Hello everyone reading the blog.
I’m Masatoshi Yokoyama, owner of KOTOPOTTER.
Matcha bowls—from everyday use to formal tea gatherings—come in a wide range of designs and price points, making it challenging to choose the right one.
For a tea ceremony, the bowl you use depends on the season and the type of matcha (thick or thin tea).
Today, I’ll introduce popular Kyoto-made Kiyomizu-ware matcha bowls and explain the occasions where each is best suited.
If you’re considering a matcha bowl for daily use, please use this as a helpful guide.
Matcha Bowl: Kuro-Raku (Hōraku)
Type: Thick Tea (Koicha)
Season: All-year
In the world of matcha bowls, Kyoto’s Raku ware is indispensable—echoing the saying “First Raku, then Hagi, then Karatsu.” The handmade texture and lustrous black glaze make the vivid green of thick matcha stand out beautifully.
Hōraku’s Kuro-Raku is budget-friendly compared to other Raku tea bowls, making it ideal for practicing matcha preparation without worry. It’s elegant enough for a formal tea gathering, yet durable for everyday use.
Matcha Bowl: Gohonte Mishima (Kaizan)
Type: Thick or Thin Tea (Koicha / Usucha)
Season: All-year
“Gohonte” refers to the orange flecks that appear when the iron content in the clay reacts with oxygen during firing. This subtle warmth gives the bowl a gentle, understated elegance.
Its simple form makes whisking matcha easy, and the natural ceramic texture quietly highlights the tea’s flavor. This is a recommendable matcha bowl for both everyday use and formal tea gatherings.
Matcha Bowl: Tenmoku (Setoho Oketani Sadakazu)
Type: Thick Tea (Koicha)
Season: All-year
Crafted by Setoho Oketani Sadakazu, this Tenmoku matcha bowl represents a prestigious traditional technique. The Tenmoku glaze contains minerals that create distinctive patterns during firing—a classic style with centuries of history.
At a formal tea ceremony, Tenmoku bowls are presented on a special lacquer stand called a Tenmoku-dai. However, many enthusiasts use them as everyday matcha bowls to enjoy their unique beauty in casual settings.
Matcha Bowl: Murasaki Mishima (Tōraku Kiln)
Type: Thick or Thin Tea (Koicha / Usucha)
Season: All-year
This bowl is beloved for its elegant purple glaze and intricate decoration. “Mishima” refers to a traditional technique where designs are stamped into the clay before firing.
Tōraku Kiln’s signature is the dense, almost ethnic-inspired pattern and rich purple color. Though simple in color scheme, it imparts a luxurious atmosphere—perfect for anyone who appreciates fine detail.
Matcha Bowl: Sakura (Kakōzan Kiln)
Type: Thin Tea (Usucha)
Season: Late Winter – Early Spring
From Kakōzan Kiln in Kyoto’s Gojozaka district, this cherry blossom design on a soft, light-colored glaze is timelessly popular. The vibrant sakura motif brings a touch of spring to any tea gathering.
“Matcha Bowl: Sakura” is also available in other color variations.
Matcha Bowl: Watermelon (Yellow) (Tō)
Type: Thin Tea (Usucha)
Season: Early Summer – Summer
This playful bowl looks as if a watermelon has been halved and turned into a matcha bowl—perfect for adding humor to your tea gathering. While formal tea ceremonies can feel intimidating, whimsical designs like this often bring a refreshing break.
The bowl’s shape also allows it to double as a small dish for shaved ice or fresh fruit, making it a versatile piece of ceramic art.
Also available in a red color variation:
Matcha Bowl: Gohonte Maple (Tō)
Type: Thin Tea (Usucha)
Season: Early Fall – Fall
This bowl exudes autumn warmth with its orange Gohonte flecks and bright red and gold maple leaf motif—hallmarks of Kyoto’s traditional ceramic design.
Combined with the gentle color palette, it’s an ideal matcha bowl for savoring the cozy feeling of fall in every sip.
Matcha Bowl: Butterfly (Ichinyo)
Type: Thin Tea (Usucha)
Season: Late Winter – Early Spring
This Kōchi-yaki matcha bowl is distinguished by its translucent hues and three-dimensional framing. Its bold design may not suit very formal tea ceremonies, but it’s perfect for casual gatherings with friends, everyday use, or as a collector’s piece.
Discover more Ichinyo matcha bowls at:
View the collection
Small Tea Bowl: Playthings Motif (Kanae Fukada)
Type: Thin Tea (Usucha)
Season: All-year
Perfect for outdoor tea gatherings where a portable tea box is used, this petite bowl is charmingly sized. It’s ideal for those who find a full-size matcha bowl too large or have smaller hands.
“Small Tea Bowl: Playthings Motif” is also available in a different pattern:
We hope this guide helps you find the perfect matcha bowl. With so many options available, we’re confident you’ll discover one you love.
