Ahh so there is a wealthy patron of sorts. That's really cool he is willing to give her the opportunity to use the place.
Your comment about matcha is funny, because I thought similar when I first came here 16-17 years ago. I tried matcha and thought... eh... it's like drinking grass. Not strong as coffee, no hints of fruitiness like Earl Grey, but boring grass. But over the years my taste has adjusted and I now prefer the taste of green tea and matcha.
Did you sit in seiza (Japanese style, sitting on the ankles, legs folded under you) or did they have chairs?
If I sat in seiza I'd still be there, years of doing things my back and knees shouldn't have been doing have taken their toll. Lol.
It's interesting how tastes change, and how we acquire them. There's many things I never thought I'd eat and drink which I enjoy now. I guess that's one of the benefits of the passing of time and having the ability to try things before discarding them as undesirable.