Discover the world of Japanese tea in Chamachi, Shizuoka's historic tea district.

On this guided walking tour, you’ll explore the streets of Chamachi, visit local tea merchants, and discover how tea is handled and evaluated before it reaches your cup.

One of the highlights is experiencing the professional tea evaluation process used by tea merchants. You’ll see, smell, and taste tea leaves while learning how professionals compare different teas. This process is called “haiken” in Japan.

You’ll also visit two local tea merchants and taste a variety of Japanese teas, including different styles and flavours. Rather than simply drinking tea, you’ll use your senses to notice how teas can look, smell, and taste different.

Chamachi has been at the heart of Shizuoka’s tea trade for generations. As you walk through the area, you’ll see tea shops, tea-related buildings, and other signs of the area’s connection to the tea industry.

You don’t need to be a tea expert to enjoy this experience. Your guide will explain Japanese tea in simple, easy-to-understand English and encourage you to ask questions and share your impressions.

Your guide has more than 15 years of experience in the tea industry and has travelled to more than 30 countries. As a local Japanese guide and tea professional, he’ll help you discover both the tea and the people, work, and everyday culture behind it.

By the end of the tour, you may not only know more about Japanese tea—you may also have found a tea that you really like.