Tea Ceremony

The Tea Ceremony Garden is actually divided into two parts. There is the Outer Entrance Garden and the Sacred Inner Garden. The Outer Garden, shown at top left, surrounds the ceremonial Tea House. You must enter the outer garden through a gate. This gate has a beam suspended above it which forces the observer to bow their head in reverance when entering and leaving the garden area. As the observer follows along a narrow path they will encounter a water basin, where they can wash their hands and purify themselves.

The Sacred Inner Garden, shown to the right, may not be entered by guests.Instead they may view this garden through a window or from a deck attached to the Tea House. The Inner Garden usually consists of a small water feature. There may also be a single bonsai present on a stand.