Overview

Gyokuro green tea is known as the highest quality tea in Japan, produced only in 3 major regions, Yame in Fukuoka, Uji in Kyoto, and Asahina in Shizuoka.

In Asahina village, there used to be around 100 gyokuro tea farmers as gyokuro had been highly wanted in Japan for some special occasions but now, the consumption amount of gyokuro has been getting reduced, and as a result, only 7 tea farmers are left now.

Now, what’s the difference between normal green tea and gyokuro green tea ?  Gyokuro has to be shaded traditionally by the rice straw mat, or now black plastic sheets are used, 3 weeks before harvest, and by doing that, tea leaves grow slower and umami components becomes super stronger.  You won’t recognize it unless told and unlike normal green tea, it is good when you need some distraction.  Somebody said, when you feel thirsty, drink green tea, but when you feel thirsty in your heart, taste gyokuro.  This tells, gyokuro is not a tea to drink but one to taste !

In the program, you will experience

1. All about gyokuro tea study with welcome tea
2. Gyokuro tea plantation tour
3. Tasting normal gyokuro
4. Special Tsuyu-cha tasting
5. DIY Macha

Programs are mostly provided in the farm shed by the tea plantation.  10 min walk up the hill to the tea farm from the meeting point.
English interpreter is strongly recommended if you don’t understand Japanese.

Access : 40 min (around 8000JPY) by taxi from Shizuoka Station.
Interpreter : 16500 JPY (from Shizuoka Station or on site)

Itinerary

Highlights