast, as long as you double-check the exact address on your phone.

This is built for a 1 hour 30 minute experience, and that timing matters. You’ll taste enough variety to notice differences, but it won’t sprawl into a half-day commitment.

The session starts with a seasonal welcome drink, and the tea talk begins right away. One nice touch: the hosts explain what you’re about to taste while you’re still settling in, so the comparisons make more sense as the cups arrive.

Who You’ll Learn From: Chisei and Rina’s Tea-Plus-Community Energy

The experience is led by Chisei and Rina, and their setup feels like a real craft, not a scripted show. Chisei grew tea in Kyoto for six years, and he brings that first-hand farming perspective into how each tea is made and what it tastes like.

In the reviews, people praise how Chisei explains the process clearly, with diagrams and patience for questions. I also like that Rina checks about allergies during the session, since tea workshops often include snacks, and you want that handled calmly.

The vibe is friendly and practical. You’re not being talked at—you’re guided through tasting and making, with plenty of room to ask why something tastes the way it does.

Tea Tasting Tokyo Style: How the Session Compares Six Green Teas

You don’t start by making matcha. You start by learning how to notice tea differences using color, shape, fragrance, and taste.

One part of the session compares these teas in a structured way:

• Sencha
• Kabuse-cha
• Gyokuro
• Deep steamed sencha
• Genmaicha / brown rice tea
• Hojicha (roasted green tea)

The format is simple but smart. First you look at the leaves—what they look like before water hits them. Then you brew using the way the tea is intended to be enjoyed, and you taste while you’re still thinking about those visual clues.

Why this matters for you: lots of people try tea in Tokyo by ordering what sounds good. This method trains your palate to recognize patterns, like how roasted hojicha can taste warmer and mellower, while gyokuro tends to feel more concentrated.

Also, don’t underestimate the “small” step of smelling the brewed tea. The hosts guide you to pay attention to aroma, and that’s usually where the big differences announce themselves.

Japanese Black Tea and Homemade Sweets: Pairing With Intent

After the green-tea comparisons, you move into Japanese black tea plus homemade sweets. The black tea is chosen specifically because it pairs well with sweets, so you’re not doing a random dessert detour—you’re learning how flavor matching changes what you taste.

Homemade treats are a standout in the feedback. People mention Rina’s sweets as some of the best they had on the trip. If you like tea workshops that feel like a full mini-meal rather than just tasting cups, this pairing is a big reason to book.

One extra detail worth flagging: one review mentions being able to eat tea leaves with ponzu. That might not be on every exact session flow, but it’s an example of how hands-on the workshop can get beyond drinking.

Practical tip: eat slowly. With tea-and-sweets pairings, rushing makes everything taste like sugar and caffeine. Let the flavors separate on your tongue.

Ousucha Matcha: Make Your Own With a Bamboo Whisk

Then comes the main event: making matcha. You’ll learn to make ousucha (matcha) using a bamboo tea whisk.

This is where the experience earns its keep. You’re not just sampling matcha—you’re practicing the basic mechanics that make matcha feel different from green tea you might have had at a cafe. If you’ve ever watched someone whisk matcha and thought, I should know how that works, here’s your chance.

The workshop also emphasizes that you can keep making matcha at home after you finish. That’s a key difference from many tastings that end with a purchased souvenir and a vague hope you’ll recreate the moment later.

Small mindset shift that helps: treat matcha like a recipe, not a beverage. Water temperature, whisking method, and proportions all matter, and learning them once in a guided setting makes your future attempts far less frustrating.

And yes, matcha can taste bold. If you normally avoid it because it feels bitter, you’ll likely understand why after tasting different styles earlier in the class.

Matcha Latte and Hojicha Latte: Traditional Meets Everyday

Not everyone wants only the traditional cup. This workshop also gives you matcha latte and hojicha latte, which helps you compare how the same tea personality changes when it’s served differently.

