Visit Tea Fields Cultivated by Samurai
Joined 2014
Makinohara plateau, Japan's largest tea plantation was surprisingly cultivated by samurai about 150 years ago. By visiting the tea museum there to learn everything about tea and experience tea ceremony. Then, we'll visit Chagu'sba Terrace to enjoy a refreshing view of tea fields. Their eco-friendly tea production method has been designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Last visit is Kakegawa Castle, a wooden castle reconstructed by the same method in samurai days.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Kakegawa station (or Shizuoka station)
Kakegawa station
It takes 1.5 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo.
Meeting up and get on a local train for 12 minutes to Kanaya station.
Then taking a taxi for 5 minutes.
Tea Museum
It is a perfect facility to know more about tea. You can learn the history and production of tea, various tea culture in the world, Japanese tea culture including tea ceremony experienced in the tea house and garden. Lunch menu using tea is recommended. You can also buy some tea and enjoy the taste of famous matcha ice cream, if you like.
Driving to the hill top with the tea letter
Leaving the tea museum, we can enjoy driving by a chartered taxi to the tea fields designated as GIAHS.
The tea field view from Chagusaba Terrace on the summit of the hill, which has the TEA('Cha' in Japanese) letter on the hill side can be enjoyed. If the weather on the day is good, Mt. Fuji can be seen as well.
Depending on your request, we can drop by a tea factory to deepen our understanidng the tea process.
Kakegawa Castle
Driving back to Kakegawa to visit the castle. It was reconstructed with a wooden structure by the same method in samurai period. You may have a feel dating back to samurai period.
Kakegawa station
It takes about 10 minutes walk from the castle to Kakegawa statoin.
Shinkansen is available both for Tokyo and Kyoto, Osaka.
Ending Point
Kakegawa station (or Shizuoka station)
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
- Transportation for a guide to and from Kakegawa station: 3,200yen (appreciated paid in cash on the day)
- JR local train from Kakegawa to Kanaya: 330yen/person
- Taxi fare from Kanaya to the tea museum: about 1,000yen/ a regular size taxi
- Chartered taxi fare for 2 hours: A chartered regular taxi(up to 3) 15,000yen/ 2 hours, a chartered van-taxi(up to 8) will cost 22,000yen/2 hours.
- Admission fee for the museum is 300yen/person, tea ceremony experience is 500yen/person
- Kakegawa castle: 410yen/person
- Lunch
* The taxi company says that a credit card is available, but still in many places in Japan, it will often be asked paid in cash, especially local areas.
Tour Important Information
* A view of Mt. Fuji depends on the weather on that day.
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Tea Museum is closed on Tuesday.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide you in cities other than Shizuoka if you pay my transportation fee.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2014
About Tour Guide Hiroyo A.
Hello, I’m Hiroyo. I was born and brought up in Shizuoka. After living in Tokyo and in England, eventually I came back to Shizuoka. It is really a good place to live.
I have been interested in Japanese traditional culture. I used to be in a Kendo(Japanese fencing) club and a Japanese flower arrangement club when I was a student. I got a degree of Sho-dan(first-dan) in Kendo, and a diploma in follower arrangement. I also got a certificate as a Japanese tea instructor. It would be my great pleasure to help you find out more about Japanese culture.
Shizuoka is a lovely place to visit. It has many historical sites, traditional culture, abundant nature and a wide variety of local specialties including green tea, wasabi, many kinds of fruits and sea food fresh from the sea! You will be sure to enjoy them. Hope to see you here in Shizuoka!
Reviews
Jeaney Y.
Toshogu Shrine, Shimizu Sushi Museum & Lunch
“Tea and Views”
This is our second tour with Hiroyo, and truly enjoyed this in a different way! Hiroyo is highly knowledgeable on everything about Japanese tea, so if you love tea she is the perfect guide. Understanding the different tea varieties, seeing the tea farm and consuming tea from farm to cup is genuinely a beautiful experience. If you have not seen Mt Fuji from the Shizuoka side, Nihondaira is the place! Lovely tour with tea, sacred space with immense significance to Japan and breathtaking views. Thank you Hiroyo!
Hiroyo A.
Thank you so much for another day tour here in Shizuoka! There are many attractions here and it is always my great pleasure to welcome you. Shizuoka is a must visit for tea lovers and for a great fan of Shogun as well! A view of Mt. Fuji was perfect during your stay in the beginning of December. If you have another opportunity to visit here, I’ll offer you a different nice experience! Thank you again and best wishes, Hiroyo
Jeaney Y.
Tea Tour for tea lovers! - to know everything about tea!
