Uji And Wazuka Matcha Farm Half Day Private Guided Tour

Masae provided an absolutely incredible tour of the matcha farms in Wazuka! The farms themselves were stunning beyond words, rolling with vibrant green beauty in every direction. The entire day was wonderfully smooth and seamless, starting with Masae picking us up right at the train station and dropping us back off right at the tour's end. A true highlight was getting to meet a local farmer who generously took the time to show us firsthand how they meticulously tend to the fields. Masae also led us up to a breathtaking vista with magnificent views of the valley. We went to the local farmers market, and although the specific matcha we wanted was sold out, Masae went completely out of her way to make sure we were able to get our hands on it before we left Japan. What made the experience truly exceptional was Masae's intuition and attentiveness. Picking up on our comments and questions, she expertly tailored our matcha sampling specifically toward pesticide-free matcha, making the tasting both fascinating and deeply personal. We couldn't have asked for a better guide!

Despite a very rainy day, we had a great time with Masae on our tour in Uji/Wazuka! She was very knowledge about tea history of Japan/region and taking us through a tasting of lots of different types of tea. Would definitely recommend this tour to others!

This tour is a hidden gem. Masae is an absolute expert in the matcha and tea space, and we learned so much in such a short time. Beautiful , clean , comfortable private van and tour of the area, access to walk around an actual tea farm, smelling the leaves straight from it, a tea experience/ tasting with great views of the hills, a delicious lunch with Masae where we can ask questions, and then help with shopping at farmers market so we can support the farmers we just wandered through! Truly awesome!

I had the pleasure of a half day tour with Masae and it is an experience I will never forget. The rainy/foggy weather during my October visit set the perfect and coziest backdrop for gorgeous views of tea farms. I got to ask many questions to learn from Masae’s wealth of knowledge as a local coming from a tea-producing family and as a tea master herself. I got to see and touch the tea plants myself, and experienced a tea tasting personalized to what I wanted to learn and take away from the region. The opportunity to visit tea farms and buy locally produced, single origin teas was exactly the type of experience I was looking for. Masae is truly invested in the community and provides top-tier hospitality, making for a unique experience in this area. If you are interested in going deeper to understand what’s in your cup and curious about what this tea-producing region has to offer, and/or are a tea/beverage geek/enthusiast, this experience is definitely for you.

We had an amazing experience visiting Wazuka Matcha tea fields with our guide Masae. Masae is very knowledgeable about everything related with Matcha farming, production, processing and industry in general. The Wazuka area is just breathtaking and traveling it with Masae as guide is the best way to go. Masae arranged everything for us to try different Matcha and other Teas that were so good. She also showed us a local factory that were doing Mochi, using of course Matcha, and they were so delicious. Don’t hesitate to book this tour if you are in the Kyoto-Uji area. Highly recommended!

One of the highlights of our trip to Japan, and an experience we will never forget! Masae is fantastic, knowledgeable, kind, and really fun to spend a day with. We learned so much from her about the history, culture and importance of green tea to the people of Japan. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area!

It was a wonderful experience! Masae was absolutely wonderful and full of local knowledge and history of tea origins. I wish we had booked the 7 hour tour! I couldn’t get enough. We stopped off at a couple of view points with the tea plants on the rolling hills, visited a farm and got to see 3 different cultivars. Then got to experience different types of tea and the different brews (first, second and third) as well as two different matcha. The lunch was fabulous (match soba noodles). And the tea store is absolutely fantastic with all different teas to pick up. It was such a lovely experience and highly recommend. I can’t wait for when they open their cafe!

This is hands down a one-of-a-kind experience for any true matcha lover who really appreciates the mindful practice of making matcha and all the work that goes into it. My husband and I did this experience earlier this summer on our first trip to Japan and had a fantastic time. Masaye is full of knowledge when it comes to matcha. She was such a warm and inviting host. We absolutely loved getting to see the process of picked leaves getting made, visiting the farms, and having lots of treats along the way. It was a hot day but comforting that she was able to drive us in her air-conditioned car to all the unique experiences we did together. The trip ended with a visit to a local matcha store that is full of many different types of matchas and other teas. I purchased three but I wish I had bought many more because I've run out and now it will have to wait until my next trip to Japan!

