November 3, 2026 (Tuesday, National Holiday) | Culture Day Special
"What to Do on Culture Day?" Enjoy Matcha and Tea Ware Painting in Shibuya on November 3! A Special Holiday to Enjoy Japanese Culture
November 3 is Culture Day. Why not spend this special holiday experiencing traditional Japanese culture this year?
Matcha is growing in popularity worldwide. Behind this lies the culture of Chanoyu, which has been nurtured in Japan over many years.
Matcha is not just something to drink. Choosing a tea bowl, preparing the tea, and savoring it while feeling the season—each of these steps holds the charm of Japanese culture.
At Edo Saryo in Shibuya, Tokyo, you can enjoy a 120-minute Japanese cultural experience combining tea ware painting, matcha, and Japanese sweets.
Savor matcha using a tea bowl you have painted yourself, and you can take your completed tea bowl home the same day.
Whether for sightseeing in Tokyo on Culture Day, a couple's date, or an outing with friends, spend this autumn not just "looking" at Japanese culture, but "experiencing" it.
▶ Book Your Culture Day Matcha & Tea Ware Painting Experience
1. November 3 is Culture Day. Why is it recommended for experiencing Japanese culture?
Culture Day is a national holiday in Japan designated every November 3.
According to the National Holidays Law, it is a day to "love freedom and peace, and promote culture."
On Culture Day, you can enjoy various cultural activities, such as visiting art museums and museums, or experiencing traditional performing arts and crafts.
However, there are many ways to enjoy culture beyond simply viewing artworks.
Creating something with your own hands. Trying historical tools. Experiencing traditional Japanese flavors.
These small experiences can also provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of culture.
Chanoyu, in particular, is a culture that combines various elements of Japanese culture, including crafts, art, architecture, a sense of the season, and etiquette.
Enjoying matcha on Culture Day will be a great opportunity to feel Japanese tradition up close.
2. Why is the world so obsessed with MATCHA? The background of the matcha boom
In recent years, matcha has become a drink that is attracting attention not only in Japan but also overseas.
Matcha lattes and matcha-based sweets are served at cafes abroad, and vibrant green drinks and desserts are being featured on social media.
One of the charms of matcha is its distinctive color and flavor.
Matcha has a unique umami and bitterness, and it can be enjoyed in different ways even when combined with milk or sweet treats.
However, the charm of Japanese matcha culture is not just its deliciousness as a drink.
The gesture of holding a tea bowl with both hands. The moment before drinking the tea. Japanese sweets tailored to the season. The time to carefully savor the cup before you.
Through these experiences, you can come into contact with Japanese culture and aesthetics.
Whether you like matcha lattes or have never had authentic matcha before, why not discover the new charms of matcha on Culture Day?
3. Who is Sen no Rikyu? An indispensable figure when talking about Japanese Chanoyu
When talking about the history of Japanese Chanoyu, Sen no Rikyu is an indispensable figure.
Sen no Rikyu was a tea master active in the 16th century, and he had a major influence on the development of Chanoyu during the era of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Rikyu is known as the master who perfected wabi-cha, finding beauty in simple spaces and tools rather than relying solely on luxurious tools and decorations.
In Chanoyu, not only the tea itself, but also the tea room, hanging scroll, flowers, tea bowl, and the time spent between people are valued.
Various aesthetics and thoughtfulness are imbued in the time spent having a single cup of tea.
We live busy lives today. We sometimes spend our lives looking at smartphones, thinking about our next plans, and being chased by something.
Taking a little break from such daily life and slowly savoring a cup of tea may offer you a discovery different from usual.
Culture Day is also perfect as an opportunity to learn about the Chanoyu culture developed by Sen no Rikyu.
4. Why do Japanese tea bowls become works of art?
Usually, we use tea bowls without thinking much about them. However, in the world of Chanoyu, the tea bowl itself becomes an important object of appreciation.
The shape, color, weight, and texture of the tea bowl. The sensation when holding it in your hand. How it looks when tea is poured in.
These elements create the charm of the tea bowl.
Some Japanese tea tools have a long history, while others were favored by famous tea masters.
Depending on their historical origin, maker, state of preservation, and rarity, they may be highly valued as works of art.
However, the value of a tea bowl is not just its monetary price.
A tea bowl that fits comfortably in your hand. A tea bowl given to you by someone important. A tea bowl you encountered while traveling.
Such tools also have a special value to the person who uses them.
At Edo Saryo, by painting a tea bowl yourself, you can experience the joy of making something that is different from purchasing a ready-made product.
The time spent thinking about a one-of-a-kind design will also be an accessible entry point to experiencing Japanese craft culture.
5. Experience Japanese Culture in Shibuya! What is Edo Saryo?
Edo Saryo is a hands-on Japanese cultural spot in Shibuya, Tokyo, where you can enjoy tea ware painting, matcha, and Japanese sweets.
When you think of sightseeing in Tokyo, many people probably imagine a trip to go shopping, enjoy gourmet food, and visit famous sightseeing spots.
Of course, walking around the streets of Shibuya and visiting cafes is also attractive.
However, if you add time to make something yourself during your trip, the memories of that day will become even more special.
At Edo Saryo, you will paint a tea bowl while thinking about a design you like.
