投稿タイプ：activities

Fukujuen CHA Experience Park

Less than an hour from Kyoto and Uji, the Fukujuen CHA Experience Park is a must for tea lovers. You can take an in-depth look at how tea is grown, harvested, processed, and enjoyed all over the world. Learn about traditional tea cultivation practices and the best way to prepare a wide variety of teas from researchers dedicated to making the perfect cup of tea. Here you can get hands on experience with almost every aspect of tea cultivation and preparation. There is a museum about the history of tea and its many uses, classes on preparing tea leaves, grinding match powder, and techniques for brewing tea. What’s more, they have example tea rooms from around the where you can learn about how people make and enjoy tea all over the world. All this makes the CHA Experience an essential part of any tour of Kyoto’s tea producing region.


・ Introduction to the history and types of tea, manufacturing process, history of Fukujuen, etc. with panels and videos
・ Exhibition of teas that are drunk all over the world
・ Exhibition of Japanese tea manufacturing equipment
・ Tour of tea gardens (visiting tea plants of various varieties in Japan and around the world and tea trees cultivated in greenhouses).

投稿タイプ：activities

Nonohana Plant-Based Dyeing Experience: Dye a one-of-a-kind item with your own hands

At the Nonohana Plant-Based Dyeing ("Kusakizome") Academy in Kyoto Prefecture's Ide-cho, you can try your hand at the "kusakizome" dyeing method. Kusakizome roughly translates to plant-based dyeing, in which, as the name suggests, you use pigments from plants to dye fabric. Seasonal plants are usually used for dyeing, but even the same plant grown in different a soil and climate can change the resulting colors. Kusakizome mostly uses the plants stems or braches to make dye, and flowers are rarely used. The beginners' course is about having fun learning and trying the kasakizome method, in which you cut and boil the plants to make the dye, and use the bokashi dyeing technique (dyeing in layers) to dye a silk shawl, which you can take home on the day of the activity. It's the perfect opportunity to create your very own one-of-a-kind piece.

投稿タイプ：events

Uji River Cormorant Fishing

Enter into the dramatic world of cormorants and fishermen unfolding on the surface of the summer night’s water. Known as a traditional summer event, this practice has a history that goes back to the Heian era (794-1185) and is mentioned in "Konjaku Monogatari" (A collection of tales written during the late Heian era) and "Kagero Nikki" (diary literature written during the Heian era).

Other: Chartered boat fees
10-passenger boat 27,500 yen
15-passenger boat 41,250 yen
20-passenger boat 55,000 yen

Shared boat fares
Adults 2,000 yen
Children 1,000 yen

投稿タイプ：events

TWINKLE JOYO Starlight Pageant

The natural winter scenes and objects illuminated in this event add poetic charm to the season in Joyo City. 600,000 illuminating lights and a 10m tall tree show off the city's wonder.

投稿タイプ：events

Kasagi Canoe School

With 70 canoes, Kasagi Canoe School is Japan's largest.
The school is mainly aimed at beginners, and uses the gentle flow of the center of the Kizugawa River as a slope with which to teach first-timers the basics, after which participants can head down 6km of the river themselves.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Mandoro-yama Viewpoint

Yamashiro Basin developed around Kizu River and flourished as a farming community. It supported and connected the two ancient capitals, Kyoto and Nara. Mandoro-yama Viewpoint, located in Ide Town, offers a stunning view of this area grown with its rich history. You can enjoy a panoramic view extending from Kyoto City, with its iconic Nidec Kyoto Tower, all the way to Osaka, home to Hirakata Park. The beautiful scenery includes Yamashiro-ohashi Bridge, Keihanna Science City, Mt. Ikoma and other mountains.
It’s not only amazing during the day, but also wonderful during twilight hours and at night.
It’s interesting that the name “Mandoro (numerous lanterns)” comes from a procession of torches that looked like many lanterns during a rainmaking ritual.
In this area, there is Teoterasu Ide where you can savor local food and find gifts,
Tama River where you can view cherry blossoms in spring and fireflies in early summer, and more. You can also enjoy seasonal fruit picking and visit historic remains.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Taisho Pond Green Park

You can enjoy outdoor activities at Taisho Pond Green Park. It has bungalows, a camping site where you can pitch your tent anywhere in a designated area or on one of their tent decks, and an auto-camping site where you can easily drive your car directly to your parking space. There is also a barbeque area for those who prefer to enjoy a day trip. In the main house, there is a multipurpose room that is especially suitable for large group accommodations or seminars.
Taisho Pond is surrounded by lush greenery, offering a peaceful retreat with walking paths and a floating pavilion. It is registered as one of the Scenic Assets of Kyoto Prefecture. Just strolling in the park is fun. You can even find a bridge that is said to grant only one wish.
For those who are looking for more adventure, stop by the nearby Mandoro-yama Viewpoint on your way back. You can see Kizu River, Mt. Ikoma and other mountains, Keihanna Science City, Kyoto City, and so on.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Birthplace of Nagatani Souen