Masae is amazing! She picked us up in a nice and air conditioned van from the train station in Wazuka that was most convenient for our party and took us to an amazing viewpoint to look at tea farms. We then went to her house/office (had air conditioning!) for a great tasting of all types of teas and matchas before heading over to lunch at a matcha soba place before heading to a tea farm to do a walk and take pictures. Masae's knowledge about tea/matcha is unparalleled and we learnt so much more about Matcha tea history and culture than any other experience we had in Kyoto. Masae's English is also really good, as she had studied in the United States. I would recommend this experience 10/10 to anyone who is looking for an authentic learing experience about matcha away from mthe crowds at Uji and Kyoto. The area only gets 60,000 tourists a year.

This was easily one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip to Japan. Masae was an absolutely extraordinary guide. From the moment we met her, she was warm, engaging, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in making the experience special for everyone in our group. This never felt like a scripted tour. It felt like spending the day with a knowledgeable local friend who was excited to share a part of Japan she truly loves. The matcha experience itself was fantastic. We learned not only about matcha and how it is produced, but also gained a much deeper appreciation for the history, craftsmanship, culture, and people behind it. Masae had a wonderful ability to explain things in a way that was informative without ever feeling like a lecture. What really elevated the day were the additional stops and experiences along the way. We visited a Japanese candy factory, stopped at a wonderful matcha shop, sampled local products, and experienced parts of the area that we almost certainly would never have discovered on our own. Those unexpected moments made the tour feel authentic and genuinely unique. Most importantly, Masae made our entire group feel welcomed and cared for throughout the experience. She was patient with our questions, attentive to everyone, and clearly took pride in introducing visitors to Japanese culture. If you are considering a matcha tour, book this experience and ask for Masae if you have the opportunity. She transformed what could have simply been an interesting excursion into a day our family will remember for years. Masae, thank you for sharing your knowledge, your culture, and your wonderful spirit with us. You were one of the people who made our time in Japan so special. Absolutely 5 stars. Highly, highly recommended.

An Extraordinary Day in Japan — Masae Made This Experience Unforgettable This was easily one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip to Japan. Masae was an absolutely extraordinary guide. From the moment we met her, she was warm, engaging, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in making the experience special for everyone in our group. This never felt like a scripted tour. It felt like spending the day with a knowledgeable local friend who was excited to share a part of Japan she truly loves. The matcha experience itself was fantastic. We learned not only about matcha and how it is produced, but also gained a much deeper appreciation for the history, craftsmanship, culture, and people behind it. Masae had a wonderful ability to explain things in a way that was informative without ever feeling like a lecture. What really elevated the day were the additional stops and experiences along the way. From seeing how Japanese sweets are made, to stops at a wonderful matcha shop, as well as sampling local products at a private tea ceremony, and experiencing parts of the area that we almost certainly would never have discovered on our own. Those unexpected moments made the tour feel authentic and genuinely unique. Most importantly, Masae made our entire group feel welcomed and cared for throughout the experience. She was patient with our questions, attentive to everyone, and clearly took pride in introducing visitors to Japanese culture. If you are considering a matcha tour, book this experience with Masae. She transformed what could have simply been an interesting excursion into a day our family will remember for years. Masae, thank you for sharing your knowledge, your culture, and your wonderful spirit with us. You were one of the people who made our time in Japan so special. Absolutely 5 stars. Highly, highly recommended.

Our private half-day trip to Uji and Wazuka was one of the highlights of our time in Japan. If you enjoy matcha, tea, or simply learning about local culture, I cannot recommend this experience enough. Seeing the tea farms in person and watching the farmers at work was incredible. The rolling green fields were beautiful, but what made the experience truly special was gaining a deeper understanding of the dedication, skill, and generations of knowledge that go into producing high-quality matcha. Our guide, Masae, was wonderful. She was warm, engaging, and exceptionally knowledgeable. She answered every question thoughtfully and provided so much context about the history, cultivation, harvesting, and production of tea. Her passion for the subject made the entire experience even more meaningful. As Americans, we thought we knew a fair amount about matcha, but this tour showed us how much more there is to learn. We gained a much deeper appreciation for the different grades of tea, the production process, and the cultural significance of matcha in Japan. It completely changed the way we think about and enjoy matcha. This was a fascinating, educational, and memorable experience that offered a genuine connection to the people and traditions behind Japanese tea. Thank you, Masae, for such an unforgettable day!

Great experience. Massae is a true local. She is straightforward on her knowledge and explain things pretty well. My wife was super happy with our experience and the learning we had. The experience is private and away from regular tourists.

