Minamiyamashiro Village is Kyoto's only village. It’s renowned for its beautiful scenery and as one of the major production areas of Uji tea. 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.
The Tayama Tsurugi Tea Plantation extends over a large area. Recognized as a part of the Japan Heritage, it presents a culturally significant landscape.
A distinctive feature of this plantation is its tate-une (vertical ridges) that create the impression of tea rows soaring up into the sky. The beautifully aligned ridges form the wonderful landscape like a huge work of art. Actually, this design serves a practical purpose: it allows for efficient tea leaf harvesting using powered clippers or riding-type tea leaf pickers. It also facilitates airflow from the fans installed throughout the plantation to protect the tea leaves from frost damage.
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. Tayama Tsurugi Tea Plantation is located near Takayama Dam. (The tea plantations are private property. Please do not enter them.)
- Address
- Minamiyamashiro Village, Soraku-gun, Kyoto
- Access
- Near Takayama Dam
