Ranhotei

The burly Canadian owner of Ranhotei looks more like a Bond villain than a tea master, but appearances can be deceptive. Randy Channell has been practising tea ceremony for more than two decades, teaching it since 1996, and in 2008 opened this beautiful tea salon, in which you can enjoy traditional tea-and-sweet sets or more modern twists on desserts such as green tea affogato or cheesecake. Channell’s hour-long tea primers are a great way to learn about the history and significance of tea in Japan, as well as enjoy a brew by the master (¥2,500, reservations are required).