It was fascinating and fun. We really were immersed in the area and she adapted the tour to our knowledge and interests. She showed us the tea experience from production to distribution in a very personalized way. Highly recommend.

Our tour with Masae in Wazuka was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. It was wonderful to get out of the city and experience the beautiful countryside while learning about matcha and tea production. We learned so much about how tea is grown, harvested, and processed, and meeting the tea farmer and his wife was a special part of the experience. They were incredibly kind and welcoming. Masae also taught us how to prepare matcha, and we enjoyed tasting a variety of excellent matcha and local teas. Masae was especially wonderful with our 6-year-old daughter, making her feel included and encouraging her to try the teas alongside us. We highly recommend this tour. Thank you, Masae, for a memorable day in Wazuka!

We had a last minute change to our schedule and reached out to Masae to see if she had any availability. Fortunately she was able to accommodate us! We were staying in Osaka and Masae helped us find the right train to take, minimizing our need for transfers. Once we arrived, she greeted us at the train station and took us to an overlook where we learned more about the region and how the day would go. From there, we went to an actual tea farm and spoke with the farmer about his work and how the year was going. Then we had a delicious lunch at a local soba restaurant. Then Masae walked us through a tea tasting where we learned even more about the various tea processes. Before returning us to the train station, Masae drove us to a local tea shop where we could purchase any tea that we liked from local farmers. If you are interested in farming, supporting local businesses, tea, or Japanese history and culture , take this tour! You will not be disappointed.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 4 hr private tour led by Masae who comes from a family of tea farmers. She is very knowledgeable about the history and steps involved in cultivating, harvesting and processing of the tea. She patiently waited for us to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery. Then we had samples of tea and Japanese confectionery (wagashi) inside tea house. Next she drove us to local cafe to eat a delicious bowl of soba noodles. Next door is the tea shop where we purchased a variety of teas (sencha, hojicha, and matcha) to enjoy at home and made a last stop at local farmer’s market. She provided transportation to and from the train station. I highly recommend Uji and Wazuka farm tour led by Masae.

Incredible visit to Tea Farm, we went to a moji factory and saw the most amazing views of tea plantation. It was an amazing experience.

If you have passion for matcha, this is the tour for you! It was absolutely amazing from start to finish! Masae picked us up at the Uji train station, a super convenient location, and whisked us off to the matcha tea fields in the hills of Wazuka. The location was drop dead gorgeous and Masae’s knowledge of the area, the people, and all things matcha was incredible. We learned SO much! From matcha’s history (especially in the Wazuka/Uji region) to how it is grown and harvested. We very much appreciated Masae’s focus on helping the local matcha farmers bring new income to the community, helping the local matcha industry grow and thrive. Two of the big highlights included going to a farm and meeting the farmers as well as going to the local tea market where you can buy direct from the farmer, further supporting the local farms and ensuring single origin tea. We also had a lovely tea ceremony experience, where we got the opportunity to try several different types of tea. We very much appreciated her flexibility, answering extra questions and allowing us to stay longer at sites that interested us. Oh, and as an added bonus, when we decided the next day we wanted to buy some extra matcha, we contacted Masae, and not only did she purchase it on her own time, but she brought it to us at our hotel. Her commitment to going above and beyond for her customers is amazing and super appreciated. The only thing I wish I had done differently is booked a full day instead of a half. It was that good! Thank you Masae!!!!

This green tea farm tour with Masae was one of my favorite experiences in Japan!! Masae is one of the few, if not the only one, creating personal green tea/matcha experiences that are local and feels very special. She's very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and the world of green tea/matcha as it's her family background, she's passionate, and her English is very good so it's easy to have super insightful conversations. I took this tour as a solo traveler and got to see a green tea farm up close, had a personal tea tasting, lunch, shopped for teas to take home, and we even stopped by a local mochi shop! Yes, the price is high, but this experience is truly something special and completely worth it from my eyes. I did a lot of research on visiting Uji/green tea farms and couldn't find another experience that would be so personal, authentic, and local. Looking back, I wish I was able to book the full day tour, but look forward to my next visit with Masae as she expands her offerings in the future!

