This was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Japan! The green tea fields were stunning, and the views were simply breathtaking – we even had the chance to see Mt. Fuji in the distance. Not only did we learn so much about tea—its characteristics, harvest, production, and sales—but we also had the opportunity to taste various types. We learned how to distinguish each tea by its flavor, appearance, and origin. To top it off, we enjoyed several traditional Japanese sweets and had an incredible meal at a local restaurant, where the fish was unbelievably fresh. Our guide, Akito, was amazing. He shared his knowledge of tea and Japanese culture with such enthusiasm, and his excellent English made everything so much more enjoyable. He was genuinely kind and attentive, making the experience even more memorable. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the chance to do this. The tour was worth every penny and truly felt like a hidden gem. I loved every moment of it!

Akito provided an amazing tour experience. From the morning where he provided us with a tour of the mountainside, to the afternoon walk through downtown Shizuoka, every experience was thoughtful, intentional and well prepared.

Akito provided us with a rich history of tea in a Japan and how the tea culture has evolved over time. From the mountainside tea tasting to the factory processing site tour in the AM, we developed a deeper appreciation for tea culture and learned how different flavour profiles can be developed using the same tea leaves. Prior to the tour, Akito communicated well with us to determine our preferences for lunch. After the meal, he took us to several local tea shops for more tastings and for some tea shopping! Knowing we were going to other cities after Shizuoka, Akito provided us with further recommendation for the other sites. Overall, this was a great experience; i would definitely spend more time in these smaller cities the next time my partner and I come back to Japan.

Tour was very well done. If you have any interest in tea, you should go. Akito, the tour guide, was friendly and knowledgeable. Beyond the tea information, tour was opportunity to get out into countryside and see parts of Japan I probably would not see otherwise. We also walked through downtown Shizuoka. Everyone we encountered was friendly.

This was our absolute favorite tour during our trip to Japan. After taking an easy bullet train ride from Tokyo, Akito crafted a very thoughtful and engaging set of experiences to appreciate Japanese tea and farming, and was a wonderful host for the day. Whether you are new to tea or love a cup of high quality green tea, there is something for everyone to enjoy. My husband and I both love green tea and have learned a lot about it, and we still learned many new insights from Akito, he is a true expert and has rich knowledge to share both about tea and Japanese culture. On top of this, Akito’s tasting selections were truly delicious and unique. We highly recommend this excursion for anyone’s trip to Japan.

This was one of the best experiences we’ve had while travelling and we have travelled a lot! The tea farm is nestled in the mountains and you are struck by the beauty and peacefulness of the place. Akito shared how tea is grown, and processed. So enlightening. Coming from Canada, I was more familiar with drinking black tea so it was very interesting learning about the complexities of green tea and tasting many that we had never tasted before.

The lunch afterwards was delicious and the staff at the restaurant took such good care of us. We enjoyed walking around the town and appreciated Akito taking us to the top of the Government building for the panoramic view of the city. Akito’s passion for tea, his family farm and his town are contagious. I would highly recommend this tour.

This is really an amazing tour, only an hour outside of Tokyo via the bullet train. Akito was very knowledgeable and hospitable. We were able to learn a lot about tea and it’s production as well as taste a large variety of teas. Lunch was at a restaurant that was really delicious and could be worth the trip on its own. I would highly recommend taking this tour. It was a great way to spend a day outside of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo!

Merci à Akito pour cette journée de découverte. N’étant pas un amateur de thé, je n’avais pas d’attentes particulières mais je suis ravie d’avoir tenté l’expérience. J’ai pu en savoir plus sur le thé et apprécier les dégustations grâce à Akito! Il ne faut donc pas hésiter même si, comme moi, vous n’êtes pas amateur de thé.

I absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who want to discover the wonderful tea that can be found in Shizuoka region and also to discover local places. Akito is a fantastic guide who brought us to a lot of different places with explanation and guidances on different aspect, it was very interesting and fun!

