Tea in Kyoto

During my recent trip to Japan, I found myself in a small tea shop tucked away on a quiet street in Kyoto. It was one of those unexpected places, no crowds, no rush, just the soft clinking of cups and the gentle aroma of matcha filling the air.

I sat at a wooden table while the owner prepared the tea with slow, deliberate movements. Everything about the moment felt unhurried, the sound of the kettle, the steam rising, the way the light caught the edge of the cup. It was as if time itself had bowed its head in respect.

For the first time on that trip, I wasn’t trying to see or do anything. I wasn’t thinking about where to go next or what I might be missing. I just sat there, hands wrapped around the warm cup, letting my mind wander freely, weightless and content.

That moment inspired this haiku. It reminded me that even in the middle of movement, there can be stillness. Even while traveling halfway around the world, peace can be found in something as simple as a cup of tea.