This green tea farm tour with Masae was one of my favorite experiences in Japan!! Masae is one of the few, if not the only one, creating personal green tea/matcha experiences that are local and feels very special. She's very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and the world of green tea/matcha as it's her family background, she's passionate, and her English is very good so it's easy to have super insightful conversations. I took this tour as a solo traveler and got to see a green tea farm up close, had a personal tea tasting, lunch, shopped for teas to take home, and we even stopped by a local mochi shop! Yes, the price is high, but this experience is truly something special and completely worth it from my eyes. I did a lot of research on visiting Uji/green tea farms and couldn't find another experience that would be so personal, authentic, and local. Looking back, I wish I was able to book the full day tour, but look forward to my next visit with Masae as she expands her offerings in the future!

Wow! This tour was awesome - Masae our guide, the scenery, the history and current information shared about matcha, and the whole experience was excellent, relaxed and welcoming. I highly recommend this tour - it was superb. Thank you so much Masae and much success to you!

I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in a peaceful tea-focused day trip from Kyoto or Osaka! We weren’t sure what we wanted to do with our last day in Kyoto and had already done enough sightseeing/shopping/market-going, so we were thrilled when we found this tour with availability for the next day! Masae was an incredible tour guide. She was communicative, friendly, flexible, and highly knowledgeable. She answered every single one of our many questions about tea, farming practices, and even more general cultural topics. The activities we did were customizable too. We were able to see a mochi factory and enjoy the sweets with our tea tasting, which was from Masae’s extensive collection where we could choose the types of teas we wanted to try, and we even stopped by at the mochi maker again later to buy more sweets because they were so delicious. During the tea tasting Masae taught us how to properly prepare matcha and explained the entire process thoroughly. We had a delicious soba lunch and got to buy teas at the market from the local farms we visited and tried during the tasting. If you’re looking for a quiet half-day getaway from the city to immerse yourself in the tea culture, this tour is well worth the money!!

If you love matcha, this is a great tour to go on if you want a personalized experience. I was staying in Kyoto and it was very easy to take the train down to Uji station which was the meeting point. The day I did this tour we had the most beautiful weather and so I got to see some of the matcha plants being cut up and steamed for them to eventually be made into tea - I believe I lucked out with that because I don't think that happens on every tour due to time of year. Masae also taught me how to properly whisk the matcha and how to brew and pour different types of Japanese tea. You can buy tea at the tea shop which comes directly from the farms in the region, and the prices were much better than what I can find in London!

Masae, our guide was very nice and the tour was incredibly interesting. We tasted different teas from the region, visited a tea farm and walked through one. I also learned the proper way to prepare the tea. An excellent experience overall. She provided transportation.

Our private guided tour of Uji and the Wazuka Matcha Farm was a true highlight of our trip. The experience was seamless and personalized, and our guide’s passion and knowledge made the history and craft of matcha come alive. Walking through the peaceful tea fields and seeing the process firsthand gave us a whole new appreciation for what goes into every cup. While it was definitely expensive, it was absolutely worth it. The exclusivity and authenticity made it feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not just a tour. If you want something meaningful and immersive beyond the usual tourist stops, this is an exceptional choice.

This was a great experience I would recommend to anyone curious about tea, or in Japan outside of the big cities! Masae was a great guide and host talking us through tea growing, the tea business, tea tasting, my random history and business questions 😅, and an even a bonus stop at a moshi-ya. You definitely wouldn’t get this experience wandering around on your own - I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Kyoto area!

Masae was very friendly and knowledgeable. We were surprised by a visit to a local mochi factory and given the opportunity to try delicious dango and ichigo daifuku, as well as matcha dango. We were able to try several varieties of green tea, including some we had never heard of before. We had a beautiful view of the tea farm and were able to walk through the field and learn about tea growing and processing techniques. We also tried several kinds of tea that were later available for purchase at the store. Masae drove us to the tea farm directly to purchase some tea that wasn't available at the store, so we were able to see the equipment that the farmer used to process the tea. Masae was very thorough in her explanation of the tea varieties and processing, as well as the local region and its tea industry. She is a wonderful conversationalist and a delight to spend time with. She contacted me via whatsapp ahead of the tour to confirm the pickup location and time, and she drove us to each location on the tour. We had lunch at the cafe attached to the store, which was delicious and quickly prepared. Masae was taking photos and videos for us throughout the tour, and when we had returned to our hotel, she sent them to me via whatsapp. I would thoroughly recommend this tour, and I believe for the price it is an extremely good value.

