Sashima Tea and Kenchin Soba: Where to Eat (Ibaraki)

Grown in western Ibaraki, Sashima tea is a fine tea known for its deep flavor and body. It carries a history of once being exported across the sea, and its charm lies in the balance of astringency and sweetness. Enjoyed alongside it is kenchin soba, served in a broth rich with simmered root vegetables. It is a rustic, deeply nourishing country taste.

Sashima tea is a Japanese tea made in the Sashima area of western Ibaraki, including Sakai, Koga, Bando, Joso, and Yachiyo. In 1859, at the end of the Edo period, Sashima tea was exported to America by local figures such as Motoshige Nakayama, marking a pioneering step in the export of Japanese tea. Its hallmark is a full bodied flavor from the deep steaming method, with a robust savoriness and aroma.

Highlights

Sashima tea features a robust savoriness and aroma, perfect for a cup after a meal. Kenchin soba, with its hearty broth of simmered daikon, carrot, burdock, and konjac, clings to the noodles and warms you from the core. Savoring it while gazing at the tea fields and farm scenery of the western prefecture deepens the country atmosphere all the more.

Enjoying the Seasons

In the chilly season, steaming kenchin soba is the finest treat of all. Add a cup of warm Sashima tea and both heart and body relax. In the new tea season, you can also enjoy a cup with a fresh, bright aroma.

Access and Basic Information

It can be enjoyed at tea shops and soba houses around Sakai, Bando, and Koga. Some visitors come along with views of the local tea fields. At tea stands you can buy Sashima tea, which is also cherished as a souvenir.

Practical Travel Notes

• Origin: A deep steamed tea made in the Sashima area of the western prefecture, including Sakai, Koga, Bando, Joso, and Yachiyo. It carries a history of being exported to America at the end of the Edo period.
• How to enjoy: Its hallmark is a firm savoriness and body, suited to a cup after a meal. Savor kenchin soba down to the vegetables.
• Timing: Kenchin soba is exceptional in the cold season. In the new tea season you can also enjoy a cup with a fresh aroma.
• Takeaway: You can buy Sashima tea at tea stands, and it suits a souvenir. Check the product label for how to store it.

A Quick Tip

Savor kenchin soba down to the vegetables. After the meal, close out a relaxed time with a cup of Sashima tea.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Main producing areas: According to the Sashima Tea Association, it is produced in three cities and two towns: Koga City, Bando City, Joso City, Yachiyo Town and Sakai Town.
• History: Records show that in 1859 (Ansei 6), at the very moment the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and the United States came into force, Sashima tea was successfully exported to America ahead of every other tea-producing area in the country.
• Public facilities where you can buy it: The Sakai roadside station (1341-1 Sakai Town, Sashima District / telephone 0280-87-5011). Open 9:00 to 18:00, closed on the second Monday and Tuesday of February, the first Monday of October, and 31 December and 1 January. It sells Sashima tea and a local beer made with Sashima tea. There are 12 shops in Sakai Town that belong to the Sashima Tea Association.
• Season for kenchin soba: Tsuke-kenchin, in which soba noodles are dipped into kenchin soup, is found throughout the prefecture and is often eaten from autumn into winter, when the new soba appears and the cold deepens.

Note: Opening hours and prices differ from shop to shop.

(Sources: official website of the Sashima Tea Association; official Sakai Town website; official website of the Sakai Town Tourism Association; official Kanko Ibaraki website; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Our Local Cuisine: Tsuke-kenchin, Ibaraki Prefecture)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Ibaraki Prefecture and from information published by the individual shops. Prices, product line-ups and seasons are subject to change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: Tea leaves from a few hundred yen, with gift sets and sweets also available
• Where to buy it: Tea shops and souvenir shops in the west of the prefecture, such as in Sakai Town and Koga
• Best time of year: Available all year round. The season for new tea is early summer
• Avoiding the crowds: Souvenirs are easy to buy without any fuss
• Enjoy it together with: A stroll around Sakai Town, the townscape of Koga, and the Watarase Retarding Basin