- Tea Museum, Shizuoka
(Shimada City, Shizuoka)
This is one of the largest tea museums in Japan. In addition to introducing tea in Japan and overseas, there is a Japanese garden, tea ceremony house, and restaurant. You can also take part in tea-related workshops such as making Matcha or joining in a tea ceremony.
Have you ever tried nihon-cha? Nihon-cha or Japanese tea is green tea made in Japan and is widely enjoyed throughout the country. You will be surprised at its unique aroma, bitterness and so called "umami" (rich and lingering flavor).
There are several types of Japanese tea, such as Sencha, Gyokuro (refined green tea), Matcha (fine powdered green tea), depending on the cultivation method of tea leaves including the exposure to sunlight, and the way they are processed. Each type has its own flavor and aroma. For example, Sencha, the most popular type of Japanese tea, is made from leaves not covered from sunlight when they are raised, which leads to a refreshing flavor with a well-balanced combination of sweetness and bitterness.
Places that produce Japanese tea spread around the country, and the five most prolific prefectures being Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Mie, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.
Of course, you can casually enjoy Japanese tea in cafes specialized in Japanese tea in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka, but visiting the actual production areas and savoring Japanese tea is truly an amazing experience. Here in this article, we will introduce a variety of ways to enjoy Japanese tea in Shizuoka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka. Welcome to the fascinating world of Japanese tea!
1. Shizuoka
Shizuoka accounts for more than 40% of the national total in terms of both production area and tea production. Here, the main type of tea produced is Sencha. You can enjoy Japanese tea in a variety of different ways by visiting a tea museum, tea fields, and specialized cafes.
- Grinpia Makinohara
(Makinohara City, Shizuoka)
Makinohara tea field is one of the largest Japanese tea fields in Japan, responsible for around 10% of the country's total production. Here, join in a tea leaves-picking while admiring the view of the tea field (available from late April to early October). Also, you can visit a tea factory to see the process of the tea leaves becoming finished products.
Please see our sample Shizuoka Private Tour that includes green tea and other wonderful attractions in this area.
2. Kyoto
Kyoto ranks second in the production of "Gyokuro". Wazuka Town and Uji City are the most famous production areas in the prefecture. Gyokuro is made from tea leaves shaded from direct sunlight for around 20 days when they are raised. This distinctive process makes this tea less bitter, to have more sweetness and umami than Sencha.
- Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
(Wazuka Town, Kyoto)
The start of tea production in Wazuka Town dates back more than 800 years ago. Almost half of the tea produced in Kyoto is from this area. Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms not only produces tea and sells it online, but also offers a tour of its tea field. Join in an English tour, which includes tea tasting, and learn about Japanese tea in depth.
- Fukujuen Ujicha Kobo
(Uji City, Kyoto)
Fukujuen is a tea producing company founded in 1790. In addition to its headquarters in Kizugawa City, Kyoto, Fukujuen has many stores across the country. In Ujicha Kobo (a workshop), enjoy making tea and tea utensils. Next to the Kobo, you can learn about tea ceremonies in a tea house (Sencha and Matcha). In a museum where old tea making machines are displayed, you will get an idea of the process of Japanese tea making. After that, relax in a cafe with sweets and cuisines using tea. It will be a day full of Ujicha (tea processed in Kyoto).
3. Fukuoka
Fukuoka is the third largest producer of Gyokuro. Gyokuro cultivated in Yame City, Fukuoka has a high reputation, receiving award multiple times in the National Tea Competition of Japan in the category of Gyokuro.
- Hoshino- Tea Museum (Cha no bunkakan)
(Yame City, Fukuoka)
In Hoshino Village, known for producing Gyokuro of high quality, you can find Hoshino- Tea Museum. Here, you can appreciate, learn, and experience Japanese tea while immersing yourself in the peaceful scenery of the surrounding mountains. A must-try here is a special method of tasting Gyokuro, called "Shizuku-cha". Also, there is an exhibition showing the process of tea cultivation and production methods, and a variety of different types of tea. Don't forget to join in the workshop to learn how to make Matcha and other tea!
For more information, or to start customizing your own itinerary, please contact us.
