Homecoming Matcha Café (Walk-ins Welcome!)

Japan House welcomes all to stop by and enjoy a bowl of tea and sweet at our Homecoming Matcha Café! Walk-ins welcome! Japan House will be open from 4-6pm for Homecoming on Friday, October 2. Please stop by and have a bowl of tea and sweet at our Homecoming Matcha Café and enjoy viewing the progress of the Ogura-Sato Annex. Walk-ins are welcome! Catch up with fellow University of Illinois alumni, friends, or family with a bowl of freshly-whisked matcha and a wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet) as you visit the inside of Japan House. There is no formal tea ceremony offered but guests will be able to enjoy a bowl of matcha (or matcha latte) and inoko mochi made by the Japan House interns. The recipe is featured in Prof. Kimiko Gunji's cookbook, Wagashi: Season by Season. There will be a limited selection of items for sale such as Japan House postcards, tea, and more. Proceeds support Japan House programming! Guests will be asked to remove their shoes upon arrival to enter the building, or to use provided shoe covers. Guests are encouraged to bring a fresh pair of socks to wear inside. Ticketed cafe guests will be seated at a table. ________ FAQs What are my transport/parking options getting to the event? Japan House is located in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois at 2000 S. Lincoln Avenue between Kirby/Florida and Windsor Road. Parking is available in the lot to the north of Japan House (F-31 at St. Mary's Road and Lincoln) and to the south of Japan House (F-32 on Lincoln across from the Vet Med complex). Spaces are marked with a placard and must be paid with Mobile Meter (https://mobilemeter.us/) or Park Mobile (https://parkmobile.io/ ) phone apps, or by calling 217-207-3033. Parking is free after 5pm. There are bike racks near both parking lots. The MTD Raven comes near Japan House on Lincoln Ave but buses also service PAR/FAR and you may walk from there to Japan House. The front door is located on the north side of the building. The Ogura-Sato Annex construction zone is fenced off in various areas and the tea garden remains closed. We thank you for your understanding. Questions about accommodations or accessibility? Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. The inoko mochi is vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free. It contains sesame. The matcha latte is made with dairy milk. If you have any food allergy concerns, please contact [email protected]. Is my registration/ticket transferrable? Yes, ticket transfers are possible with a minimum of 48 hours advance notice and if there is space in the new time requested. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? You do not have to bring your ticket. We will just need your name to check in. The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay? The purchaser of the ticket can go to "My Tickets" and change the name to whomever will be attending. What is the refund policy? You registration is refundable if you contact us at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the date of the event. Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event? We welcome all to enjoy our matcha cafe. Children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult at all times and can be calmly seated and respectful of the facility and other guests.