Scenic Shizuoka Houkouen Tea Farm Tour
Overlooking Mt. Fuji and a sea of clouds, explore the Houkouen Tea Farm in the mountains of Shizuoka, just a day trip away from Tokyo.
Highlights
Immerse yourself in a sea of clouds and glimpse Mt. Fuji from the mountains of Shizuoka (weather-dependent)
Stroll through the Houkouen Tea Farm fields, learning about Japanese tea
Visit a tea factory, where you can see the tea processing machinery and learn about how Japanese tea is made
Meet a tea farmer (depending on availability)
Enjoy a tasting of several types of Japanese tea from Houkouen
10 meals
Experience Details
The Houkouen tea plantations are located high in the lush mountains of Shizuoka. At an elevation of 350 meters, dawn at Houkouen brings with it a stunning sea of clouds, rippling between the mountaintops. Immerse yourself in the dreamy landscape of sleepy Shizuoka during the Houkouen Tea Farm Tour, walking through the rows of bushes at Japan’s steepest tea plantation. If the weather is just right, you may even be able to view Mt. Fuji in the distance.
After taking in the scenic beauty of the Houkouen tea plantations, you will make a stop at the tea processing factory, where you can see the machinery involved and learn step-by-step how Japanese tea is made. Then, you will be able to enjoy a tea tasting session and sample the variety of Japanese tea grown at Houkouen and learn about the different types. You may also get a chance to meet and talk with a tea farmer (please note that if you arrive during the busy harvest season, the farmer will be unavailable). As a special souvenir, you can take home some complimentary tea!
As Shizuoka boasts fertile land and superb water quality, it’s no wonder the prefecture is famous for green tea, producing over 40% of Japan’s tea. There’s no better place for lovers of tea and nature to visit than charming Houkouen, where green tea bushes flourish along the steep slopes overlooking Shizuoka’s mountain ranges and the magnificent Mt. Fuji.
Inclusions
Houkouen Tea Farm Tour with a guide
Visit to the tea factory
Tea tasting of various types of tea from Houkouen
Tea souvenir
Pick-up and drop-off service from/to JR Shimizu Station (30 minutes by car to the tea farm)
Exclusions
Additional purchases during the tour
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Pick-up and drop-off service is provided from/to JR Shimizu Station (30 minutes by car to the tea farm)
Remarks
As tea farming is seasonal, the tea factory does not operate all year round, but the factory can still be visited anytime.
Views of Mt. Fuji are weather-dependent and cannot be guaranteed.
This tour is for guests who are 12 years of age or older.
Please let us know if you have serious allergies.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Shizuoka City is the capital of Shizuoka Prefecture, and the 5th largest city by land area in Japan. Halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto, Shizuoka City is known for stunning natural scenery, including views of Mt. Fuji. Located along the Pacific coast, Shizuoka’s fishing industry is booming, with Shimizu Port hauling in the most tuna out of any port in Japan while Suruga Bay is one of the only places in the world where sakura shrimp can be found. Meanwhile, Sunpu Castle Park in central Shizuoka is famous as the place of retirement of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the three unifiers of Japan.
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10 meals
Experience Shizuoka’s rich tea culture in this guided tour. Visit long-standing wholesalers, blend your own tea using locally sourced leaves, blend the tea, and stroll terraced tea fields where you can meet and interact with local farmers.
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