Kyoto Walking Series: Green Tea and Aristocratic Culture in Uji

Start your tour with a visit to the Chazuna tea plantation, where you’ll discover the Kabusecha farming method. While exploring the museum, learn about the history of the Uji area and its deep connection to tea.

After gaining insight into tea and its heritage, you will experience grinding your own matcha using a traditional tea mill, learn how to prepare it, and finally try your hand at matcha art. This place offers a rare opportunity to create art on matcha. Under the guidance of a tea instructor, you will also sample the highest quality tea, Gyokuro, which has flourished in Uji.

Next, make a stop at a World Heritage Site and Japan’s oldest shrine, Ujigami Shrine, where you will learn about its unique characteristics, including a garden that represents the Pure Land of the West. Continue your tour with a stroll along the scenic Uji River, the backdrop for the classic novel The Tale of Genji during the Heian period (794–1185), and immerse yourself in the rich history of the aristocratic society that once flourished here.
Along the way, stop by a pottery gallery that has been in business for 400 years.

On your way back, wander through charming back alleys and, if time permits, visit a Kumihimo (braided cord) shop and local tea shops for a bit of shopping.

Your tour is led by a nationally accredited guide who is also a certified Japanese garden designer, food and aroma consultant and tea tutor of important people and Japanese Gardens. She provides insightful perspectives on the cultural elements that define Japan’s distinctive garden aesthetics and its sophisticated tea culture. Don’t miss the chance to discover the traditions, flavors, and stories that make Uji truly unique.