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Traditional cultural pursuits such as sado (Japanese
tea ceremony) and ikebana (flower arrangement) are much more than
simple pursuits in skills. They embody spiritual ways seeking the
traditional values of wabi (elegant stillness) and sabi (antiquated
elegance with calm). Facilities abound which offer you the hands-on
experience of the Japanese tea ceremony, flower arrangement and other
cultural pursuits. There are even possibilities for you to learn
dressing in a kimono all by yourself.
Tea Ceremony
Sado, the ceremony celebrating the Way of
Tea, has been much favored by Japanese high society as an artistic
ceremony. Today, it is popular as a means of training concentration of
spirit and of learning manners. There are a number of schools in
Japan, each presenting their own style of tea ceremony. Many hotels
have a tea ceremony room on the grounds for the customers to enjoy a
real tea ceremony.
Flower Arrangement
Ikebana originated as a
means to display wild flowers in the tea ceremony room. There are more
than 20 schools of ikebana, all differing in their stylistic rules and
methods of presentation, and most have their own instruction center.
You can enjoy the beauty of ikebana in a variety of places such as
hotels, department stores and the lobbies of public buildings. |
Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
