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The First-Ever Tea Ceremony at the Summit of Mount Fuji
“Japan’s Highest Tea Service” — A Tea Group from Wakaba Ward Takes on the Challenge

Sēi Sōshō, 62, head of Kōjitsuan, an Urasenke school of tea in Wakaba Ward, and several members of his tea group will undertake an unprecedented challenge in mid-August: holding a tea ceremony at the summit of Mount Fuji, at the highest point in Japan, in what is described as the first such tea ceremony in the history of the Japanese tea ceremony.

With the full cooperation of Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, which has jurisdiction over the summit, they will recreate a formal tea ceremony, transporting tea utensils, red felt carpets and other necessary equipment to the summit. Ahead of this historic ceremony at an elevation of 3,776 meters, Sēi said, “I hope this will provide everyone with an opportunity to rediscover Japanese culture.”

The idea for the summit tea ceremony came from Yūki Mori, 29, an employee of an organization in Funabashi City, who studies tea under Sēi. Mori climbs Mount Fuji every year, and last year he prepared tea at the summit using portable tea utensils. The experience was well received by fellow climbers, which led him to propose holding a full-scale tea ceremony.

Following his proposal in January, Mori took the lead in negotiations with Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, which oversees the area above the eighth station of Mount Fuji, as well as with the Ministry of the Environment, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other organizations. He succeeded in securing the shrine’s full cooperation, making it possible to hold the ceremony within the grounds of the shrine’s Okumiya at the summit.

A full-scale tea ceremony requires more than 100 items, including tea utensils and kimono. As a result, an exceptional support system was arranged, including the special loan of a bulldozer normally used to transport souvenirs and other supplies to the summit.

The volunteers will begin climbing the day before and spend the night at the eighth station. They will climb to the summit early the following morning and hold a tea ceremony lasting approximately two hours around midday. The tea will be prepared using the sacred spring water known as “Ginmeisui,” which springs from the summit, and will be offered free of charge.

The organizers are determined to make this the first tea ceremony ever held at the summit of Mount Fuji. Led by Mori, they negotiated with Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, the Ministry of the Environment, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other organizations, ultimately securing the shrine’s full cooperation and permission to hold the ceremony within the grounds of its Okumiya at the summit.

The tea will also be served free of charge to climbers.

With the hope that “foreign visitors, who account for approximately 30 percent of the climbers, will also have an opportunity to learn about Japanese culture” (Sēi), the organizers have prepared leaflets in English introducing the Japanese tea ceremony.

The members of the tea group are fully committed to making this historic summit tea ceremony a reality. Hiromi Inoue, 32, an office worker from Yachiyo City, said, “It’s exciting to think that I’ll be able to have a tea ceremony with everyone at the summit of Mount Fuji, which I’ll be climbing for the first time.”

Yuki Morita, 28, an office worker from Inage Ward, said, “I’m worried about whether I’ll actually be able to make it to the summit, but I’m even more excited about it,” and is diligently preparing for the challenge.

Sēi expressed his hope:

“I hope that those who make the climb will feel, ‘Japan has such a wonderful homeland,’ and that this experience will become an opportunity for them to rediscover Japanese culture.”