About this tour
When Ben from our team tried this matcha incense workshop in Uji, Kyoto, we found ourselves in a peaceful, shoe-free room at Eshin-in temple overlooking the Byodoin across the river. You craft 6–7 pieces of incense from upcycled matcha powder (the leftover bits that accumulate in processing machines) over about an hour. The finished sticks look almost like sweets, release a gentle tea aroma when warmed, and can be reused as aroma stones once the scent fades. It's a quiet, tactile activity in one of Kyoto's prettiest tea-growing towns — not a high-energy class, but a genuinely thoughtful way to spend an hour.
Highlights
- Upcycled matcha waste turned into fragrant incense — genuinely clever resource use
- Incense doubles as reusable aroma stone after scent fades
- Stunning view of Byodoin Temple from the temple garden venue
- Shoe-free, calm studio space — kids and infants welcome and comfortable
- Take home 6–7 handmade pieces plus a bonus gift box of five
- Discount vouchers to nearby tea house and Genji Museum included
- Small-group format — minimum two people, intimate feel
What to expect
You'll arrive at Eshin-in, a temple in central Uji surrounded by carefully tended seasonal gardens. The workshop happens in a serene, mat-floored room — shoes off — overlooking the Byodoin across the river. Ben's takeaway: the session is unhurried. You work with soft, clay-like matcha-based material that's genuinely soothing to handle. The instructor (likely Japanese; English interpreters available for an extra fee) walks you through shaping each piece. There's no complex skill needed; it's more about the ritual of making something with your hands. The finished incense won't produce smoke — it warms to release scent — which felt like a thoughtful design choice. The whole vibe is meditative rather than crafty.
What travellers say
- Resourceful upcycling story — matcha scraps become fragrant art
- Reusable incense doubles as aroma stone, extends value
- Peaceful temple setting with view of Byodoin across river
- Family-friendly space; infants and toddlers genuinely comfortable
- Small groups, unhurried pacing, tactile and soothing
- English interpreter costs extra (¥8,800 per group on the day)
- Strict start time — lateness may disrupt the session
- Meditative pace not for everyone; low-key rather than dynamic
- Minimum two-person group; solo travellers need to pair up
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone after a quiet, tactile experience away from Kyoto's busier tourist circuit. It's genuinely family-friendly — infants and toddlers can hang out comfortably in the shoe-free space while adults work. The upcycled angle is real and refreshing. You leave with something you've made plus freebies (gift box, discount vouchers). Car parking is included (or free public transport nearby).
You'll need Japanese language skills unless you book an interpreter (¥8,800 extra per group). The session runs to a strict timetable — arrive 5 minutes early or risk missing the start. If you're after active, hands-on drama, this is meditative and low-key instead. Walking fitness isn't an issue, but the venue is shoe-free throughout. Minimum two people per booking. Peak times in Uji (cherry blossom, autumn foliage) may mean fuller sessions.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.