Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture is one of Japan’s foremost tea producing regions, accounting for about 40 percent of the nation’s total tea plantation area. Although often grouped under the single name “green tea,” Japanese green tea comes in a wide variety of types, differing in origin, brand, color, and flavor. In Shizuoka, visitors can enjoy hands-on tea leaf picking experiences, tour tea processing factories, and relax at a wide selection of tea cafes. From April to May is the season for fresh and delicious “shincha,” made from the year’s first-flush tea leaves. Why not take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of tea in Shizuoka?
Major Tea Growing Regions in Shizuoka Prefecture
① Tenryu, Mori, Haruno
② Kakegawa, Kikugawa
③ Makinohara
④ Fujieda, Shimada, Okabe
⑤ Kawane
⑥ Honyama
⑦ Shimizu, Ihara
⑧ Fuji, Numazu
Why Is Shizuoka Known as the “Tea Kingdom”?
Shizuoka Prefecture’s mild climate and abundant rainfall create ideal conditions for tea cultivation. The region’s tea history is said to date back to the 13th century, when a monk from Shizuoka brought tea seeds back from China and planted them in the mountain foothills.
Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, was also fond of Shizuoka tea, and by the late 17th century it had become official tea presented to the shogunate.
In the late 19th century, during Japan’s modernization, former samurai exchanged their swords for hoes and cleared land for cultivation on the Makinohara Plateau, which is now home to the largest tea plantation area in Japan. In recent years, matcha production has also flourished across the prefecture. With one of the highest tea export volumes in the country, Shizuoka truly lives up to its reputation as Japan’s “Tea Kingdom.” The Japanese tea you have enjoyed before might just be from Shizuoka!
Across Shizuoka Prefecture, a diverse range of teas is produced, including lightly steamed tea with well-balanced sweetness and astringency, deeply steamed tea with a milder bitterness, and “gyokuro,” known for its rich, full bodied flavor. In recent years, many tea factories have opened on-site tea cafes, allowing visitors to enjoy tea time along with tours and shopping. Another appeal is the ease of sampling tea inspired treats around town, such as “ochawari,” which is shochu mixed with green tea, and shaved ice topped with tea flavored syrup.
Shizuoka Tea Trivia
◆ At elementary and junior high schools across the prefecture, students take part in “how to brew tea” classes and tea leaf picking experiences at tea fields. In the past, there were even school holidays during the new tea season so children could help with the harvest. Some schools are equipped with tea dispensers that serve tea directly from the tap.
◆ During the new tea season, it is a familiar seasonal tradition for government offices and financial institutions to serve freshly brewed new tea to visitors and guests.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is rich in nutrients, including catechins, which are believed to help prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer and high blood pressure and also have antibacterial properties. It also contains theanine, which promotes relaxation, as well as vitamin C and caffeine.
In old times, green tea was consumed as a form of medicine, and even today it is said to be beneficial for helping prevent colds and flu, as well as preventing bad breath.
Spots and Activities to Experience Tea with the Senses
Tea Museum, Shizuoka (Shimada City)
A museum dedicated to tea, located on the Makinohara Plateau. Visitors can learn about the history, production processes, and culture of tea in Shizuoka, across Japan, and around the world. Audio guides are available in English, Chinese, and Korean, making it especially recommended for those who want to deepen their knowledge of tea. Hands-on experiences such as grinding matcha with a stone mill and participating in a tea ceremony in a traditional tea room are also available. From the observation terrace on the third floor, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding tea fields. At the Mt. Fuji Viewing Hall, Mt. Fuji can be seen depending on weather conditions. The restaurant serves dishes such as soba noodles generously made with matcha, while the shop offers parfaits made with several types of gelato featuring different levels of matcha richness.
Admission: 300 yen (Scheduled to be revised to 500 yen from April 2026)
*Audio guides and hands-on experiences are available for an additional fee.
Access
JR Kanaya Sta. → 6 min by bus → Tea Museum, Shizuoka stop
Business hours
9:00–17:00 (admission until 16:30)
Regular holiday
Tuesdays (or the next weekday when it falls on a national holiday), New Year holidays
Join a small-group tour led by an English-proficient Japanese tea instructor, visiting tea plantations and tea-processing factories in the hilly areas of Shizuoka City. While experiencing tea picking in scenic tea fields, you will learn about the dedication behind producing high-quality tea and gain insights into Japanese tea, and enjoy tastings of a variety of teas.
Price: From 14,000 yen
*Please refer to the official website.
At this outdoor tea setting surrounded by tea fields, you can enjoy a tasting of different teas while taking in views of Mt. Fuji and the distant Suruga Bay. When you lie back on the spot, your eye level aligns with the tea fields, creating a distinctive “Infinity Tea Fields” landscape. The experience is available by advance reservation only and is limited to a private 90-minute session, allowing you to relax and enjoy your tea at a leisurely pace. From early April, visitors can also take part in a new tea leaf (shincha) picking experience.
Fee: 4,000 yen
Access
JR Shin-Fuji Sta. → 16 min by taxi
Business hours
10:00 to 11:30, 12:15 to 13:45, 14:30 to 16:00, 16:30 to 18:00 (No 16:30 to 18:00 session from November 1 to February 28)
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