Herbs, Tea Vessels, Forest & Tea Sweets

HERB STAND × Akihiro Nikaido

Date: November 22, 2026
Time: 11:00–12:00 or 13:00–14:00
Venue: babajiji house, Yutenji
Herbs: Yuta Hirano / HERB STAND
Ceramics: Akihiro Nikaido
Organized by: THE LITTLE SHOP OF FLOWERS / HERB STAND

Yuta Hirano, founder of HERB STAND, who grows herbs at the foot of Mount Fuji, is coming to babajiji house.

Using wild plants found in the mountains as the year draws to a close, we invite you on an imaginary journey into the world of Japanese herbs — through touch, scent, tea, and taste.

Ceramic artist Akihiro Nikaido will also join us for this special gathering.

Together with Hirano and Nikaido, we will explore the plants of the late-autumn mountains, right here in Yutenji.

Nikaido's tea vessels will represent the earth itself. Through them, we will experience plants in three stages: first the roots, then the branches and leaves, and finally the flowers — each enjoyed as tea.

At the end of the gathering, you will take home the Nikaido gaiwan tea vessel used during the session, along with tea leaves and traditional tea sweets.

HERB STAND grows and nurtures herbs.

Each of us spends our days engaging with plants in our own way.

Living in a city filled with the constant activity of human life,
we gradually become good at listening to others,
at responding to their words,
at meeting their expectations.

But we want to be just as good
at spending time with ourselves.

Being alone does not have to mean being lonely.
It can simply mean being in your own company.

Like being in a real forest,
where nothing is asked of you,
where you can simply be yourself.

Plants remind us of that quiet comfort.

Keeping nature close
also means keeping ourselves close.

Touching plants, breathing in their fragrance, tasting them.

Discovering something new.
Thinking, "I never knew that."
Or simply, "This is delicious."

Those small moments of wonder and delight.

We hope to share a little time devoted to bringing joy to ourselves.

Together with HERB STAND, Akihiro Nikaido,
and THE LITTLE SHOP OF FLOWERS.

As the year draws to a close,
may this be a moment to honor ourselves
for having lived through another year.

Venue & Address

1-22-7 Yutenji, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
03-6452-3723