This is the birthplace of Nagatani Souen, rebuilt in 1960. He developed and popularized the Aosei Sencha Seihou method in 1738, which laid the foundation for the processing method of some of today’s Japanese green teas including sencha (one of the most common Japanese teas). Inside the thatched house, you can still see the spot where Souen actually used a hoiro (a heater to dry things such as tea leaves and food in processing) to make tea. There is also a video that explains the tea processing method and Souen's history. The original house was a large-scale structure, which had not only the main house, but also a tea-making shed and a barn. The grounds extended to the place next to the adjacent Chasomyo Shrine. The place still bears the marks of its age with the stone wall remnants.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Zenjoji Temple

Zenjoji Temple was founded over a millennium ago. It was founded by Heiso, a monk from Todaiji Temple, a renowned temple in Nara.
The temple has a precious collection of Important Cultural Properties, including Juuichimen Kannon Bosatsu (Eleven-headed Kannon Bodhisattva) that is the temple’s principal image, Nikko Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Sunlight) and Gakko Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Moonlight). The documents concerning the temple itself have also been preserved, which hold historical significance.
You can also see a large Nehan-zu (depicting the passing away of the Buddha Shakyamuni), painted to commemorate the temple's 1,000th anniversary.
The main hall, established in 1680, is characterized by its large reeded roof. It has a rich history, and is a rare treasure due to its unique roof support structure.
In the autumn and winter, you can see the sight of Kakiya (drying rack for persimmons). Persimmons are a popular autumn fruit in Japan. A dried persimmon called Korogaki is one of the local specialties of Ujitawara Town. The scenery of Kakiya can only be seen in Ujitawara.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Kasagidera Temple

The origins of Kasagidera Temple are astonishingly ancient. Already 2000 years ago, the giant boulders of Mount Kasagi were objects of worship. Over its long history, this place has been known as a training ground for mountain worship, too.
Today, the temple is famous especially for its enormous Magaibutsu (Buddhist figures carved into boulders). The temple’s principal object of worship is Maitreya (Miroku Bosatsu). There is a fascinating story behind it.
When Emperor Tenmu was still known as Prince Oama, he went hunting deer. While chasing a deer, he almost fell off a steep cliff with his horse. He prayed to the mountain deity for help and was saved. When he prayed, he vowed that if he survived, he would carve a statue of Maitreya into the large boulder. It is said that a celestial being descended to assist him in carving the image.
Unfortunately, the image was nearly obliterated by fire. However, even today, you can still feel its mystical atmosphere.
During the Nara Period (710-794), the Shogatsu-do hall was built. This is a place that is said to be the origin of the “Omizutori (drawing of water)” held at the Nigatsu-do hall in Todaiji Temple. Time passed, and Emperor Godaigo came to Mount Kasagi. Then the entire mountain turned into a battlefield, and was burned down. The temple was later rebuilt to its present form.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Shirasu and Ishitera Tea Plantations

Wazuka Town gradually warms up from west to east in spring. In Ishitera and nearby places, located in the western part of Wazuka, tea picking begins no later than late April. Therefore, the tea plantations in this area are called Hayaba (place of early harvest).
The tea plantations in Shirasu and Ishitera, cultivated with modern methods of agriculture, present beautiful scenery. The tea fields carpet the mountain slopes, forming breathtaking panoramas. In Ishitera, you can enjoy a stunning view of the tea fields that seem to kiss the sky. When you gaze up at the diminutive peak, the surprising vista reveals itself.
These places are a part of tea plantations registered as the first Scenic Assets of Kyoto Prefecture. They are also a part of the Japan Heritage (Japanese Tea: Eight Centuries of Tradition).
As a side note, you can rent an electric bicycle at Wazukacha Cafe and enjoy cycling in Wazuka. Enjoy the town's landscapes and natural scenery. (The tea plantations are private property. Please do not enter them.)

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Dousenbou Nagano Tea Plantation

Minamiyamashiro Village is Kyoto's only village. Approximately 80% of the village is mountainous, with elevations ranging from 300 to 600 meters. This unique topography led to the development of the slopes for tea cultivation.
Nestled amidst the mountains at an altitude of about 500 meters, Dousenbou is a hamlet in the flatlands that was born in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The tea plantation owes its prosperity to the bustling tea trade on Kizu River.
Today, you can still appreciate the timeless beauty of the tea fields, combined with rice paddy fields. The tea fields spread along the mountain slopes, which is an impressive sight that will stay with you. This characteristic landscape offers a glimpse into the interplay between the history of modern Uji tea production, and this area's unique environment and cultivation practices.
As a side note, the village has several cycling routes. Enjoy the village's landscapes and natural scenery. (The tea plantations are private property. Please do not enter them.)