The info you’ll get includes multiple latte options: the experience includes three types of matcha latte plus hojicha latte. This is a smart way to help you decide what you actually like to drink, not just what’s traditional.

Here’s how to use this part of the session:

• Taste first, then think: is the sweetness covering up the tea, or does it bring out aroma?
• Compare matcha latte versus plain matcha so you can separate milk sweetness from matcha flavor.
• Notice how hojicha’s roasted character can feel cozy even when mixed into a latte.

If you love coffee drinks, this section can feel familiar, and it’s a comfortable bridge to deepen your tea interest without going full monk-mode.

Value in the Cup: Why $57.98 Can Make Sense

The price is $57.98 per person for about 1.5 hours, with a tasting lineup that includes multiple green teas, Japanese black tea, homemade sweets, and hands-on matcha practice. You’re also served matcha latte and hojicha latte.

I think this can be good value because you’re paying for three things that are hard to DIY correctly:

1. Guided comparisons across multiple tea types, so you learn what differences mean.
2. The matcha-making process with a bamboo whisk, so you leave with an actionable skill.
3. Snacks paired with tea, not just random sugar.

If you tried to copy this with café visits, it can get expensive fast, and you still wouldn’t get the same structured tasting method or the farming-and-processing context behind each cup.

What to Do Before You Go (So You Get More Out of It)

This is not a passively sit-and-sip event. You’ll get the most if you go in ready to pay attention for the differences in aroma and taste. That means no rushing through your phone during the leaf comparisons.

Also, if you have any dietary needs, mention them clearly at the start. The hosts proactively ask about allergy conditions, and it makes the session smoother for everyone.

Finally, plan your schedule so you’re not heading straight into a long walk after being whisked through several drinks and sweets. You’ll want a little time to let the flavors settle before you make your next food choice.

Who This Matcha Experience Is Best For

You’ll probably love this if:

• You’re a tea fan who’s tired of ordering the same thing and calling it learning.
• You want a guided matcha ceremony practice rather than a one-off photo moment.
• You appreciate small-group experiences where you can ask questions.

You might skip it if:

• You don’t want any hands-on part and just want a drink.
• You’re allergic or sensitive to the ingredients in tea-based snacks and prefer food not be part of the experience (though allergy questions are addressed).

Should You Book This Tokyo Matcha Trip?

I’d book it if you want a serious-yet-fun way to understand Japanese tea culture in a short window. The small group size, the variety of teas, the homemade sweets, and the chance to actually make ousucha matcha add up to more than just tastings—you leave with better taste instincts and a skill you can repeat.

If you’re already a matcha person, this still works because it compares matcha styles and pairs it with other tea types. If you’re new to tea, it also works because the session teaches how to read leaves, smell tea, and notice differences without needing to be an expert going in.

Go with an open palate, take your time with each cup, and you’ll feel like you just got a shortcut to understanding why Japanese tea is taken so seriously—without it ever becoming stiff.

FAQ

How much does the Matcha Experience cost?

It costs $57.98 per person.

How long is the experience?

The duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What is the group size limit?

The experience has a maximum of five travelers.

Where is the meeting point in Tokyo?

You’ll meet at matcha trip, Henn Na Hotel, 2F Sports Bar Leaf, at 111-0042 Tokyo, Taito City, Kotobuki, 3-chōme 19-8.

What teas do you get to taste?

You’ll be served seven varieties of Japanese tea, including hojicha, sencha, kabuse-cha, gyokuro, deep steamed tea, genmaicha (brown rice tea), and Japanese black tea, plus matcha options.

Do you make matcha during the class?

Yes. You’ll make ousucha (matcha) using a bamboo tea whisk.

Are matcha latte and hojicha latte included?

Yes. You’ll enjoy matcha latte and hojicha latte as part of the tasting.

Are snacks included?

Yes. You’ll have homemade sweets that go with the tea.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the paid amount is not refunded.