After painting is finished, you will enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets using the tea bowl you painted yourself.
The experience takes approximately 120 minutes. You can take your completed tea bowl home the same day.
It is recommended for various outings, such as sightseeing in Tokyo on Culture Day, a holiday with friends, or a couple's date.
6. Edo Saryo Experience Flow | 5 Steps You Can Enjoy Even on Your First Time
STEP 1 | Arrival & Check-in
Upon arrival at Edo Saryo, you will check in. We will guide you through the experience, so even first-timers can participate with peace of mind.
STEP 2 | Tea Ware Painting
Think about your favorite colors and patterns, and draw your own design on the tea bowl.
Enjoy it according to your own taste, such as Japanese patterns, flower designs, or simple designs.
STEP 3 | Matcha and Japanese Sweets with Your Completed Tea Bowl
Use the tea bowl you painted to enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets.
A cup enjoyed with a tea bowl you added your own touch to will be a special time different from usual.
STEP 4 | Drying the Tea Bowl
After the experience, we will perform necessary steps for taking it home, such as drying the tea bowl.
STEP 5 | Take Home the Same Day
You can take your completed tea bowl home the same day. Please cherish it as a memory of your Tokyo trip or Culture Day.
7. From "Buying" to "Making" Souvenirs for Your Japan Trip
During sightseeing in Tokyo, you can purchase various souvenirs such as sweets, miscellaneous goods, and fashion items.
However, recently, there is also a way to enjoy making the experience itself at your travel destination the purpose of your trip.
For example, traditional craft-making experiences, cooking classes, pottery experiences, and so on.
Something you made yourself will leave memories different from products purchased at a store.
What color did you choose? What pattern did you draw? Who did you make it with?
Every time you see the completed work, you will be able to remember the time you spent at your travel destination.
Edo Saryo's tea bowl painting experience is also recommended for those who want to enjoy Japanese culture and making things together during their sightseeing in Tokyo.
Because you can take it home the same day, it is also attractive because it is easy to incorporate into your travel itinerary.
8. Recommended for Culture Day! Shibuya Japanese Culture Experience Model Course
11:00 | Stroll Through the Streets of Shibuya
Enjoy shopping and walking around the Shibuya Station area. Feel the atmosphere of the streets of Tokyo while visiting sightseeing spots.
12:00 | Lunch in Shibuya
Enjoy a meal at your favorite restaurant, such as Japanese food or a cafe lunch.
14:00 | Japanese Cultural Experience at Edo Saryo
Try tea bowl painting, and savor matcha and Japanese sweets using the tea bowl you painted yourself.
In the approximately 120-minute experience, you can feel Japanese craft and tea culture up close.
16:30 | Cafe & Shopping in Shibuya
After the experience, go to a cafe or shopping spot in Shibuya. Take your completed tea bowl home and make it a memory of Culture Day.
*The model course is just one example. Please check the STORES reservation page for the available time slots at Edo Saryo.
9. Recommended for Foreign Tourists | Experience Japanese Culture in Shibuya
Shibuya is one of Tokyo's most famous sightseeing and shopping destinations.
But there is more to discover than shopping, restaurants, and busy streets.
At Edo Saryo, visitors can enjoy a hands-on Japanese cultural experience featuring tea ware painting, matcha, and traditional Japanese sweets.
Create your own design, enjoy matcha using your decorated tea ware, and take your creation home on the same day.
The experience takes approximately 120 minutes and is a memorable addition to a Tokyo sightseeing itinerary.
Looking for something special to do on Culture Day, November 3? Discover a creative side of Japanese culture in the heart of Shibuya.
10. Experience Japanese Culture at Edo Saryo on Culture Day, November 3
November 3, 2026 is a Tuesday, but it is a national holiday.
For those who want to spend a holiday a little different from usual, a Japanese cultural experience is an attractive option.
It is wonderful to experience culture at art museums and museums, but there is another kind of fun in making a tea bowl with your own hands and savoring matcha.
Thinking about a design together as a couple, showing the completed work to friends, or making memories of sightseeing in Tokyo.
At Edo Saryo, we are accepting reservations for November.
For those who wish to participate on Culture Day, please check the availability on the reservation page.
11. Frequently Asked Questions | Culture Day Matcha & Tea Ware Painting Experience
Q. Can I book Edo Saryo for Culture Day?
Please check the available time slots for November 3 on the STORES reservation page.
Q. What kind of experience can I enjoy?
You can enjoy a Japanese cultural experience combining tea ware painting, matcha, and Japanese sweets.
Q. Is it okay even if it is my first time painting?
Yes. We will guide you through the experience even if it is your first time.
Q. How long does the experience take?
It takes approximately 120 minutes. It may vary depending on the progress on the day.
Q. Can I take the tea bowl home the same day?
Yes. You can take the painted tea bowl home the same day.
Q. Can couples or friends participate together?
Yes. It is also recommended for a couple's date or an outing with friends.
Q. Is it recommended for foreign tourists?
Yes. It is also recommended for sightseeing in Tokyo as a cultural experience to come into contact with Japanese tea bowls, matcha, and Japanese sweets.
Q. Can I enjoy it even on a rainy day?
Yes. Since it is an experience you can enjoy indoors, it is also recommended for sightseeing in Tokyo on a rainy day.
