Kyoto Tea Town Tour for Matcha Lovers

Are you a green tea lover? Then join us on this All About Japanese Green Tea Tour! On this tour, you will be exploring Uji, a beautiful historic district that is often affectionately known as a tea haven for tea lovers and connoisseurs. Although the tour is five hours long, we will be making brief stops every 5 to 10 minutes to visit tea shops or engage in activities related to Japanese tea culture. As we stroll around Uji, you will learn all about the history of green tea and its significance in Uji. You will also be introduced to many interesting and fun facts about the origins of tea, as well as the art of tea ceremony. Some of our pit stops along the way include one of the oldest tea shops in Uji, which is over 1000 years old. Here you will get a chance to taste their delicious matcha rice cake skewers, made using pure, rich matcha powder that is sure to tantalize your taste buds! We will also visit tea houses, tea fields and temples, and will even pay a visit to one of Japan’s oldest shrines, which Uji is home to. For lunch, we will be stopping by a famous tea house, to enjoy “chasoba,” green tea soba noodles. Sesame tofu, potato dumplings with tea sauce, and other umami dishes will be served to complement your delicious soba dish too. After lunch, we will get to experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony at a traditional tea house. Here you will get to experience first-hand the sophisticated ritual of matcha preparation and the spiritual connotations that come with serving matcha. As you sip on your warm bowl of matcha, take the time to relax and soak up the tranquil atmosphere of Uji. Along the way, make sure to taste and sample sweet teas and organic tea that many tea houses will offer. We will also be paying visits to several tea farmers’ shops on our tour, and if you are interested in any of them, you can purchase them as gifts or souvenirs!