In the Akihabara and Kanda area of Tokyo, there is a place that warmly welcomes those curious about Japanese culture. Located about a 10-minute walk from HOTEL RESOL AKIHABARA, is "An Tokyo: A Japanese Culture Experience."

In this town, which is visited by many visitors from overseas, we offer traditional Japanese cultural experiences such as the tea ceremony and Japanese sweet making, which flourished during the Muromachi period. We aim to create a space where anyone can easily experience culture.

We spoke with the staff at "Iori an Tokyo," who convey the charms of this Japanese culture experience to a wide range of people, including people from overseas and the younger generation.

A gateway to experiencing Japanese culture

Due to the aging of those who are passing on traditional Japanese culture such as the tea ceremony and flower arrangement, the number of young people who will carry on Japanese culture is decreasing. One of the reasons for this is thought to be the high barrier to entry for people to learn about Japanese culture and the lack of an environment in which to experience it.

"There are places where you can enjoy sports such as baseball and soccer from an early age. But what about Japanese culture such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement? For example, "traveling to Kyoto" is not a candidate unless there is some kind of event."

"Also, some experiences can be as long as 2 to 3 hours, which can be a bit intimidating for beginners, and it's true that many people don't return because of this," he said, looking a little sad. However, he went on to explain the origins of the store, saying, "That's why I wanted Japanese Culture Experience Iori an Tokyo to be a kind of gateway that people can easily visit when they want to learn more about Japanese culture."

"Attention to detail" to experience the real thing

At "Japanese Culture Experience An An Tokyo," there are five standard menus, including tea ceremony and Japanese sweets making. The theme of the Japanese sweets is seasonal, and about 20 different experiences are prepared throughout the year.

"Even though it's an experience, we insist on using the same tools and materials as Japanese sweet shops and tea shops. For example, we use a triangular spatula, which is used to make flowers out of nerikiri. By using it along the sweets, you can create beautiful lines like the sweets we sell. Furthermore, the bean paste used in the experience is delivered directly from a long-established bean paste manufacturer in Kyoto."

Curiosity leads to deeper cultural knowledge

There are many different methods and processes for making Japanese sweets and tea, and many customers are surprised by this. For this reason, rather than explaining everything from the beginning, they try to convey a sense of "unsatisfaction" so that customers feel like they "want to know more."

"If you feel like learning more, you can visit during different seasons or come more frequently. I would be delighted if you could dive into the profound world of Japanese sweets and tea."

Since many customers from overseas visit "Japanese Culture Experience An Tokyo," they also provide support in English. However, some people say they would like to use Japanese during their stay in Japan, so they respond to requests accordingly. Stories like this make us realize that "language itself is a fine culture."

"At 'An Tokyo', a maximum of 35 people can experience making Japanese sweets and preparing tea in the same environment. As a result, it is not uncommon for the person sitting next to you to be from a different culture. This not only leads to conversation, but also to intercultural exchange through facial expressions and gestures. It's great to see the guests coming to understand each other's cultures through this shared experience."

Continue to be a gateway to Japanese culture

"Japanese Culture Experience An Tokyo" is a place where you can learn about Japan, as well as your own roots and connections, by experiencing Japanese culture such as Japanese sweet making and the tea ceremony.

We will continue to provide experiences that pique your curiosity as a gateway to experience the depth of Japanese culture.

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Japanese Culture Experience An Tokyo
Address: 2-2 Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 2nd Toei Building, 3rd floor
Access: Kanda Station, East Exit (less than 1 minute walk)
HP: https://tokyo.nipponbunkan.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/nipponbunkan/
*For details on business hours and schedules, please check the link above.