Osaka : Sumiyoshi Taisha, Sakai and Tea Ceremony
Joined 2025
Visit the 1,800-year-old Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine and discover its unique architecture and Shinto heritage. Enjoy a relaxed tea ceremony at a local café, learning to prepare matcha with a homemade sweet. Take a tram to the Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko to explore the legacy of Sen no Rikyu, founder of the Wabi-Sabi tea aesthetic. End the tour with a traditional tea ceremony led by a tea master in a Wabi-Sabi setting.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Sumiyoshi Taiha
- Begin your tour with a visit to the Sumiyoshi Taisha, an incredible Shinto shrine with a history dating back over 1,800 years. Explore the shrine’s unique architecture and learn about its significance in Japanese history and the Shinto mythology behind.
Local Café next to Sumiyoshi Taisha
Next, head to a local café for a relaxed tea ceremony. Discover the history and meaning of the tea ceremony in Japan, and then try your hand at preparing and enjoying matcha tea with an homemade sweet.
Sakai
After the tea ceremony, take a tram to the Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko. Learn about Sen no Rikyu, the founder of the Sen-ke school and the originator of the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic in the tea ceremony.
Finish your tour with another tea ceremony in a Wabi-Sabi setting, led by a tea ceremony master.
Ending Point
Sakai
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Tea ceremony at VegeVegeDeli
Tickets for the tram ride from Sumiyoshitorimae to Shukuin Station
Tickets for the Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko
Tea ceremony at Sakai Plaza
Food and drinks other than tea
Tour Important Information
- We’ll be walking quite a bit during the tour, so comfortable shoes are highly recommended.
- This tour uses public transportation, and please note that we might need to stand during tram rides depending on seat availability.
- This tour may not be suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2025
About Tour Guide Katia S.
Hello, bonjour, привет ! I’m a multilingual guide based, offering cultural and historical tours across Osaka, Kyoto and Nara — with a special focus on Shinto shrines, Buddhist temple and Japan history.
Kansai is a beautiful area which provide everything you want to see in Japan! Electric, gourmet and vintage with Osaka, traditional and rich of Japanese crafts and temples with Kyoto, and turn to country side and beautiful nature and history in Nara.
One of my favorite spots to guide is Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest and most iconic Shinto shrines. Through these tours, I share stories, traditions, and perspectives that bring Japanese history and mythology to life.
My journey to Japan — all the way from Europe via the Transiberian Railway — reflects my deep love for cultural exchange and meaningful travel.
If you’re looking for a laid-back, authentic way to experience Japan with a passionate local — I’m your guide.
Book a tour and let’s make it an unforgettable day!
$198/ per group
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