Returning to a Japanese Tea Farm
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Told by Carly Dela Cruz, Inside Japan Tour Host
There are many sites and experiences to have in Japan’s cities, but one of the most unique experiences in Japan is 40 kilometers southeast of Japan’s ancient city of Kyoto, in the remote town of Wazuka. What brought me to live in a town of fewer than 4,000 people and a single karaoke bar? Why do we bring travelers here on our all-inclusive trip to Japan?
The answer is simple and delicious: tea. I came to Wazuka to sip, study, and steep myself in the world of Japanese tea as an intern on a traditional tea farm. And I can’t wait to introduce travelers to the same unique experience in Japan.
Wazuka prides itself on preserving the traditional art of making tea. With over 300 families dedicated to this craft, the town drinks, eats, breathes, and dreams of tea. As we arrive, the sweet scent of freshly harvested tea leaves intertwines with the crisp mountain air, promising an adventure that will awaken your senses in ways you never could have imagined.
In May, when we travel to Wazuka, it’s the most coveted time of year for tea farmers as the most prized tea leaves are ready to harvest. Still, rice paddies dotted with freshly planted seedlings reflect the panoramas hovering above them – crisp blue skies, soft pink cherry blossoms, and quaint farmhouses. The town springs to life as farmers uncover their harvesting machines and blow the tea dust off their processing machines in their factories in preparation for the spring harvest.
The world of Japanese tea is often unknown to a lot of travelers and it’s easy to get lost in the vastness of it all. I recall the first time I learned how creative one can be with Japanese tea. Some fellow interns and I made our way to d:matcha, the closest local cafe (about a 45-minute walk) for lunch together on one of our days off.
D:matcha is first and foremost a tea farm. They also run a cafe that specializes in making sweets and savory dishes using different types of Japanese tea.
As I perused the menu, my heart whispered to my senses after moving to Wazuka from Italy, guiding me to the sencha pesto pasta—a choice that would forever linger in my memory like a sweet refrain. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before! As I indulged in each forkful, the delicate grassy aroma of the green tea leaves mingled with the fresh basil's herbaceous perfume transported me to sun-kissed Italian gardens juxtaposed with misty Japanese tea fields.
We sat there savoring our food in a shared silence punctuated only by content sighs and hums of satisfaction. Gazing out the window at the rows of tea fields across the river we folded origami cranes, talked about our home countries, and enjoyed our desserts made from d:matcha’s freshly harvested tea.
It was months filled with moments of discovery like this that transformed Wazuka into a cherished chapter of my life making Wazuka a home away from home.
Fast forward four years, and I find myself, nestled in the same cozy café, savoring the familiar aroma of sencha pesto pasta that changed my world. Each bite feels like a reunion with an old friend, perhaps even better than I remembered, as the flavors evoke memories of past encounters and distant dreams.
Only this time, I’m joined by Daiki, the passionate soul behind d:matcha, whose eyes twinkle with tales of his Tokyo origins and his courageous journey to the countryside. As he shares the story behind d:matcha's inception and the reasons for relocating his café even deeper into the tranquil wilderness, I can't help but marvel at the serendipity of our reunion and imagine our Inside Japan travelers hearing his story and experiencing Wazuka the way that I have.
Back in 2019, when I bid farewell to Wazuka, little did I anticipate my swift return, let alone the joy of introducing Wazuka and its people to fellow travelers from The Table Less Traveled.
It's a moment suspended in time, where nostalgia mingles with newfound connections, and every sip of tea holds the promise of another chapter in our shared adventure.
Learn more about the other unique experiences in Japan that travelers have on our all-inclusive trip to Japan!
Travel with us around the world on one of our multi-day small group food tours. Check out our itineraries to Italy, Japan, Peru, and more! Join us as we visit tea farms in Japan, sip on limoncello in Italy, and savor ceviche in Peru.
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