Kaen - Tea and Wagashi Hospitality -
Kaen is KÚON Hakone Gora's tea and wagashi pairing experience.
Original wagashi supervised by contemporary wagashi artist Shiho Sakamoto is served with tea prepared carefully before you by a tea master, opening the senses to a singular moment.
The Stage
Your stay begins by withdrawing into a poised, otherworldly setting for an encounter with tea and sweets.
The walls and ceiling of the Tea Lounge are finished seamlessly by hand in traditional plaster. Natural light draws a quiet contrast of brightness and shadow across the room.
Three Infusions, Two Sweets
A tea master extracts each cup from leaves selected to accompany seasonal wagashi. Together, contemporary sweets and the changing seasons slowly reawaken sensitivities that everyday life can leave unnoticed.
Each of the three teas is prepared at a different temperature and with a distinct method to reveal its aroma, flavor, astringency, clarity, and finish. The wagashi are supervised by Shiho Sakamoto, an internationally active contemporary wagashi artist who honors tradition while expressing the season in a modern form.
Kaen in Summer
A summer sequence exploring different methods of extraction: gyokuro steeped over ice for an entire day, sparkling deep-steamed sencha, and freshly roasted hojicha. These are paired with Nocturne and chilled shiruko served with Yaeyama brown sugar and sea salt from Awaji Island.
Kaen in Autumn
An autumn sequence exploring degrees of tea oxidation: premium sencha, a balanced Japanese oolong, and fragrant wakocha black tea, paired with the wagashi Nocturne, a jewel-like kingyokukan, and a purple sweet potato and Japanese chestnut mochi dorayaki.
Pause the present and enjoy time rich enough to meet yourself in stillness.
The offerings shown are examples. We prepare a special experience tailored to the changing seasons.
