Kaiseki & Tea Ceremony in a Former Samurai House (Ishikawa)

Located in Kaga City’s Yamanaka Onsen, the Mugen-an residence was built by the Yokoyama family, one of the eight Kaga clans that held hereditary positions as senior counselors for the Kaga Domain. Over 100 years later, this meticulously preserved home is now a cultural site where you can learn more about Kaga's history and culture.

In this experience, you’ll first tour the house and enjoy lunch with your host, Maehata Shunsai, a lacquerware craftsman whose works have been curated in art museums worldwide. Appreciate his exquisite craftsmanship during lunch, where you'll enjoy cha-kaiseki (tea kaiseki), an elegant meal focusing on simplicity and harmony designed to complement the Japanese tea ceremony, for which each dish enhances the flavors of tea. During the meal, your host will perform Yamanaka-bushi, local folk songs from sea shanties sung by visiting sailors in the 1800s.

After lunch, enjoy a short tea ceremony in Mugen-an’s great hall, designated as a cultural property of Ishikawa Prefecture. Before concluding the tour, you’ll visit the gallery on the second floor, where a guide will explain the fascinating features of the fine lacquerware and utensils used in the tea ceremony that reflect regional designs.

Experience flow:

- Tour of the samurai house Mugen-an with an English-speaking guide

- Tea kaiseki lunch featuring Yamanaka-bushi

- Brief tea ceremony in Mugen-an’s great hall

- Visit the gallery on the 2nd floor with an English-speaking guide for a lecture on local lacquerware, including the tea utensils used during lunch