"Shoto originally means "The sound of boiling water in a tea kettle" in Japanese. In the Meiji Era (19th century), there were Japanese tea gardens, called "Shotoen" in the area of the present Shoto Park in Shibuya, Tokyo owned by the Saga Nabeshima family- a famous Japanese feudal family-. Shotoan, a house for Japanese tea ceremony was newly built in front of Shoto Park in April 2003. The tea rooms are Sukiya-zukuri style of true traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of 3 tea rooms with tatami-mats, and 1 tearoom with chairs(Ryurei-seki). In Ryurei-seki, hosts and guests can prepare and drink tea, seated in chairs. For details of Urasenke Tea Ceremony Shotoan, please click the button. Thank you.