Wagashi Sweets-Making Workshop at Tokyo’s Koboji Temple

Rooted in centuries of history, the Japanese tea ceremony is one of the country’s greatest expressions of hospitality. A sign of respect and tradition, it consists of a ritual of making and serving matcha alongside wagashi confectioneries. In this experience, you can participate in this ancient practice and learn to make confectioneries at one of Tokyo’s iconic temples.

Neriki sweets are created by shaping a sweet paste from white beans and rice flour into delicate and colorful motifs. With the help of an English-speaking guide dressed in a kimono, you’ll work through the process before enjoying your sweets with a cup of matcha.

The sweets-making experience takes place in a room with Japanese straw mat flooring (tatami) at Koboji Temple, a historic site in Minato City. Koboji was established over a thousand years ago in Wakayama before being moved to Tokyo in the Meiji period and becoming the 13th temple in the Gofunai 88 Sacred Sites pilgrimage.

Your amicable hosts will share the rituals and traditions associated with the tea ceremony and the steps to prepare matcha. They will answer all your questions about Koboji Temple, wagashi, tea ceremonies, and Japan’s cultural history, so this is a great opportunity to dive deep into Japan's long-standing traditions.