Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden

Absolutely tranquil place! Dr. Drew is truly a master of tea. If you are worried about going in blind, he does an excellent job of walking you through every step of the service, including what to say and when in Japanese! The garden walk makes you feel like wandering through a labyrinth, as intended by design! Many are plants from all over the world and a treat to see. You can even pet the cats on the property. The tea house itself is warm, cozy, and the smell of incense will lift your mind. The snacks and tea themselves are from Japan and it shows in the quality. I went for my birthday with my Godson, and Dr. Drew included meaningful and symbolically-rich decor to celebrate, even the tea bowl was endowed with celebratory meaning. I would recommend to everyone to come and empty your mind and cup for a little while with a true Zen peace!

Hidden gem! Dr. Hanson was extremely knowledgeable and provided a pleasant experience. I would definitely return, especially to witness the garden in full bloom. Best matcha tea I’ve ever had!

Meditative. Contemplative. This experience is a meditation retreat. The garden that brings you down to the tea house allows you to marvel in the beauty that nature brings. The tea ceremony heightens and relaxes the sense. The building the ceremony is hosted in brings with it a deep sense of nature with wood that is more than 200 years old. The building itself reminds me of the setting of a meditation retreat I visited a long time ago, and the experience of tranquility brings in the meditative practice. Overall, it was a beautiful anniversary experience. Thank you so much, Dr. Hanson.

I scheduled a lovely Valentine's date here with my boo and it was wonderful even in the winter!! The garden was still beautiful and even green through the winter. Though weather conditions were slushy, the short walk through the garden was wonderful. The actual teahouse itself was instantaneously cozy with the mats, the kettle that was slowly heating up, and the light filtering through the rice paper. Drew kindly explained to us a bit of history behind the teahouse - I loved the "damaged" wood being repurposed and given knew life to the very stable structure of the teahouse. It was a great break from the stresses of reality, very meditative, very grounding. I would go again at all times of the year!

So coming to the location know that it is the red brick building closest to the road. Drew was a lovely host and conducted the ceremony wonderfully. Having an interest in the culture beforehand will enhance the moments here. It was very memorable.

A truly enchanting experience! Drew's tea sitting was a journey into the heart of the Way of Tea. The beautiful setting, crafted over 30 years, and his insightful guidance made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!

I had a surreal experience at Boukakuan Tea House! Drew gave a tour of his lovely Japanese garden and teahouse. I really appreciated how knowledgeable and thorough he was about the history and sequence of a traditional tea ceremony. Drew took his time to walk us through all the steps of a Japanese tea ceremony and answer any questions that we had. Moreover, he explained the meaning and significance behind the everything from the design of the teahouse to the placement of the objects to the practices of the tea demonstration. I recommend everyone to pay a visit to this hidden gem!

Brought my daughter here for a lesson in authentic Japanese Tea rituals. Professor Hanson is a great host and teacher.