ONLINE Tour: Japanese Tea Farm in Kagoshima

Perhaps Kagoshima tea isn’t the first region to come to mind when you think about Japanese tea, but Kagoshima is actually the second largest tea-growing prefecture in Japan! While Kyoto and Shizuoka might be more famous tea producing regions abroad, Kagoshima also has an optimal climate for tea growing, and makes some incredibly high-quality tea. Chiran in Kagoshima even won acclaim during the National Tea Fair in 2020.

During this online tea farm tour in Kagoshima, you’ll join tea producer Yamaguchi-san and an English speaking tour guide. Broadcasting live from “Ocha no Haruichiban,” a tea farm in Chiran, Kagoshima, they will show you around the farm and explain about the special characteristics of Kagoshima tea. Yamaguchi-san’s father started making tea in 1969, and has passed on his knowledge and skill to his son.

After your guides show you how to pick tea leaves at the farm, you’ll go to the tea house and learn how to make tea the traditional way, from the fresh green tea leaf to its final form. You’ll also learn how it is produced using machinery at a factory.

Lastly, Yamaguchi-san will teach you how to brew tea at home, so you can have a perfect cup of tea every time.