Japanese Home Cooking Food Tours(9)

It was really nice. It was nice that the guys were very passionate and transmitted both very deep and professionally but still very enjoyable information. The place haca a great energy and the tea was delicious. I would like to do an internship at the farm. I would give them a 10. Very well orginezed.

Those who are interested in learning about planting, growing, harvesting, and brewing all-things green tea, including matcha tea, this tour would be a very informative and enjoyable. Definitely, more substantive than the touristy ritual tea ceremony. The staff worked hard to present lots of information. The big downside is that you have to get to the bus stop by the tea plantation and it’s not a straight forward ride. It would be good if there is a tour which meets in Kyoto center and escort you to the tea plantation for those who don’t want to deal with hassle of either driving or navigate through the public transit system. All in all a different day trip experience.

It was great ! Thank you !

Ehime Mikan Picking, Marmalade Making is a wonderful opportunity to interact directly with a Shikoku mikan farming family and meet some of the welcoming folks living in the Yawatahama region of Ehime. About an hour by train southwest of Matsuyama, the experience includes the chance to pick and eat a variety of citrus fruits the region is famous for. The terraced orchard provided spectacular views of the ocean and small islands separating Shikoku from Kyushu. Under sunny skies, our hosts spread a tarp and mats on the orchard floor and we dined on a most delicious obento lunch box featuring regional specialties. These included a tempura of shrimp and vegetables, fried chicken with mikan juice and mikan rice balls. Following the harvest and lunch, we were chauffeured to a spotless commercial kitchen operated by the Yawatahama Ward office. There, the kind ladies of the community guided us through the marmalade making process and we bottled multiple jars using Haruka variety mikans. We were also invited to try other varieties created by some of the gold medal winners from last November's Dalemain World Marmalade Awards and Festival. Our product was entered in the "homemade division" for the next festival. Loaded up with our marmalade and several bags of fresh fruit, our hosts returned us to the train station. With the increasing popularity of Japan as a tourist destination, this is a special opportunity to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds to see the real Japan.

Highly recommend! Such a lovely experience. The people at Obubu tea farm were so friendly and knowledgeable. It’s a bit of a journey to get to the farm, but it’s a beautiful trip and once you arrive it’s a great four hours! We got up into the tea fields, tried nine of their beautiful teas with great information about each, had a delicious lunch and enjoyed learning about their processing facilities. A great day all around, our favorite thing we did this visit to Japan.