Road Trip Close to Home: Japanese tea house offers centuries-old tradition in Burlington County
Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden, located near Bordentown and Columbus, offers guests a traditional Japanese tea ceremony rooted in history and mindfulness.
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A hidden gem in Burlington County is giving visitors a chance to step away from the fast pace of everyday life and experience a tradition that dates back centuries.
Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden, located near Bordentown and Columbus, offers guests a traditional Japanese tea ceremony rooted in history and mindfulness.
“The experience is historical. It’s also spiritual, and it is a kind of way to look at life a little more quietly,” said Drew Hanson of Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden.
The ceremony is guided by four principles: harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.
Before entering the tea house, guests can stroll through the garden and take in the carefully designed landscape.
Inside, every movement and detail carries meaning.
“Everything that we do, every movement that we do is very intentional, and it’s all related to the breath,” Hanson said.
Guests are served a traditional sweet before receiving a bowl of matcha, helping balance the tea’s natural bitterness.
The experience encourages visitors to slow down and focus on the present moment.
“Most people who come here now are looking for an experience that’s a little more meaningful,” Hanson said. “They’re looking for ways to find maybe a spirituality, a sense of wellness, of kind of being present.”
The tea house offers a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful experiences come from simply slowing down and appreciating the moment.
