Japanese Samurai learned about tea ceremony etiquette, an art necessary for social interactions, business entertainment and training as part of a military art. A garden of Gyokusen-en owned by the Nishida family has a longer history than the one of Kenrokuen by 400 years. The garden was named from Gyokusen-in, a name of a wife of Toshinaga Ⅿaeda, the first lord of Kaga clan, with this story, the garden was deeply involved in Kaga clan. Water used for a waterfall and a pond in the garden comes from Kasumiga-ike (a pond) located on the center of Kenrokuen, and a view from Saisetsu Tei, the oldest tea ceremony room in Kanazawa was borrowed from the tree scenery of Kenrokuen. The former lords and their wives possibly enjoyed tea ceremonies at Saisetsu Tei.
Tea ceremony experiencing program by the Nishida Family teaches basic ways of an appreciation of seasonal decorations in the tea room and having some sweets and tea as well as “Gojihuku” in which participants actually make tea and taste.
Participants are typically asked to sit straight, Japanese style, during the program but the use of a chair or sitting however necessary is encouraged here to ensure optimum comfort of the legs and taste of the tea. An English-speaking staff instructs carefully so everyone can easily enjoy the tea ceremony culture of Kanazawa.