[Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture] Tea picking experience, factory tour, sweets tour! Let's enjoy matcha culture in Nishio City

Nishio City is one of Japan's leading green tea sites and has a history of more than 700 years. It is known for producing high-quality matcha tea, and is popular both at home and abroad. The city is dotted with spots, factories, and cafes related to matcha, so you can enjoy matcha from various angles.

What is Nishio's Matcha?

Nishio has a warm climate, rich soil brought by the Yahagi River and a river fog that is essential for the growth of tea leaves. It began in 1271 with the sowing of tea seeds at Jizoji (Jizouji), and the production of tea leaves was in full swing during the Edo period and matcha tea in the Meiji period. At present, the company specializes in and produces "tencha", which is a raw material for matcha, and has built its own tea leaf culture as one of Japan's leading green tea sources. Nishio's matcha is characterized by a mellow taste and a vivid kamaki color. "Nishio no Matcha" was certified as a regional brand by the Patent Office and is highly popular.

Enjoy Matcha every day at a spot where you can experience Nishio matcha, such as history and how to make it

The center of Matcha production in Nishio can be said to be the Inariyama Tea Garden (Inariyamachien Koen) on the left-bank hill of the Yahagi River. The size is about 1 million square meters, and you can overlook the idyllic tea plantation from the small hills. During the new tea season from the end of April to May, you can see how to pick tea, and also experience picking tea. You can pick lush tea leaves, shoot in the costume of a tea-picking daughter, and have a valuable experience in a tea plantation. Further, if you want to trace the history of Matcha in Nishio, you can visit Jizoji, known as the beginning of Nishio's tea, and Koju-in, a "tea-so temple" that spread matcha-making.

■ Inariyama Tea Garden Park

Transportation: About 10 minutes by car from Nishio Station
Address: Inariyama, Kamimachi, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Telephone number: 0563-57-7882 (Nishio City Tourism Association)
Closed days: Free admission
Time to be held: [tea picking] late April to mid-May
Price: Free admission/Tea picking experience 2800 yen ~ * Reservations required

■ Jisoji Temple

Transportation: About 15 minutes by car from Nishio Station
Address: 15 Kamimachi Shimoyashiki, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Open hours: Free admission
Closed days: Free admission

■ Hongshuin (Kojuin)

Transportation: 35 minutes walk from Nishio Station
Address: 83 Uemachi Hamayashiki, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Open hours: Free admission
Closed days: Free admission

In Nishio, there are plenty of facilities where you can experience matcha. In addition to the tea picking experience at the Inariyama tea park, the city is dotted with tea factories where you can visit the factory, experience of making matcha, and experience of matcha. The content of the experience varies depending on the factory, such as the tea blending experience at the Matcha Museum Saijoen Wakuwaku, and the experience at the Aoiseicha, such as the millstone grinding experience at the "Matcha Museum Saijoen Wakuwaku", try to find a factory you care about.

■ Matcha Museum Saijoen Wakuwaku

Transportation: About 8 minutes by car from Nishio Station
Address: 15, Yokomachi, Kamimachi, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Phone Number: 0563-77-6572
Business hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (factory tour start time 10: 00/13: 00/15:00)
Closed day: 1st Thursday
Factory tour fee: 75-minute plan 1500 yen (including blending experience)/60-minute plan 1000 yen/45-minute plan 500 yen/45-minute free plan * Reservations required

■ Aoi Seicha (Aoi Seicha)

Transportation: About 6 minutes by car from Nishio Station
Address: 7 Kamimachi Kamiyashiki, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Phone Number: 0563-57-2570
Opening hours: 9-17 (factory visit time: 10: 00/11: 00/13:30/14:30)
Closed days: Thursday, 4th Sunday (Factory tours are closed on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, holidays)
Factory tour fee: 500 yen for factory tour only/Factory tour + Matcha point experience 1000 yen (factory tour includes millstone grinding experience) * Reservations required

Of course, there are plenty of gourmets using matcha. It is unique to Nishio that you can not only enjoy traditional manners, but also feel free to drink matcha in cafes, sweeteners, and patisserie. You can also enjoy the atmosphere of a Japanese house and a tea room in the former Kōjō House. In addition, the main feature is that the matcha menu is substantial at any shop. A variety of matcha sweets, such as matcha parfait, matcha shaved ice, and matcha anmitsu, are available for matcha lovers. By all means, let's compare at various shops.

The former Kōji residence (Kyuko Eite) was relocated from a part of the building that was once the residence of the Kōji family in Kyoto. The interior of the beautiful one-story building is a shōin and a tea room, where you can enjoy "Matcha service (500 yen)". One outfit while looking at the garden is perfect for enjoying Japanese culture.

■ Old Guan House (Kyucho Eite)

Transportation: About 15 minutes walk from Nishio Station
Address: 231-1, Nishijo-cho, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Phone Number: 0563-54-6758
Hours: 9-18 (April-September), 9-17 (October-March)
Closed days: Mondays (excluding public holidays)
Price: Matcha service 500 yen

Enjoy more matcha! Check out guided tours

The spots related to matcha are scattered around the city, so if you go around the spots efficiently, it is recommended to take a tour. Choose the content you want to experience, such as tea picking experience, factory tour, and matcha tasting. There is also a tour with an English guide, so you can get to know the world of Matcha in Nishio more deeply. Find your favorite tour from the URL below.

■ Nishio Special Tour
https://nishiokanko.com/en/nishio-special-tour/special-tour/

■ ByFood
https://www.byfood.com/experiences/nishio-matcha-tea-tour-in-aichi-from-farm-to-teahouse-399