Nous avons passé une magnifique journée en compagnie de Akito qui nous a expliqué et fait découvrir des thés traditionnel japonais.

Une expérience convivial et authentique.

Un grand merci pour cette découverte.

Je recommande sans hésiter !

My husband and I were lucky enough to spend a day with Akito learning all about tea, seeing the beautiful tea farm, visiting tea cafes we would never have found on our own, eating the most delicious green tea gelato and making a new friend! Everything about the day was perfect and it’s a must do day trip when visiting Japan!

Thanks Akito for one of the best days of our trip!!

Lauri

We spent an amazing day with an incredible guide around Shizuoka and the tea farms!

We started by visiting the farm and talking with the farmer for a bit before visiting the tea processing factory and trying their tea.

After that, we went to the city to eat in a small but excellent restaurant before visiting a tea shop and tasted a loooot of tea. After that, we have walk around the city, the main hall and learned a lot about the history of the city. We ended this day with a very nice matcha ice cream shop.

Our guide, Akito, was amazing and answered all of our questions and helped us discover the city duringan amazing day !

Thank you again for this memorable day 🙂

My fiancé and I had an amazing time on our tea farm tour in Japan! Our guide, Akito, who owns the company, made the whole experience unforgettable. He was so welcoming, passionate, polite, and charismatic.

Akito took us all around his tea farm, showing us every step of the tea-making process. The factory tour was super interesting, and seeing how much care goes into making great tea was eye-opening.

One of the best parts was when Akito invited us to his house. It made the tour feel really special and personal. Plus, he took us into the city of Shizuoka to explore the local tea scene, which was awesome!

This tour was the highlight of our trip to Japan. Akito’s love for tea left us inspired and eager to come back. We can’t recommend this experience enough. Thanks to Akito, we’re already looking forward to our next visit to Japan to dive even deeper into their amazing tea culture.

If you’re going to Japan and love tea, don’t miss this tour!

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend joining Akito on this Tea Cup Trip tour. Whether you are a tea lover, or a complete novice in the world of tea, or simply want to experience something of the ‘real’ Japan beyond the crowded tourist sights, you will have a delightful time. We had a brilliant day with Akito, and every part of it was special. Driving up to his family’s tea farm in the hills above Shizuoka and exploring the tea fields and learning about tea was so insightful. Akito has a genuine passion and depth of knowledge about Japanese tea, and shares it in a very relaxed and friendly manner. We did the full day tour with a great visit to the tea fields, and the tea processing factory, where we learnt a lot. Lunch was incredible. And then visits to two wonderful tea cafes in Shizuoka topped it off. You can’t get this kind of experience by yourself. We found this to be one of our most authentic and rewarding experiences in Japan. Thanks so much Akito!!

Akito is very knowledgeable and gave us an unforgettable tour with views of a tea farm in the mountains, followed by tea tastings. We toured a tea processing facility, a local tea shop, and a shop that sold tea-flavoured treats. We loved tasting the Hojicha and Matcha ice cream! We left with multiple tea souvenirs and a deeper appreciation for how tea is produced.

Akito-San is a well-informed and very passionate tea head! He was so gracious and I felt so treasured throughout the whole tour. He definitely knows all the right people and all the great spots to take you for the most educational experience. I loved sitting inside the tea factory and being able to taste SO MANY teas! And to meet the people involved in the process and to see the tea fields was…a long-time dream come true for me. Akito-San is a wealth of tea knowledge, and it was wonderful to encounter a Japanese person who is working to preserve some of the best (if I say so myself) tea culture this world has to offer. Highly, highly recommend to any tea enthusiast or tea head looking to further their (tea) education!

