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

Although you are not allowed to enter the tea fields, you can enjoy the picture-perfect scenery by touring around them. One of the best ways to do this is via bicycle. You can rent an electric-powered bike at Wazukacha Cafe, which is within walking-distance of d:matcha.

Bicycle rental is 1,000 yen an hour. The cafe has cycling maps and suggested routes that take you past more tea fields, allowing you to enjoy more of the gorgeous scenery of Wazuka with the wind blowing in your hair.

Plan to spend an hour or two riding around, depending on how long your route is. When cycling and making stops, remember to abide by traffic rules. Please don’t enter the tea fields.

Matcha art, where you can design your own masterpiece on the foamy surface of matcha, is a fun spin on traditional powdered green tea. Classes at Utena Chaya are available via advanced reservation at the following e-mail address: utena.tea@gmail.com

This workshop teaches about tea in Wazuka and shows participants how to draw with matcha. First, you’ll prepare the tea, which is the ink and the canvas for your work of art. After that, it’s time to start designing! If you make a mistake or want to re-draw your design, it is easy to erase and change the matcha’s foamy surface.

Once you’re satisfied, take a picture and sip on your delicious matcha. Even if you’ve made a simple design, you will feel a slight sense of accomplishment. A seasonal wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet) comes with your drink, too, to sweeten and refresh your tastebuds.

Although there are some experiences you can only have in Wazuka, you can take home some of the magic of this tea paradise. Wazukacha Cafe sells tea and sweet treats from local farmers. For organic tea and other fun sweets, like matcha-infused chocolates, you can head back to d:matcha.

To return to JR Kyoto Station, take the bus from Wazuka Yama no Ie, heading towards JR Kamo Station Nishiguchi. Buses leave once an hour, and the last departs at 20:26 on weekdays, so check the timetable before heading back to avoid a long wait.

From JR Kamo Station, take Kansai Main Line train to Kizu Station, and transfer there to the Nara Line heading for Kyoto Station. The journey back should take around one hour––the same time it took getting to Wazuka.

For those looking for a trip where they can experience something out-of-the-ordinary, a tea-filled side journey to Wazuka in southern Kyoto Prefecture may be the answer. This small, rural town is a treasure trove of natural beauty and high-quality green tea that will make you appreciate a new side of Kyoto.

There are many other places in the southern Kyoto region where one can learn about tea history and culture. For more suggestions on matcha-related activities and destinations, please see this article.