Shizuoka 美食体验

This was the most incredible travel experience I have ever had in my life!!! Koichi-san and Kyoko-san are so incredibly kind, and Koichi-san is the PERFECT guide! He brought us to so many interesting places, and we had so many cups of incredible tea. (We lost count after 15 hahaha). Their home is absolutely gorgeous as a beautiful traditional Japanese home but also with modern amenities like modern bathroom and AC. It was a beautiful, and we were so so comfortable. We loved every part of the experience. The best part was their outstanding homemade cooking. I will be having dreams about how good it was!! So artfully plated - incredible aesthetic but also so delicious and unique. Out of everything we did in our 2 week vacation around Japan, this stood out the most, and we are telling all our friends about this experience. Highly, highly recommend!! It doesn't get better than this!!

Koichi and Kyoko are wonderful hosts. Picking, rolling, and roasting our own sencha (green tea) was an absolute highlight of our trip to Japan . Koichi is a wonderful and accommodating tour guide. And Kyoko’s food is out of this world! If you like tea, do this! We’d also recommend going to the tea museum near Kakegawa on your way home.

This experience takes place in the original restaurant from Edo times that is 15 generations old! You become a part of history and here, they treat you like family! The owner, who was also our host, greeted us and explained to us the history behind the restaurant and his family. We were his first foreign guests and he admitted he was excited and a little bit nervous. It was comforting to know we weren't alone in feeling that way which immediately put our nerves at ease. We were then introduced to our instructor, Meguka (I could be wrong about the spelling). She spoke a little english and taught the class primarily in english. She was patient, kind and attentive. The dishes that were served during the experience were generous. Everything was sourced locally and each dish was made from some form of the yam (tororo) which was what the experience was centered around. Everything was delicious and nothing like we've ever eaten before. We were served hot, green tea with our meal and at the end, they served ice cream that is handmade in the restaurant. I chose the miso flavor and it was exquisite! You will not leave this experience hungry. We left with our bellies and hearts full! We loved it and will definitely be booking more experiences like this next time we go back to Japan.

Tomoko greeted us at the door and was very friendly, gracious and kind, despite that we were obviously foreign. We had a group of three and only I spoke a little Japanese . After greeting us, she took us upstairs, had a spot where we could place our belongings and saw that she had already set up three different stations for us. She asked for a group picture first-which we were happy to oblige, asked where we were from and then we jumped right in. All instructions and the entirety of the tour was in Japanese. However, we had no trouble understanding and communicating with each other. If anything, it added more to the experience and surprisingly, made it more enjoyable. There were no awkward silences or moments of confusion. Tomoko took cues from our body language and facial expressions as we did hers and it was a phenomenal experience! Portions were generous and she served cold, refreshing tea that she diligently refilled each time our glasses got close to being empty. Tomoko did everything herself. From setting up the stations to teaching and guiding the tour and breaking down each station while we were enjoying our meals. She was efficient but also attentive to our needs. At the end of our experience, she gifted us with handmade boxes made of obi and tins of ceremonial green tea. She also gave us a bonus item she called "a gift" which was a place mat she made from kimono. We loved our tour with Tomoko and I recommend everyone experience this. You will not regret it!

Incredible and very wholesome day with Akito. Akito is an incredible host taking us through the fields, answering all our questions, preparing for us the most beautiful teas and also a factory visit. I could not recommend it more, I hope to be back when I’m next I. Japan

Very nice tour. The guide was knowledgeable and nice.

Terrific tour! Small family-owned operation. Tea tastings, picked tea, learned about the area, very scenic. Very polite, friendly tour guide.

If I could give this experience 20 stars, I would! Fukaya San was incredibly kind and thorough, and even printed out his presentation in English before I got there so he could explain the process to me in my language. We were able to view the facilities, help with labeling, and make our own soy sauce and Shoyu Koji. The knowledge was fascinating, the structure (both old and new!) were beautiful, the staff was welcoming and the soy sauce is the best! I cannot express how meaningful this experience was for me, and I encourage everyone to book this experience!! Thank you Sakae Shoyu Brewery!

Myself, my daughter and husband spent time with Koichi looking at the tea plantation and learning about tea followed by some tea tasting a trip to the top of a mountain with the most spectacular Jews. We returns to his home where kyoko had prepared some light refreshments for us. We had the most wonderful afternoon and really enjoyed learning about tea and seeing the beautiful views. Koichi and Kyoko were the perfect hosts, beautiful people who did everything the could to make the afternoon enjoyable for us. We would definitely recommend for anyone who loves tea, or for anyone who just loves beautiful scenery. Thankyou Koichi and Kyoto for a wonderful afternoon ☺️

Akito is a very knowledgeable and personable guide. The tea farm and factory tour was educational and fun. We even were joined by his father which was a nice treat. I would highly recommend this tour to any tea lover who wants in depth information and a great tea tasting.

I can't express what an incredible time we had. We visited in October, and despite the cloudy weather, the views from the farm were absolutely breathtaking and something I will never forget. Akito was such an incredible guide! He took the time to answer our questions and share his knowledge about the farm, the factory and tea! He even told us about "tea salad", which is something we now do all the time with out tea leaves 🍃 (But you have to do the tour to learn the secret!) I would do this tour again in a heartbeat, and I urge anyone in the area to take the tour and see all it has to offer!

A very approachable and well-structured experience, even for beginners. Each step—from tempura frying to matcha preparation—was carefully explained, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The use of Shizuoka ingredients throughout clearly highlighted the region’s food culture. Having simple visual instructions in English would make it even easier to follow and recreate at home. Overall, a unique and rewarding local experience.