Fantastic experience! Learned a lot more about how tea is grown and made. I loved tasting the samples of tea, there were some I had never tried before. The view of the tea farms from the observatory was beautiful as well. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in tea, I learned so much and really enjoyed it. As an added bonus, I mentioned that we were going to go see Byodo-in, a nearby temple so she dropped us off there instead of the station.

Very nice trip, Masay is very pleasant and friendly guide, who knows a lot. The trip is nice, but to my view, for the very high price we paid, it was not enough. We visited a view point. We pulled over and saw a tea plant. We entered into a traditional house and drank different kinds of tea which were prepared immediately, but we tried only one matcha from one producer, and could not compare different qualities and producer (like in a wine tasting where you sometimes get same grape from different vintage and vineyards). Then we had a simple lunch and could buy some tea. We did not see the Production process. Altogether we enjoyed very much, and I reccomend this tour, but I think that it was overpriced for what we received.

Masae was so thoughtful and knowledgeable and made us feel at home. Great experience touring the matcha farm, enjoying authentic food. She was extremely knowledgeable about the area as a whole, matcha farming process, and the overall matcha culture. Sincerely enjoyed it. Would recommend to anyone wanting an authentic matcha experience

This matcha tour was truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. We loved learning more about matcha, seeing the farm up close, and gaining a deeper appreciation for how much care goes into producing high quality tea. The experience felt authentic, thoughtful, and very memorable. The bonus mochi was also such a kind and delicious surprise. We are so grateful for the experience and would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in matcha or tea culture.

Holy smokes—this tour left me completely speechless! I was truly in awe of everything, from Masae’s knowledge to the beautiful scenery, and the quality of the tea. Masae is incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent, and she created such a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere. I learned so much from her about matcha and tea farming, and you can truly feel her passion and expertise in everything she shares. This was also a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. This tour was my favorite part of my trip, and it’s something I’ll always remember. If you’re considering booking this tour, do it. You won’t regret it.

I had the most beautiful experience taking this tour. We went to the green tea farms and also had some different types of green tea and Matcha. Had some lunch and went shopping for some tea. Masae it’s so knowledgeable and nice! Definitely gonna be coming back to Kyoto to do the full day tour!

Masae was amazing at showing us around the entire tea plantation at Wazuka! She drove us around, explained the history of the farmers to the tea and gave very thorough details about the origin of matcha and tea. She then brought us to her Tatami home for matcha and tea while we chat and bonded for a couple more hours before we left back to Osaka.

Really unique and informative experience. One of our favorites on our whole trip to Japan. Masae is super friendly and knowledgeable and we learned a lot about tea and match while enjoying a good meal and nice scenery. Highly recommend!

We had a great experience with our tour guide, Masae. She was personal, very knowledgeable and cater to our specific need. because we wanted to learn how to make matcha latte in details ratio…she also coordinated for us to meet with a farmer so we could buy big quantity to ship to the USA which not part of the tour itinerary. Thank you Masae! She took her time drove us around to many tea farms explaining and educating us about tea and matcha. Over all, we were very please with her service. Worth every penny. We will definitely book her again next time we’re in Uji. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Masae’s matcha tour in Wazuka is pure magic! This warm, passionate guide from a family that’s been in tea for generations led us through breathtaking tea fields and hosted an unforgettable tea ceremony tasting. Her knowledge, perfect English, and the incredibly fresh, vibrant matcha made it life-changing – zero bitterness, pure umami bliss. Best tea experience in Japan! Thank you, Masae-san!

We had an amazing tour! The guide was excellent and full of information. Also the tew tasting was superb. Highly recommended!

Masae the tour guide was very pleasant and very informative, we found a trip very interesting and had a very generous meal. I definitely recommend.!

Absolutely phenomenal experience! Masae is truly a master of her craft — her deep knowledge of history, culture, and matcha is incredible, and the way she shares it is so captivating and elegant. This was honestly one of the most memorable and enriching experiences we had in Japan! We loved every moment — from learning the fascinating background of matcha to tasting and exploring places that felt completely hidden from the usual tourist path. The tour takes you off the beaten track into authentic, exclusive areas that no other tour touches. Every stop felt intentional and special, and Masae made the whole journey both fun and deeply insightful. If you’re anywhere near Kyoto, don’t miss this experience — it’s truly exceptional and absolutely worth it!

