A Sip of Tea Culture in Kyoto! 7 Amazing Japanese Tea Activities

The Kyoto Tea Country region, including Uji, has approximately an 800-year history in the production and development of Japanese tea, giving rise to a unique Japanese tea culture.

The region is said to be the birthplace of matcha, gyokuro, and sencha green teas (*1). Visitors can enjoy flavorful tea while learning about the rich tea culture and history of this area.

The seven activities listed below are enjoyable for anyone who wants to learn about Japanese tea. In addition to savoring delicious sweets made with tea, you can uncover wonderful new experiences, such as preparing a bowl of matcha and drawing a picture on its surface, and picking tea leaves at one of Japan’s most picturesque tea plantation areas. Your fantastic journey will create unforgettable memories.

*1: Matcha and gyokuro have rich flavors and aromas, so they are considered high-quality teas. Gyokuro is a type of tea produced by growing tea plants using shades for more than twenty days. Matcha is also shade-grown, but after the leaves are harvested and steamed, they are dried without being kneaded, and ground into fine powder with a stone mill. Sencha is produced from tea plants grown in full sunlight. The fresh leaves are steamed, and kneaded to be dried. (There are several theories regarding the origins of these teas.)

For many, matcha is synonymous with Uji in Kyoto. Uji has numerous places where visitors can learn how to grind or prepare matcha green tea. Visit Uji, which is only about a 20-minute train ride from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line.

Our first recommended spot in Uji is Uji Tea Ceremony Hall “House of Takumi.”.You can learn the proper way to brew gyokuro or sencha with the guidance of an English-speaking Nihoncha (Japanese Tea) Instructor, and enjoy the tea. You can also learn how to whisk up delicious matcha in a simple way. Information on how these three types of tea differ from one another and how they are grown is available, too.

Further information can be found on their official website (Japanese).

Another great place that shouldn’t be missed is the Ujicha Kobo of Fukujuen Uji Kobo. In the matcha-making activity here, you can experience the whole process, from hand-grinding tencha, a type of green tea that becomes matcha powder, using a stone mill, to whisking and savoring your own matcha. They offer many other hands-on activities.

At the cafeteria on the second floor, you can enjoy traditional matcha sweets and dishes. At the shop on the first floor, you can find great gifts for yourself and your loved ones. There’s also a separate building called Gyokuro Tei, where you can enjoy meals and sweets made with gyokuro. On the left bank of the Uji River, there is the other building of Fukujuen Uji Kobo called Ujicha Tei. They offer sweets, meals and gifts of tea, as well.

Both the House of Takumi and the facilities of the Fukujuen Uji Kobo are located within walking distances from JR and Keihan Uji Stations. Please note that advanced reservations are required for some of the workshops.

While tea picking in Kyoto is often associated with late spring, there are places where you can enjoy it in other seasons as well. Tea is a type of camellia plant, and only the fresh leaves are taken when harvesting.

For a tea-picking experience, D:matcha Kyoto in the town of Wazuka offers Tea Farm Tour & Tasting, which is available in both Japanese and English with a very knowledgeable guide. You can learn about various aspects of tea, such as its types and production methods. After that, you can grind tea leaves into matcha powder using a stone mill. Then, you can stroll through their beautiful tea plantation, pick tea leaves, and tour their tea factory. Finally, discover the distinct flavors of homegrown teas with a tasting, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Advanced reservations are required. For tour dates, please inquire via email (info@dmatcha.com).