Kakegawa Tea: Home of Deep-Steamed Green Tea

Kakegawa City in western Shizuoka is widely known as a leading producer of fukamushi-cha, or deep-steamed green tea. Deep-steamed tea is made by steaming the leaves longer than usual, which softens astringency and brings out a mellow, rich umami and a vivid green color.

Shizuoka: Japan Top Tea Region

Shizuoka Prefecture is Japan foremost tea-producing area. Tea fields spread across many districts, and the spring new-tea season from April to May offers especially beautiful scenery of neatly trimmed green rows.

Tea Fields and Tea-Picking Experiences

Kakegawa is dotted with gentle hills covered in tea fields, a landscape that symbolizes Shizuoka. During the new-tea season, some farms offer tea-picking experiences, and visitors can learn how to brew tea or enjoy tea-flavored sweets.

Access and Basic Information

Kakegawa Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line and Tokaido Shinkansen serves as the base for a visit. Because the tea farms and experience facilities are spread across the outskirts, traveling by car is convenient. The area is also reachable from expressway interchanges such as the Kakegawa Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. Tea-picking experiences and factory tours vary by season and facility in terms of dates, fees, and reservation requirements, so check each facility official website in advance.

Practical Travel Notes

For a quick taste, try freshly brewed tea at shops or cafes near the station. For a fuller experience, head to the farms and facilities among the tea fields on the outskirts. Because deep-steamed tea leaves are fine and brew strong quickly, a fine-mesh teapot works well when brewing at home. Combining a tea visit with sites such as Kakegawa Castle makes for a full day of history and tea.

One Piece of Advice

The tea fields are most vivid during the new-tea season, but the neatly trimmed rows are attractive at other times of year too. Tea-picking experiences often require reservations, so inquire early once your dates are set. When buying tea leaves as a souvenir, ask the shop staff about brewing, since deep-steamed tea and ordinary sencha call for slightly different methods. (TabiTabi JAPAN Editorial Team)

📚 Sources

This article is based on information published by Kakegawa City and the local tourism association, guidance from the tea gardens and hands-on facilities, and introductions to tea shops and tearooms serving Kakegawa tea. The reception periods, fees, and reservation requirements for tea-picking experiences and factory tours may change, so please check each facility's official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: A short visit for a tearoom near the station, or half a day to a full day including a suburban tea garden experience
• Transport: A car is handy, as the tea gardens and hands-on facilities are scattered in the suburbs
• How to get around: Try freshly brewed tea near the station, then head to a suburban garden for the full experience
• Seasonal notes: New tea and tea-picking are best in April and May
• Reservation check: Tea-picking often requires reservations, so inquire early
• Also enjoy: Combine with city sights such as Kakegawa Castle