The Kencha-sai: carrying on the memory of the Great Kitano Tea Gathering through offerings before the deity and tea gatherings
Kencha-sai Tea-Offering Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/12/01Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- December 1
- Location
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation
- Participation fee
- Haifuku tea ticket: 10,000 yen
- Last updated
- 2026/11/14
At the Kencha-sai, inspired by Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Great Kitano Tea Gathering, tea is offered before the deity at the main sanctuary of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, and the tea ceremony continues in gatherings in the and Kamishichiken.
About Kencha-sai Tea-Offering Festival
The Kencha-sai is a shrine ritual inspired by the Great Kitano Tea Gathering held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Tensho 15 (1587).
A tea-offering ceremony is held at the main sanctuary of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, and tea gatherings take place in the shrine grounds and Kamishichiken.
Tea masters from Kyoto’s tea ceremony schools take turns serving, carrying the shrine’s faith and Kitano’s tea culture into the present day.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the ceremony in which tea is offered before the enshrined deity at the main sanctuary, followed by tea gatherings.
At tea gatherings in the shrine grounds and Kamishichiken, practitioners from the various tea ceremony schools prepare tea.
According to the 2026 information, Urasenke Konnichian will serve tea, and a tea gathering is also planned in Kamishichiken where visitors can enjoy tea prepared by geiko and maiko.
The Kencha-sai: carrying on the memory of the Great Kitano Tea Gathering through offerings before the deity and tea gatherings
What to expect
The event begins with the tea-offering ceremony at the main sanctuary.
The tea offered was dedicated at the Ocha-tsubo Hoken Hōkoku-sai on November 26.
After the ceremony, the main tea gathering is held, followed by tea gatherings for visitors in the shrine grounds and at secondary venues in Kamishichiken.
How to take part
Visitors can attend the haifuku tea gathering held after the ceremony.
According to the 2026 information, the tea gatherings are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A tea ticket is required to attend the haifuku gathering.
In 2026, a haifuku tea ticket costs 10,000 yen.
Tickets will be distributed at Bundo Kaikan from early November, and same-day tickets are available from 9 a.m., but the number is limited.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City
- Train and bus
Get off at the “Kitano Tenmangu-mae” bus stop / a 5-minute walk from Kitano-Hakubaicho Station on the Keifuku Railway
- By car
About 30 minutes from the Minami or Higashi Interchange on the Meishin Expressway
- Parking
Parking is available exclusively for shrine visitors.
Parking is limited to shrine visiting hours and may be unavailable during festivals or events.
Address Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
Scheduled for December 1, 2026 (Tuesday).
The ceremony at the main sanctuary is scheduled to last about 1 hour from 10 a.m., and the tea gatherings are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Accommodation and hotels PR
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Tips for your visit
In 2026, the number of haifuku tea tickets is limited.
Same-day tickets are available from 9 a.m., but if you plan to attend a tea gathering, check how tickets are being sold and whether any remain.
The ceremony and tea gatherings take place at different times, so check the start time of the gathering you wish to attend before you go.
Nearby attractions
Nearby sightseeing spots include the Hōtokuden at Daishogun Hachijinja Shrine, Kamishichiken, and Hirano Shrine.
The straight-line distance from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is 0.2 km to the Hōtokuden at Daishogun Hachijinja Shrine and to Kamishichiken, and 0.6 km to Hirano Shrine.
You can learn about the Kitano streetscape associated with the Kencha-sai and the tea ceremony alongside information about nearby sights.
京都タワー
京都府京都市下京区にある塔
京都国立博物館
京都市にある国立博物館
京都国立近代美術館
京都市左京区岡崎にある美術館
京都国際マンガミュージアム
日本の京都府京都市中京区にある日本最大の漫画博物館
京都市美術館
京都市左京区岡崎にある美術館
京都府立植物園
京都市左京区にある植物園
京都鉄道博物館
京都府京都市下京区にある鉄道博物館
Fushimi Inari Taisha
京都市伏見区にある神社
元離宮二条城
京都市にある城郭及び元皇室関連施設
Yasaka Shrine
京都市東山区にある神社
円山公園
京都市にある公園
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
京都市上京区にある神社
Origins and History of Kencha-sai Tea-Offering Festival
The Kencha-sai tea-offering festival originates in the Great Kitano Tea Gathering held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Tensho 15 (1587).
As an event that carries on the memory of that gathering, tea offerings before the deity and tea gatherings have continued at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
The system in which multiple tea ceremony schools take turns serving helps preserve the connection between Kitano’s tea culture and shrine rituals.
Official information
北野天満宮公式サイト kitanotenmangu.or.jp
Kencha-sai Tea-Offering Festival at a Glance
The Kencha-sai is a shrine ritual inspired by the Great Kitano Tea Gathering of 1587, in which tea is offered before the deity at the main sanctuary of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
After the ceremony, tea gatherings are held in the shrine grounds and Kamishichiken, where visitors can enjoy tea.
In 2026, it is scheduled for December 1, with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and the tea gatherings from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/14