We had such a wonderful time learning about Shizuoka, tea farming, and tea. From the moment that Akito san picked us up from the train station, we had such a great time! We visited a tea farm, learned about (and drank) delicious tea at the farm, and learned about tea processing at the factory. We happened to be visiting on a tea harvesting day so we got to see a lot of local farmers drop off their tea at the factory and watch the beginning of the process! After a delicious lunch, we got to explore Shizuoka and learn more about the town. We started off with more tea at a local cafe (that was also very cute!) and try more types of tea. As with any great day, we topped off the day with some ice cream! This was such a great day trip from Tokyo – I’d highly recommend this tour!

The tea tour led by Akita-san was by far the highlight of my one month stay in Japan. To preface, I came into the tour completely blind, since it was booked by my girlfriend and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Without getting into all the details, all I can say is that the entire tour was amazing, well curated, and entirely worth the time and money to visit Shizuoka. I’d even argue that this tour is reason alone to visit the city, which by the way is incredible and very charming. I even saw Fuji-san for the very first time. Akito-san is friendly and super knowledgeable about tea and very enthusiastic to share his knowledge about tea and the city with you. Everything about the tour was great and I’ll be recommending it to any of my friends planning on visiting Japan. I hope to visit again soon! 5 stars!

This tour was the highlight of our trip. We learned and experienced so much about tea.

The tour takes you to an active tea farm and factory where you learn about how it’s grown and processed, and the different types of tea.

You’ll be taken to have lunch at a local restaurant before going on a walking tour around Shizuoka.

Akito is very knowledgeable when it comes to tea and is very eager to share his knowledge with you.

I would recommend (and will) this tour to anyone who is looking for something more than the typical tourist things.

We had an amazing time on our tour! We would definitely recommend a visit.

Akito taught us a lot about the process of tea farming, production and brewing, both on the farm we visited, as well as on other stops on the tour.

This tour will give you beautiful views, good food and sweets, and of course lots great tea 🍵

Akito was such a nice and thoughtful guide and he was happy to answer all our other questions about Japanese culture.

We had an amazing day with Akito touring the farm and tasting teas! We had many opportunities throughout the day to try a variety of teas and learn more about japanese tea production and the Shizuoka prefecture. He was incredibly kind, very knowledgeable, and so very patient with all of our questions. The day was very well paced and both engaging and relaxed. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Japan and I would not hesitate to recommend the tour to family and friends!

This is one of the best things I did while in Japan. Akito was kind, informative and planned a very unique and fun day for us. The location of the tea field is picturesque and breathtaking. We tasted and learned about many different type of teas. After the tour I hung around in downtown for a bit as there are many cute shops and cafes. Thank you Akito for this amazing experience.

Akito is a vast wealth of knowledge, and truly exceptional guide. The entire tour felt like a green magic carpet ride 🍵

From tea farm to tea garden, traversing the beautiful Shizuoka countryside and trying so many wonderful delicacies – the entire experience was unforgettable!

Akito is very passionate about the cultivation and drinking of green tea. He is also very accommodating to his guests.

We arranged to meet at Shizuoka Station and then he drove us to mountain side tea farm and tea processing center where we served some excellent locally grown tea. The day of the tour it did rain, but he did not let the rain dampened the experience. The view from the tea farm overlooking the fields of tea and onto Shizuoka City in the distance is a site I will not forget. The clouds added extra layers to this view.

The tour continued on a couple cafes in Shizuoka City. The tea tastings were great as he guided us through the different types of green tea. He would explain the differences between the teas.

This is a strong recommendation for anyone that enjoys green tea and wants to learn more.

Akito is an excellent tour guide who is both passionate and knowledgeable. His tours will bring you to places inaccessible to most people and reveal the intricacies of the generations-old Shizuoka tea industry. Akito does an excellent job describing the process of tea farming and how each aspect affects the taste of the tea. Each cup of tea brewed during the tour highlights a different element of the tea making process. And most importantly, All the tea and treats provided were delicious. My sister and I especially loved the strawberry daifuku accompanied by the freshly roasted hojicha.