“Tea and Handicraft”
Had a wonderful time with Hiroyo on this wonderful, relaxing and meaningful tour! If you love tea and making things, this is the perfect tour. Hiroyo is a warm, very personable and patient guide who looks after you well. Shizuoka is lovely, not overcrowded with tourists and offer an authentic Japanese experience that is unique to this region with the occasional nice views of Mt Fuji even! This tour and Hiroyo is highly recommended. Thank you for looking after us, Hiroyo!
Hiroyo A.
Thank you very much for your warm and kind message! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed Shizuoka! As you mentioned, it is a more relaxing place with mild climate, a view of Mt. Fuji and hidden history and culture. It was a nice time for me to be with you! Thank you so much! Hiroyo
“A lovely tour by an incredible tour guide”
Hiroyo provided us an incredible tour of the Fujinomiya area, and went above and beyond by helping us solve issues outside the scope of the tour! She was organized, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and had a great energy. She not only facilitated a tour of some amazing locations (with the tea farm being our favorite!) but she truly elevated the tour through her commentary, attitude, and visual aids. If you’re reading this and considering a tour of the area around Mt. Fuji, do not pass up a tour with Hiroyo!
Hiroyo A.
Thank you very much for giving me such a great review! I’m so happy to hear that you and your friends enjoyed the tour here. I’ll tell your comment to the tea farm, they will be pleased as well. I hope you can fully enjoy the rest of the trip! If you have another chance to visit to Japan, I’m always happy to welcome you, hopefully with the goddess of Mt. Fuji like today!! Let me tell you again, thank you so much for having me as your guide! Hiroyo
$308/ per group
More tours by Hiroyo A.
Tea Farm Visit in Fuji Area
An impressive view of green tea fields with Mt. Fuji can be enjoyed in this area if the weather is fine. Let’s enjoy visiting a tea farm here to experience tea picking, have a look at tea factory and taste a good cup of tea. You can also visit Fujinomiya Sengen Shrine which is one of Fujisan World cultural Heritage sites, a long-established sake brewery and prize-winning Yakisoba noodle. I’d like you to fully enjoy this one day tour at the foot of Mt. Fuji!
Tea Tour for tea lovers! - to know everything about tea!
I believe the tour will be a great one for tea lovers to learn about more about Japanese tea. Shizuoka is one of the biggest tea producers in Japan having many production areas across the prefecture including Makinohara plateau, the largest tea plantation. We will visit two tea facilities located in this area. You can enjoy the experience of tea ceremony and other hands-on activities. As a Japanese Tea instructor, I hope I can be a help for you to fully enjoy this tea tour!
Blessings of Mt. Fuji - visit water fall & lake area
There are many places worth to visit around Mt. Fuji. Let's visit the Shiraito Water falls area. The place is one of Mt. Fuji World Heritage sites and the beauty attracts many people all year around. Then, Lake Tanuki is another attraction. If you like, you may want to enjoy hot spring(onsen) or Wasabi field there. After enjoying the natural blessings of Mt. Fuji, we'll visit the long-established shrine and the World Heritage Center to learn more about Mt. Fuji as a sacred mountain.
Visit to Tea Museum and Tea Town in Shizuoka
The World Tea Museum is located in Makinohara. It is the largest tea plantation in Japan. We can learn about the history and culture on tea across the world and experience tea ceremony there. Shizuoka city has Chamachi(Tea Town). There are some businesses related to tea industry gathering for a long time. The area also has an old shrine which had been patronized by Shogun Family and the towns had been developed under the reign. If you are a great tea lover, the tour will be recommended!
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Other Shizuoka Locations
Atami Tour Customized for You!
Atami is a small onsen resort only 48 min. from Tokyo on Shinkansen trains. It is one of the oldest spa resorts in Japan and historically it has been an attractive retreat for celebrities. But it has rustic charms to offer, too. If you are tired of traveling in big cities, why don’t you visit Atami and spend a day or two and find spots off the unbeaten path.
Tea Tour for tea lovers! - to know everything about tea!
I believe the tour will be a great one for tea lovers to learn about more about Japanese tea. Shizuoka is one of the biggest tea producers in Japan having many production areas across the prefecture including Makinohara plateau, the largest tea plantation. We will visit two tea facilities located in this area. You can enjoy the experience of tea ceremony and other hands-on activities. As a Japanese Tea instructor, I hope I can be a help for you to fully enjoy this tea tour!
Kakegawa Historical Walking Tour
Kakegawa is a middle-size city famous for its castle and its green tea production. As the city is located at almost the mid-point between Tokyo and Osaka, I hope that, during your Japan tour, you will get off a bullet train (shinkansen) here at Kakegawa Station and enjoy a short walking tour featuring the attractiveness of this region.
