A Day Trip to Wazuka, Kyoto: Explore Tea Plantations, Matcha Art, and Green Tea

Unique craft beer is sold at Taketani Saketen, a local liquor store located just past the Ishitera tea fields. Cha Beer is a local craft beer made with Wazuka-grown tea leaves. It comes in three varieties: a sencha-infused pale ale, a hojicha (roasted green tea) stout, and a white ale with kabuse shade-grown tea.

The beers have a pronounced tea aroma and a pleasant aftertaste with a light tea flavor that compliments the fullness of a flavorful beer. These brews are rare and sold only at very few locations in Japan, so if you are curious about this beer, be sure to pick up a bottle or two!

The nearest bus stop to the Ishitera Tea Fields is Wazuka Takahashi. Take a bus from here to Wazuka Yama no Ie. The ride is around seven minutes and it takes about 10 minutes on foot from the bus stop to Kyoto Wazukaso, a Japanese inn with a restaurant overlooking a tea field.

The gozen set (pictured above) offered by Kyoto Wazukaso at lunchtime comes in an elegant lacquered set of drawers that you open to reveal your meal. Each meal includes classic Japanese dishes and flavors, from tempura to miso-glazed vegetables. You’re sure to enjoy the unique rice. It’s cooked with hojicha roasted tea and has a light and delicious roasted flavor. The portions are large, so make sure you bring your appetite!

We highly recommend that you make a reservation, as this is a popular place to enjoy the local cuisine. If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, be sure to inform the staff when making your reservation. Please note that the menu changes seasonally.

Wazukaso is also a ryokan, which means that you can stay here for the night if you wish. Rooms are available in both Japanese and Western styles, and the baths here are infused with tea!

d:matcha Kyoto CAFE & KITCHEN is a green tea heaven located a short walk from Kyoto Wazukaso. d:matcha provides several experiences, from tea picking to tea tasting, and hiking courses that allow you to venture into the fields with a tour guide! There are English-speaking employees here who are happy and passionate about sharing their knowledge of tea with you.

For an introductory experience, try a tour that includes a sencha or matcha tea-tasting course. You will receive a tasting flight of green tea containing three varieties of tea grown by d:matcha in the fields in Wazuka. Some varieties are grown organically, too.

Participants will be able to taste the difference between high-quality teas: some have a sharper bitterness to them, while others have an almost savory, umami-like flavor. There is a shop in the cafe, so you can take home your favorite kind after the tasting if you like.