My favorite part was visiting the tea farm. The drive up to the mountainside farms will show you a different perspective of Japan, far away from the busy streets of Tokyo and into the quiet hills of the Shizuoka countryside. The mossy brick walls remind you of delicate bars of matcha chocolate and the air is filled with the soft rustling of bamboo and tea leaves.

Whether out in the countryside farms or in the cafes of Shizuoka city, this tour is an exceptional way to experience an aspect of Japan that is often disregarded. Akito’s passion for green tea is contagious. If you’re not a tea lover, this tour will make you one by the end. Thank you Akito!

Great tour guide. Akito gave a great presentation about the different types of tea as well as the process of making tea. He also showed us a great soba restaurant for lunch and even showed us around the city. He was a great tour guide!

This was an amazing experience. Meeting Akito at the JR Station was easy and smooth. We first drove up to the tea farm in the mountains and learned about the history and structure of the farm. We then went to the tea factory and got to try many types of tea, including freshly roasted hojicha, and learned about tea manufacturing. Akito also gave us a tour of the tea factory machines. We then went to an excellent restaurant for lunch that he recommended. Afterwards, we got to do more tea tasting and learn about modern tea trends. The store he took us to was delightful and not something we would have been able to find on our own. Finally, we got tasty matcha gelato to cap off a wonderful day. Akito is truly an expert on tea, and answered all of our many questions. Would definitely recommend this tour to tea novices and tea lovers alike!

We went to Akito’s tour with my girlfriend and it was one of the most memorable experiences from our trip! He first shows you and explains many aspects of the tea farming in Shizuoka and shows you the tea farm from above admiring the beautiful landscape and scenery with it. He then carefully explained us and let us try different teas in the factory trying to explain the different methods and tastes for each. After you can enjoy other tea tasting in the tea shops. Akito is a wonderful guide and would recommend to everyone who wants to learn and love Japanese tea or simply wants to explore more about one of the Japanese delicacies such as green tea. Thanks Akito for everything and we hope we can comeback soon!

First we went up the mountains in order to have an amazing view over the tea fields. The day I went, the fog in the mountains created a mystical atmosphere. Afterwards we headed to the tea factory and were introduced to the production of tea, tea cultivars and tea benefits through a presentation. At one point I stopped counting how many amazing teas I was able to taste! The matcha ice cream is also a must try! I can only warmly recommend everyone to embark on this journey into the world of teas! Also, the host (Akito) was really nice, so you can feel free to ask him anything or just have a nice chat with him!

This was the best thing we did on our entire 2-week trip!!! Akito is a superb, deeply knowledgeable teacher and connoisseur. He taught us so much about Japanese tea – and we were so engaged and fascinated from the beginning to the end. The tour is the most perfect mix of farm, factory, and cafe experiences. We tasted several extraordinary teas and gained a profound appreciation for the tea, history, and growing and manufacturing processes after learning from Akito. If you are even a little bit curious about tea (or even someone who is into coffee and beer and likes learning about beverages) I highly recommend this tour. Akito could not have been more hospitable and he has a real talent for teaching and guiding. This is worth a special trip but also works well as an intermediate stop in between Tokyo and Kyoto. Thank you so much Akito!

Booked a tour while visiting Japan as I always loved tea. Akito is a great guide that goes above and beyond to not only show a beautiful tea farm but also get a deeper appreciation of Japanese tea as a whole. I would definitely recommend anyone interested in tea make a day trip to Shizuoka for this tour.

We had an incredible experience with Akito, there are not enough words to describe how this experience completely surpassed our already high expectations about the Japanese Tea world. Akito’s work inside the tea ecosystem in Shizuoka is completely fascinating, he has been able to build experiences that are truly unique. From beautiful tea farm landscapes to the best tea tasting, you’ll see everything about the tea world in Japan. And of course, the highlight of the tour is Akito himself, what a pleasure to meet him, his passion and ikigai around the tea world is truly admirable. Would take this tour on every trip to Japan, this is a real gem and a must if you visit Japan. Thank you Akito for your kindness and for this unforgettable experience.