This excursion is the height of tailored exploration with respect to enjoying the natural treasures of Japan. With the explosion in popularity of matcha around the world, curious minds will want to visit the source of the very best matcha in the world. Without a doubt, this is the best way to experience it. Masae is a wonderful hostess, full of deep knowledge and a welcoming atmosphere that makes walking the fields feel like a dream. You will learn a great deal about the process and get to experience unique tasty matcha concoctions that will expand your world view and palette! If you visit Kyoto, this experience is a must.

Absolutely phenomenal experience! Masae is truly a master of her craft — her deep knowledge of history, culture, and matcha is incredible, and the way she shares it is so captivating and elegant. This was honestly one of the most memorable and enriching experiences we had in Japan! We loved every moment — from learning the fascinating background of matcha to tasting and exploring places that felt completely hidden from the usual tourist path. The tour takes you off the beaten track into authentic, exclusive areas that no other tour touches. Every stop felt intentional and special, and Masae made the whole journey both fun and deeply insightful. If you’re anywhere near Kyoto, don’t miss this experience — it’s truly exceptional and absolutely worth it!

What a beautiful and amazing tour! I'd absolutely recommend this as a must-see for any matcha aficionado. My husband and I are Americans who love matcha, and Masae of Matcha Tours was such a knowledgeable, friendly, and amazing tour guide. Communication via Whats App made coordinating pick-up times and locations a breeze. As the niece of a matcha farmer herself, Masae understood the process of growing and making tea and had such wonderful stories for us. I really felt I learned so much from her in a short time. Few foreigners really get the inside scoop on matcha, as Uji and Wazuka are typically popular among Japanese tourists, but lesser known among outsiders. Masae is a true ambassador for this region, and I felt like we got a real peek behind the curtain of matcha growing and making that not everyone gets to see. We stopped at a local tea house and got to enjoy our own matcha drinks (get the matcha and lemon soda one - SO good!). We also had a lunch of matcha noodles, and matcha sweets as well - delicious. An added bonus of going directly to farms was that we could buy more matcha, too. Some tourist shops are only allowed to sell matcha in limited quantities per customer, but smaller shops and farmers don't have that same limitation. And it feels great to support local farms and farmers. It's truly wonderful to learn about the tradition of tea in Japan and to taste different kinds of matcha after understanding all that goes into making it! I'd definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about matcha - the "champagne of tea".

Wonderful tour with Masae! We were able to visit the tea farms where Matcha comes from and also had a tea tasting session where we tried different teas and learned about the differences in cultivation and manufacturing. Masae is very knowledgeable on both the farming and manufacturing of teas. We even had the opportunity to make and try Mochi!!! The region is beautiful and very picturesque! Overall great experience and highly recommended!

We had a great experience with Masae on the tour! We visited the tea farms, had a tea tasting and even had a chance to make and eat mochi!!! Masae is very knowledgeable on the tea farming and tea manufacturing process. The area was beautiful and picturesque. I would highly recommend visiting.

Our guide was a local from a tea farm family. They offered so much perspective you would normally miss in books. We visited tea farm fields, then did a tea tasting, and lastly went to a farmers supplied tea shop! It was fun experience and we appreciated being able to ask questions. Our guide even offered recommendations for other places to visit during our trip.

I really enjoyed hearing about the tea farms from a local. They offered their own family perspective about the tea industry. In short you will learn and leave with much more emotion about tea than what you read in books. My favorite part of the trip was visiting a farmers-market tea store. All of the products there were from various local farmers. Our guide gave great recommendations for us to do for the rest of our trip. It was like making a new friend.

Masae was fantastic. The tour was a clear reflection of her passion for matcha and sharing her culture—we felt completely welcomed and immersed in the world of matcha farming and tasting! Masae led us through matcha fields and explained the intricacies of farming, which was no problem for her as a fifth generation farmer. She took us to a local restaurant, where we ate much-needed cold matcha soba on a blisteringly hot day. We had the chance to browse the store attached to the restaurant, and we sampled and bought delicious teas. Masae also drove us to a candy maker’s shop and had us sample some local dango and daifukumochi. We ate the sweets during the tea tasting, and their flavor and texture were incredible!! Masae also taught us how to make our own bowl of matcha as we knelt on tatami mats in her home. Masae was warm, knowledgeable, and overall a wonderful guide. If you love matcha (and even if you don’t), you should make sure to meet Masae and take her tour!!