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1 hr 10 minneeds a 4-hour call · fits 100% of calls here5.0★ · 39 reviewsTaxi ~15 min from the ship

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master

A 70-minute private tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya near the Nishi Chaya geisha district, hosted by a tea master of 19 years.

US$64 each · US$128 for two · Taxi ~15 min from the ship

Most listings let you reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. Your ship's berth or time can change; a reservation costs nothing to hold.

Duration
1 hr 10 min
From pickup or the meeting point and back
Your call needs
4+ hours
Incl. getting ashore and the hour before all-aboard
Price
From US$64 per person
Free cancellation 24h ahead · as of 29 Oct 2026
Group
Private · up to 5
Taxi ~15 min from the ship

Checked · price, reviews and availability from the operator’s Viator listing · Takumi Yamada

What the operator lists

The day, stop by stop

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master (2 of 12)Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master (3 of 12)Guest hands whisking matcha (hands-on moment), Kanazawa
Photo: tour operator, via Viator

It takes place at one venue, so there is no route to list.

Getting there from the ship

Not at the pier: about 15 minutes by taxi

Measured from Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal.

Taxi
~15 min · 7.8 kmAbout ¥3,700–4,600 (US$24–30) one way on the meter
Meeting point
TEA BASE Shirasawa (machiya tea house), Nomachi →The taxi ride in Google Maps
Show your driver
TEA BASE 白澤 石川県金沢市野町2-3-28
Other ways there
Hokutetsu bus 04 from the cruise terminal to Kanazawa Station West exit, about 30-35 min, ¥310, then taxi about 10 min; or 5 min walk from the Nishi Chaya district.
Pre-book a car
Private Transfer: Kanazawa Port ↔ Kanazawa City →From US$47 per car on Viator, no reviews yet. A metered taxi usually costs less.
Coming back
The same ~15 minutes; be at the ship an hour before all-aboard.

Fare from the official meter tariff in force since 2026-05-25, for the road distance; traffic, tolls and night surcharges are extra.

Why it is on this site
  • It is performed only for your party, in a tatami tea room with a tokonoma alcove, in the Enshu-ryu tradition.
  • You watch a full demonstration, whisk your own bowl of matcha, have dry sweets and can ask anything.
  • 39 reviews average 5.0, and the operator accepts same-day bookings up to two hours ahead.
Best for

Couples who want one quiet, well-explained cultural hour.

Think twice if

The operator states from 9,900 yen per person with a minimum of two. Transport is not included: the house is 10 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station, which is itself about 30 minutes from the cruise terminal.

Included
Hands-on matcha preparation (make your own bowl of thin tea)Fully private tea ceremony (no shared sessions)Commemorative photoUse of a private tea room in a 100-year-old machiyaEnglish narration and Q&A throughoutTea ceremony demonstration by a practitioner with 19 years of experience
Not included
Transportation to/from venue
Guide: EnglishFree cancellation 24h aheadRun by Tea master
Book it before you sail

Check dates and book

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master5.0★ · 39 reviewsPrivate · up to 5Free cancellation 24h aheadFrom US$64 per personCheck dates →

Booked through Viator (a Tripadvisor company); there is rarely a tour desk at the pier. We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Against the ship's own excursions

What Princess Cruises charges for a day like this in Kanazawa

This tourUS$64 per person · 1 hKanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony · Free cancellation 24h ahead
The ship’s closestUS$119.95 per person · 4 hKenrokuen Gardens, Samurai Villa & Geisha Districts · moderate, from price
The ship’s range hereUS$84.95 – US$204.9513 day excursions on Princess Cruises’ Kanazawa list, median US$134.95
Ship's excursion: the ship waits for its own busIndependent: be back an hour before all-aboard

Princess Cruises prices from its public Kanazawa excursion page, 25 October 2026, per person. Tour prices here are the operator’s current from price.

Quick answers

Before you book

Is the Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master worth it from the Kanazawa cruise port?

A 70-minute private tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya near the Nishi Chaya geisha district, hosted by a tea master of 19 years. Best for: Couples who want one quiet, well-explained cultural hour.

How long a port call do I need for this tour?

About 4 hours. The tour runs 1 hr 10 min; add half an hour to get off the ship, about 15 minutes each way between the pier and the start and keep the hour before all-aboard free. Allow the bus to Kanazawa Station (about 30 minutes) and a 10-minute taxi each way.

Can I cancel if my ship skips the port?

The operator's policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What should I know before booking?

The operator states from 9,900 yen per person with a minimum of two. Transport is not included: the house is 10 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station, which is itself about 30 minutes from the cruise terminal.

Does this tour pick up at the cruise pier?

No: the start is at TEA BASE Shirasawa (machiya tea house), Nomachi, about 15 minutes from the ship by taxi (about ¥3,700–4,600 on the meter).

Will I be back on board before all-aboard?

The operator makes no written on-time promise, so the margin is yours to keep. This site only shows the tour as fitting a call of about 4 hours or more, which already includes half an hour to get ashore and the hour before all-aboard. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before means a reservation costs nothing to hold if your ship’s hours change.

Is the price per person or per vehicle?

Per person, from about US$64, on a private basis.