Japanese Tea Culture in Shizuoka
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Port
Omaezaki, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$139
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Tea is Shizuoka Prefecture's most famous product. In March 2014, Shizuoka Prefecture set forth the promotion, "Tea Capital, Shizuoka" in order to utilize tea-related resources in the prefecture with the aim of establishing the Shizuoka tea brand and realize a healthy standard of living with tea.
This promotion prompted the development of the Ochanosato Museum, located in the largest tea farming area in Japan. The museum features exhibits introducing the tea industry, its history and culture, as well as a tea ceremony house and beautiful garden.
Your day continues at Greenpia Makinohara, a green tea plantation and processing plant where you’ll participate in a unique, hands-on green tea experience! Your guide will escort you into the field for a lesson on how to pick tea leaves. You’ll learn which leaves are best and the optimal size of the leaf.
Then it is on to the on-site factory to learn the manufacturing process. Watch the workers in action and follow along with illustrated signs describing each step in the process from steaming to straining to grinding.
Your final destination is Ogane-ke, the residence of the Ogane family, for a visit. The Ogane-ke was built about 300 years ago. The main building and gate called “Nagayamon” are both designated as National Important Cultural Properties. Enjoy the seasonal flowers in the garden and the views of Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay in the distance.
Following your exploration, return to the pier.
Notes:
This tour is only offered from the end of April to the beginning of October. In case of rain, you will stuff a plastic bag with as many tea leaves as you can instead of the tea leaf picking. No guarantee is offered with regard to visibility or views on any particular day, as weather and atmospheric conditions vary and are beyond the tour operator’s control. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. You must remove your shoes at one or more location(s).