Tea Plantation Tour, Factory Visit, & Tasting in Shizuoka

Enter the world of Japanese tea with an immersive experience in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Visit a tea plantation, tour a tea factory with a tea farmer, play a unique tea-tasting game, and more. Now that we’ve broken the record for how many times ‘tea’ can be used in a single sentence, let’s get into the finer details, shall we? Shizuoka is renowned for its scenic tea plantations and exquisite green tea. Located at the foot of Mount Fuji, this region offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of tea cultivation and savor some of the finest teas in the world. Sights and stops include: A tea plantation and factory tour Cha-kabuki game experience at a tea room Shopping for tea and tea-related items at a specialty store Your experience takes place at Muramatsu Shoten, established by founder Koshiro Muramatsu in 1932. Initially, their primary business activity revolved around procuring freshly harvested tea leaves, processing then distributing them to tea merchants. Then in 1981, Muramatsu Shoten took a bold step by establishing its own tea cultivation fields. This strategic move enabled them to cultivate and produce their own tea leaves! You’ll tour this iconic tea farm and witness the intricate process of tea cultivation. The fields are a breathtaking sight, with meticulously maintained rows of vibrant green tea bushes stretching as far as the eye can see. Your expert guide, a tea farmer, will walk you through the various stages of tea production, and teach you about different tea varieties grown in Shizuoka. After the tour, it’s time for some tea games! Cha-kabuki is a playful game inspired by the kabuki theater, where participants take on different roles related to tea. Each player is assigned a character (tea farmer, tea master, etc.) and given a specific task related to tea production or preparation. The game involves role-playing, storytelling, and strategic decision-making, all while tasting and learning about the history and nuances of tea.