The Washin'an Tea Room

Tea Garden at Washin'AnThe Association’s activities center on Washin'an, an authentic Japanese tearoom built by Japanese craftsmen in Kyoto and transported to Washington, DC as the center for introducing the Way of Tea to the nation’s capital. It is located at 1819 L Street, N.W., Suite 220 (see map) .

Opened in March 2012, Washin'an is owned by Urasenke but operated by the Association which uses it to conduct classes and demonstrations. Open houses are held every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you wish to visit during one of the open houses, please make an appointment ahead of time by calling 202-740-2208.

Washin'an consists of the words “wa” (harmony), “shin” (deep), and “an” (retreat), and translates as “retreat for deepening harmony.” The word “wa” can also mean Japan, so an alternate translation is “retreat for deepening (understanding) of Japan.”