Akito is a wonderful guide and, as a certified tea expert, provides a very personal and in-depth experience into everything tea related that Shizuoka has to offer. From growing tea, to processing tea, to preparing and consuming tea, the extended tour will go into every detail. You will also get a brief tour through Shizuoka, including walking outside the old castle grounds and having a chance at seeing Mt. Fuji from the government building’s top floor during a good day. Akito’s wonderfully warm personality makes this tour especially wonderful and he makes sure to take his time with any question you might have! Since he will personally drive you around and bring you to the tea plantations in the mountains, spaces are extremely limited and the tour feels very exclusive and intimate. Highly recommended and be sure to book early!

Akito was super knowledgable and answered all of our questions! We learned so much about Japanese tea, how it’s grown, the different factors that affect flavor and preparation. We even learned a bunch of different things you can use used tea leaves for! Thank you so much for the amazing tour!

The tea tour with Akito was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. We booked the full day tour which gave us a great overview of Japanese tea culture from processing and traditional drinking to the modern third wave (think sencha expresso & matcha ice cream). Akito speaks very good English and it was a pleasure to explore Shizuoka and the tea farm right outside the city with him. The itinerary is relaxed, we at no point had the feeling of being rushed. Akito takes time to answer questions and make interesting conversation. He is a certified tea instructor and very knowledgeable on all things tea & Japan. Without hesitation, we also recommended the tour to friends visiting Japan who are also into tea.

This is surely the most thorough tour we’ve ever done! Within 6 hours we learned and experienced so much with all our five senses.

From getting to know the rural side of Japan, over the nice views over Shizuoka, to the tea tastings and the stroll through the town – every moment was fascinating.

It didn’t feel like a set tour at all. Akito has a nice pace of introducing, explaining and showing things and does it in a very personal and individual way. No question was left unanswered and he himself is very eager to learn about other cultures, too.

The people at the places we visited were also very kind and welcoming. They gave us some unforgettable moments and served the most delicious food and tea! If you like fish, Shizuoka has one of the freshest to offer!

Shizuoka is indeed a gem hidden in plain sight on the way from Tokyo to Kyoto.

A slower, more relaxed pace and practically no tourists. Just get off here and give it a try.

If you like tea, you will love this tour❣️

あきと、いつもどうもありがとうございました。^_^

I truly consider this tour to be among my best, if not the best experience I have had during my trip to Japan. Akito was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, showing an obvious passion for tea. He offered rich insights into both the intricate production process and the cultural significance of tea in Shizuoka and throughout Japan.

The tea farm in the mountains is a real hidden gem and during the tour I was able to taste many different varieties of tea at a local tea shop. Additionally we had lunch at a local specializing in fish where I had delicious tuna sashimi and finished the tour with some matcha gelato.

I really can’t recommend this tour enough, every moment was a treasure.

This entire experience fully met and exceeded our expectations! The tea farm up on the mountains was truly a hidden gem that needed to be experienced firsthand as it offered some of the most magnificent views. Being able to see how tea is harvested and where it comes from allowed me to have a greater appreciation for Japanese green tea. Akito is a friendly and charming individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Japanese tea. During the tour, he went through the entire tea-making process and taught us how to properly brew and enjoy Japanese green tea. Not only did we learn about tea, but also learned about the other beauties that Shizuoka has to offer! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wishes to learn more about Japanese tea and is in the Shizuoka area!

Thank you Akito for a great day full of wonders of tea. A wholesome tea experience; we learned a lot of the origins of tea and enjoyed the contemporary tea culture as well. Akito is a knowledgeable and friendly guide, we couldn’t have asked for more.

This tour was absolutely amazing. We saw the tea fields and learned about the plant and its growing conditions. Akito was so lovely and comprehensively explained everything. He tailored his explanations to our interests, and we could get all the questions answered that arose during the day.

