Wazuka Town, located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, is the town of Uji tea, known as a production area for high-quality sencha. Staying in this town where the scenery of beautiful tea plantations spreads out, hiking or cycling through the tea plantations, or relaxing at a cafe while looking out at the tea plantations... you can spend some time feeling the tea culture and history of this area. Why not have an experience that will make you forget your daily routine? We will introduce recommended spots, inns, and cafes with spectacular views.

180 degrees of tea plantations as far as the eye can see
Enjoy the scenery of a tea plantation registered as a Japan Heritage Site

Wazuka Town is a lush town with 75% forest. This land has a large difference in temperature between day and night, and the river flowing from the surrounding mountains to the Wazuka River and the fog created by the rich forest and the shading of the trees are suitable for tea cultivation, bringing out the flavor of the tea leaves. This environment is suitable for producing delicious tea, and even today, about XNUMX% of Uji tea is produced in Wazuka Town.
The scenery of Wazuka Town, with tea plantations spreading everywhere, has been designated as the first Kyoto Prefecture scenic asset, and is also a member of the ``Japan's Most Beautiful Villages Association.'' Furthermore, in 2015, it was registered as a Japanese Heritage Site as a ``800 Years of Japanese Tea History Walk''. This scenery is a spectacular sight that you should see at least once in your life.

Among them, the most famous tea plantation is the ``Ishidera Tea Farm''. This landscape has been designated as Kyoto Prefecture's No. 1 scenic asset, and has been used to promote various types of tea. In spring, many people visit to see the beautiful scenery of cherry blossom trees. Kamazuka tea plantations can also be seen from the main road in Wazuka Town. I hear that the tea fields that stretch out on the steep slopes that extend all the way to the top of the mountain were once created using hand-hoes. There are also a number of tea plantations within the town, and the scenery of the tea plantations, which change with the seasons, is charming no matter when you visit.

In Wazuka Town, there is a mountain on the top of which is covered with trees, called ``Taikoyama'' or ``Taikoyama Tumulus,'' but this is actually ``Prince Asaka's Tomb.'' Imperial Prince Asaka was the fifth son of Emperor Shomu and died at the age of just 17. It is said that Imperial Prince Asaka was buried in this area as his mausoleum because he loved the road that connected Heijokyo/Koninkyo and Shikoraku Palace. The mausoleum is located on the top of a mountain in a tea plantation, so you can see this scenery from a distance, and if you climb up to the mausoleum, you can see all of Wazuka town.

If you are going to visit Wazuka town a little further from Kyoto city, I would like you to stay here and spend some relaxing time. Relax at a cafe overlooking the tea fields where you can feel the changing seasons, stay at a farmhouse and enjoy delicious tea-based dishes, experience tea picking (seasonally available), and learn how to brew tea. It should be a good opportunity to learn and get to know Japanese culture anew.

Recommended cafe with tea plantation view

Satisfy your five senses by looking at the Ishidera tea plantation spreading out in front of you.
"dan dan cafe"

``Dan dan Café'' is a place where you can enjoy the view of Wazuka Town's most famous ``Ishidera Tea Plantation'' all to yourself, and expect long lines. The name comes from the words ``dandan'' in the tea plantation, ``dandan'' (thank you) in the Izumo dialect, and the desire to make the restaurant better in the future with ``dandan'' (slowly, little by little). He says he is. People who visit this place are so impressed by the lunch and sweets they enjoy while looking at the beautiful scenery that they want to come back again.
Lunch includes dan dan rice, dry curry, and omelet rice, but there are a limited number of these, so you'll want to go early. In addition, there are limited-time tea plantation parfaits (April to October), tea plantation plates (November to March), tea from Wazuka, milk from Uemura Farm in Nara, and gelato made with seasonal fruits (available for takeout). is also recommended.

dan dan cafe

1-1 Ishidera Higashidani, Wazuka-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture
Business hours: 10:17 to 11:3 (until XNUMX:XNUMX from November to March)
Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays

A cafe that sells about 200 types of Wazuka tea and also provides tourist information.
Wazuka tea cafe

When you come to Wazuka Town, the first place you should stop by is Wazuka Tea Cafe. There is a shop here that sells about 200 types of Wazuka tea made by tea farmers, as well as a small cafe space called ``Wazukacho Cafe'' in the back. This is also where you can rent bicycles and make reservations and use the Sky Cafe. It would be a good idea to plan your sightseeing schedule while enjoying drinks and cakes made with Wazuka tea at the cafe.

Wazuka tea cafe

35 Shirasu Osama, Wazuka-machi, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture
Opening hours: 10 hours to 17 hours
Regular holidays: No holidays (excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

A fully reserved space where you can enjoy the best scenery all to yourself.
Tenku Cafe

``Tenku Cafe'' is a private room located at the top of the mountain in Wazuka Sports Park. It is built using cypress and cedar from Kyoto Prefecture, and is modeled after the tea room (Kasatei) of Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto. As the name Tenku suggests, it is a luxurious space where you can enjoy a quiet time.
To access Tenku Cafe, you need to register at Wazuka Tea Cafe and receive a key. From there you will have to walk to the Sky Cafe, but be prepared for some steep stairs along the way.

Tenku Cafe

Inside Wazuka Town Sports Park
Usage fee: 60 yen/person for 550 minutes (free for elementary school students and younger) First come first served, reservations accepted
1,650 yen for XNUMX or more people
Opening hours: 10 hours to 17 hours
Regular holidays: No holidays (excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

Enjoy timeless moments in an old folk house surrounded by tea plantations

There are several farmhouse guesthouses here where you can stay as if you were living there. The appeal of each inn is that you can travel while experiencing the owner's commitment and personality. We will introduce the specialties of two of them.

The owner, who has been a tea farmer for generations, provides hospitality that is full of tea.
Tea Farm Inn Enu to Enu

``Tea Farm Inn Enu to Enu'' is a tea farmer inn based on the concept of ``an accommodation that only tea farmers can provide.'' Noriko, a member of the Kita family who has been a tea farmer for generations, opened this guesthouse in a renovated old private house that accommodates only one group per day. At check-in, the staff will carefully brew the tea for you and select the tea that suits you that day. In addition, for dinner, you can enjoy dishes made with plenty of tea, and even take a bath using tea leaves, making this an inn where you can truly spend your time immersing yourself in tea. You can also try out experiences unique to a tea farm, such as tea making, tea picking depending on the season, and tea cooking classes.

Tea Farm Inn Enu to Enu

30 Nakasugaya, Wazuka-machi, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture

A farmhouse inn with an attractive space full of taste
Farm guesthouse “Akuan”

The farm guesthouse "Akuan" is run by a couple who moved to Wazuka from Kyoto City, and is limited to one group per day. A renovated private house that stands in front of a tea plantation, the main building and gallery space are both sophisticated and carefully designed. It is also popular among foreign tourists, and I hear that many foreigners go out of their way to visit Wazuka Town.
The owner, Atsuko, is actually a potter, so Atsuko also offers pottery classes and pottery experiences. Her own plates and utensils are also used for breakfast and dinner, and she has great taste in her cooking and hospitality.

Farmhouse Inn Tokuan

20 Shirasu Nakatani, Wazuka-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture

The town of Wazuka, known as the Kyoto of tea, is full of the charm of ancient Japan. Here, you can feel the pleasant breeze shaking the tea leaves and forget about your daily life for a while.