Sankeien Grand Tea Ceremony to Be Held After 9-Year Hiatus

The 'Sankeien Grand Tea Ceremony' is a historic event held since the foundation's establishment in 1958, commemorating Sankeien's founder, Sankei Hara, who was regarded as one of Japan's three great tea masters of the modern era. This year marks the 31st edition of the ceremony.

A rare gathering of the five major schools of Japanese tea ceremony in one garden, the event has consistently attracted participants from across the country. This year's ceremony returns after a nine-year hiatus due to large-scale restoration work on cultural properties and the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of Sankeien's opening, making this event a key commemorative project.

Event Dates

October 31 (Sat) and November 1 (Sun), 2026 (Reiwa 8), from 10:00 to 15:00 each day

※ Registration opens: Wednesday, July 15, at 9:00 AM

Capacity

800 participants (400 per day)

Participation Fee

18,000 JPY (tax included), covering admission to all five tea schools, refreshments, and garden entry.

Registration

Advance registration required

※ Phone registration begins at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 15

TEL: 045-621-0634 / 0635 (Sankeien)

Tea Venues and Hosts

First Seat: Hakun-tei (Yokohama City Tangible Cultural Property) – Sokei Kobori, Head of the Enshu School of Tea

Second Seat: Rinshunkaku, Sumi-no-Edono-Ma (Important Cultural Property) – Kansetsu Kawakami, Head of the Edosenke School

Third Seat: Rinshunkaku, Tenraku-no-Ma (Important Cultural Property) – Urasenke Temkeikai Yokohama Branch

Fourth Seat: Gekka-den (Important Cultural Property) – Mushakouji Senke Kanagawa Kanshukai

Fifth Seat: Koshokaku, Rakushitsu-dou (Standing Tea Ceremony) (Yokohama City Tangible Cultural Property) – Omotesenke Dombukai Kanagawa Branch

Refreshment Area: Koshokaku, Chanoma-dou (Yokohama City Tangible Cultural Property)

Organizer

Sankeien Ho-sho-kai Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

Co-sponsors

Head of Edosenke School

Head of Enshu School of Tea

Omotesenke

Urasenke

Mushakouji Senke

Yokohama Tea Ceremony Association

City of Yokohama

Sponsors

Ueno Transtec Co., Ltd.

Yokohama Okadayasu Co., Ltd.

Yokohama Bank, Ltd.

Related Events

Shigaraki Tea Bowl by Jujoan Morikawa, Inscribed 'Jukushi' (Ripe Persimmon)

Special Exhibition: 'Sankei Hara and His Tea Companions – The Sei Saito Collection'

Approximately 60 items, including tea utensils formerly owned by Sankei Hara, his handwritten letters, and calligraphy and paintings by fellow tea connoisseurs, many of which are being displayed for the first time.

Exhibition Period: October 31, 2026 (Sat) to December 8, 2026 (Tue), 9:00–17:00 (Garden entry until 16:30)

Venue: Sankeien Memorial Hall

Admission: Free (included with garden admission)

Overview of Sankeien

[Facility Name] Sankeien (Sankei-en)

[Operator] Sankeien Ho-sho-kai Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

[Address] 58-1 Honmoku-San-no-Tani, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0824

[Contact] TEL 045-621-0635

[Official Website] https://www.sankeien.or.jp

[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/sankeien_garden

[X] https://x.com/HSankeien

[Admission Fee] Adults 900 JPY / Elementary and junior high school students 200 JPY / Yokohama residents aged 65+ 700 JPY (ID required)

[Opening Hours] 9:00–17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)

[Access] 10-minute city bus ride from Negishi Station on the JR Negishi Line, get off at 'Honmoku', then 10-minute walk

40-minute city bus ride from East Exit of Yokohama Station, get off at 'Sankeien Iriguchi', then 5-minute walk