The tour had a good balance between knowledge transfer, tea tasting, and hands-on experience.

Apart from the tour, we wanted to highlight the lunch restaurant we chose, the Sashimi place, where we had one of the best meals in Japan. The chef came to our table and prepared a kind of Sushi roll in front of us. The fresh tuna was incredible and worth every penny.

After all, we gained a lot of insight into tea production and the different ways it can be enjoyed. We also got many fantastic recommendations for the area (onsen, shopping, etc.).

It was an incredible day and probably our favorite experience in Japan. We will never forget this day. Thank you!

Excellent combination of tea related activities. We loved the opportunity to

Visit a tea farm and factory as well as the cafes. We would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys tea!

I highly recommend taking the Tea Cup Trip tour! It was one of the most memorable parts of my first trip to Japan. This tour allows you to learn and see firsthand the production process from the farm to the factory, and taste diverse green teas produced in local regions. This tour also takes you to a landscape in Shizuoka that is beautiful and inspiring to see.

We had such a lovely day in Shizuoka with Akito! Akito was kind to explain us everything abt Japanese teas! He showed us around Shizuoka- his hometown- introduced us to a great soba place and many other things! Thank you so much for all the information and kindness! Hope to see you again when we are in Japan!

Akito san is an AMAZING host! Super accommodating, friendly, and easy to talk to. If you’re a tea lover and looking for things to do in Shizuoka, I highly recommend this experience!

The “Hidden Gem Tea Farm and Stylish Cafe Tour with Matcha Gelato – Private Tour“ was just amazing! We learned a lot about cultivation and processing of tea plants and tasted different facets of Japanese tea. The recommendation for lunch was superb and we are very thankful for this great place. The tea espresso and matcha gelatto were intense tasting experiences we would definitively not have discovered without the tour. In addition, Akito-san is a very kind and well organized person. You can feel his passion for tea and the Shizuoka region which made the tour very entertaining.

Highly recommended!

The tour was the highlight of our 3 week trip through Japan. Akito is extremely knowledgable and has answered our many questions about tea and Japanese culture in general. We have brought different kinds of green tea with us back to Germany and I would love to come back, soon! We can recommend this experience without any doubt and have already sent the contact details to several of our friends also travelling to Japan this year.

Our 6 hr tour:

– pick-up from Shizuoka station (we put our large backpacks in coin lockers)

– 20 min drive to the green tea plantation on the mountain side

– amazing view over the tea plantation and an tea ceremony

– visit of the local tea farmers’ factory -> we had the great honor of tasting freshly produced tea!

– lunch at a very tasty restaurant with typical Japanese food

– Matcha ice cream and the opportunity for matcha-based sweets

– tea tasting of several different kinds of teas at a modern and stylish tea shop

– learning about pouring green tea correctly at the International foundation for Japanese green tea

– back to Shizuoka train station

Wonderful tour by Akito! He gave us much insight on the entire tea process from the growing, to the harvesting and processing, to the brewing, and even a glimpse into the modern take and future evolution of what tea consumption might be. He walked us through the background stories at the different points and also explained the science behind why things are done in various ways. A truly memorable experience that I would recommend to all! Thank you Akito.

I had a great time visiting the tea farm and visiting local tea shops with Akito. We ended up spending almost a whole day of him showing me around Shizuoka and teaching me everything about the tea making process. He clearly cares a great deal about local teas and tea culture, and I think what they are doing is great. If you love tea or just want to learn more about tea, this is definitely the tour to take.

I loved this tour. Everything was so well organized. And we enjoyed so many things and got new information about Japanese green tea.

It was nice to see farmers, in action and visit a local home.

And all those lovely tea places in Shizuoka… I was in my tea heaven.

Thank you guys! You made my dream come true.

Ps. There is a story, my pics and my video on my blog (which is in Finnish) ->

menaiset.fi/akito