Written by a mindfulness tea teacher, Miki Sensei.
It is my favorite season for nodate (野点) — enjoying tea outdoors, almost like a picnic. Whether on the lawn of a big park, along a riverbank, or by a lake, you can feel the breeze and listen to birdsong and the sound of flowing water. Simply put, nodate means preparing and drinking tea outdoors; it is a casual, open-air tea gathering.
To set up, spread a picnic mat on your favorite spot. The sweets you bring don't have to be traditional Japanese confections; pastries like canelés or snacks like biscuits work just as well. Pack your favorite tea bowl, a whisk, some matcha powder, and hot water in an insulated container. It feels almost like playing house as a child. Take a deep breath in nature, settle your energy, and that space transforms into your tea room.
On a nice day, why not invite close friends or family and try your first nodate together?
Let's go through this step by step: 1) The history of nodate, 2) The basic setup, and 3) Tips and ways to enjoy it.
1. The History of Nodate
By the time the culture of chanoyu (茶の湯, the Way of Tea) had already spread among the samurai class, warlords of the Sengoku period would boil water and drink tea outdoors during long military campaigns or hunts. It was a way to calm and refresh both mind and body, and it is said to be the prototype of nodate. According to the Nanporoku, a record of chanoyu compiled during the Edo period, the origin of nodate is traced to 1587. The tea master Sen no Rikyu, accompanying the imperial regent (de facto ruler) Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his subjugation of Kyushu, boiled water using pine needles as fuel and prepared tea in the pine grove of Hakozaki, Fukuoka. This event became known as the Hakozaki Tea Gathering, which is still held today.
Hideyoshi was so impressed that he held the Grand Kitano Tea Gathering, later that same year on October 1st. This event was held partly to showcase his authority on the eve of unifying the country, and more than a thousand tea stalls were set up, including some in the nodate style. This gathering marked a significant moment, leading to widespread recognition of outdoor tea events.
Rikyu was instrumental in bringing together the spirit of nature with the essence of chanoyu, shaping it into the outdoor form we know today. Because his aesthetic sensibility, valuing simplicity, naturalness, and spontaneity, aligned so well with nodate, it developed and grew more refined as an extension of Rikyu's chanoyu.
Japan also had a tradition called nogake (野掛け) or noasobi (野遊び), going out into the fields and mountains to eat, drink, and play. Nodate can be seen as an extension of that culture, sometimes referred to as nogake-cha (野掛け茶). Part of nodate's appeal is bringing the atmosphere of nature into chanoyu, as in fusube-cha (ふすべ茶), where the fragrance of burning pine needles enhances the flavor of the hot water.
2. The Basic Setup for Nodate
Since nodate takes place outdoors, usually surrounded by nature, traditional elements such as a hanging scroll and flower arrangement that symbolize a formal tea room are often left out. The real charm of nodate lies in fully savoring the sounds and scenery of the natural environment.
The utensils can vary depending on the formality of the gathering. However, I'd recommend a chabako (茶箱) or chakago (茶かご): a compact tea chest or basket that holds the essentials for preparing tea (a tea caddy, tea scoop, whisk, tea cloth, tea bowl, and so on). It adds charm to the nodate atmosphere. While you can purchase a complete set, there's genuine pleasure in gathering your favorite pieces one by one to create your own original nodate set. Properly handling a chabako or chakago, along with equal mastery of tea preparation, enhances the entire experience considerably (if you're interested, YouTube has some good references).
Looking at the Edo-period Yamato-e painting of the Grand Kitano Tea Gathering, you can observe tea stalls boiling water over ash and charcoal in a portable brazier, much like the ones used in a formal tea room. For a more casual gathering among friends, bringing hot water in a container (or even ice water in summer, which is delicious too) works well, or you can boil water in an iron kettle over a portable camping stove for fresh, piping-hot water.
In addition to sitting on a mat or picnic sheet, you can also enjoy nodate using a table and chairs.
3. Tips and How to Enjoy It
The Nanporoku, previously mentioned, records the following thoughts of Rikyu on nodate:
- There is no strict etiquette for nodate.
- Because of that, it's important not to get lost in the scenery, but to stay connected with nature while embracing the spirit of tea.
- The utensils simply need to be clean; they need not be fine or expensive.
- Being in your natural state requires a state of mind detached from worldly concerns.
The world of tea is said to become more challenging the greater the freedom you're given, so let's start simply with what we can. Whether you're enjoying a picnic with sandwiches and croissants or sipping tea with simple tarts and cookies, I believe it is best to approach the experience with a relaxed mind.
In Japanese culture, there is a word to describe the levels of formality: Shin-gyo-so (真行草), with "shin" being formal and "so" being casual. Even in something as simple as a bow, there are three (or nine) levels ranging from formal to casual. And I believe that even within that casual "so" style, if you prepare tea in a way that carries a touch of "shin" formality within the realm of "so", the resulting sense of appropriate pressure purifies the space. In other words, the state of the person preparing the tea is in balance: filled with gratitude, respect, ease, and consideration for others. Please take a deep breath in nature, and prepare and enjoy tea in a way that feels good from the heart and lets you become one with your surroundings.
Here are four more practical tips:
There are four differences between enjoying tea indoors and outdoors:
1. Uneven surface, 2. the wind, 3. lack of water/running water, and 4. the unexpected are more likely to happen.
In order to prepare for these, I suggest the following:
1. Bring a tray or flat board large enough to comfortably hold your tea bowl, tea caddy, and whisk, and set up your tea preparation on top of it. This will allow you to prepare tea securely and steadily.
2. The whisk may not stand upright, or the matcha powder may scatter in the wind as you try to add it to the bowl. Be mindful of wind direction and timing to minimize these challenges.
3. Besides the hot water for making tea, it's useful to have a separate supply of water for rinsing the tea cloth or washing the tea bowl.
4. A bee might fly by, a ball might roll in, rain might suddenly start falling... but all of these are opportunities to embrace the unexpected, so I encourage you to approach them with a spirit of improvisation and enjoyment. That being said, please put safety first and be cautious of anything hot, fragile, or valuable. You may want to consider leaving such items at home.
As Japan's climate continues to become more tropical, the "pleasant season" for nodate seems to be getting shorter. Nevertheless, there is a beauty in nature that exists only on that particular day and moment. I believe chanoyu, especially nodate, is the best way to appreciate, share, and enjoy these experiences.
I hope you'll give it a try and enjoy the process.
Written by:
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Miki Fujisaki, hibana to bloom founder, mindfulness tea facilitator/coach Website: https://www.hibana-to-bloom.com/ Instagram: @hibanatobloom / @mikiwisteria |
Miki was born in Osaka and began her journey in Urasenke Chado while working as a Japan Airlines cabin attendant. During her time in London, she planned and managed Japanese cafes ("Matcha" and "Cha no Ma"), and after her return to Japan, she oversaw international project planning.
To deepen her understanding of spaces and relationships where individuals coexist, illuminate, and nurture, Miki studied coaching and facilitation. Currently, she holds tea gatherings and coaching sessions for individuals and companies in tea rooms, offices, online, and overseas. Her work is centered around the theme of interbeing, cultivating a sense of interconnectedness, mindfulness, and "here-and-now."