8 Green Tea Tours in Japan Worth the Airfare

1.Experience all of Japanese culture and Japanese food experience classes “origami, udon, Japanese food, green tea, calligraphy” in 4 hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $92Our pick

Meet Taka at JR Omori Station, then walk eight minutes to his home for a hands-on Japanese culture and food class. You’ll fold an origami crane, make udon from scratch, prepare sushi and gyoza, enjoy tempura and small dishes, drink matcha with Japanese sweets, and take home a calligraphy souvenir. Private groups, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.

“Taka and Keiko are wonderful hosts. They are friendly, inquisitive, welcoming and full of information. Our noodle making experience was delightful and a little unexpected with a fun surprise. All food was delicious. I learned a lot and can’t wait to make the recipes at home. Thank you for such a great experience”

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2.Uji: Green Tea Tour with Byodoin and Koshoji Temple Visits

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 72 reviews · from $111

Join an English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Bryan, David, Ferdinand, or Damien for a four-hour Uji tour. Taste prized Gyokuro, visit the oldest operating teahouse, learn tea-brewing techniques, and explore Byodoin, Ujigami Shrine, and mountain-side Koshoji Temple. Expect stairs, walking, and a rain-or-shine outing.

“Brian was our tour guide. He knew a lot about Uji history and took us to see many shrines / temples. He taught us how to do a blessing at a shrine / temple and we repeated it all throughout our trip whenever we visited a temple / shrine. The tea making lesson was fun also. We tried a tea we’ve never had before. We would book a tour with Pinpoint again. We did two tours with them. We were very happy with the quality.”

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3.Scenic Green Tea Fields of Hidden Kyoto & Local Tea Exp (Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews

Travel from Kyoto into Wazuka and Ujitawara with Daiki, a lively local guide who combines tea culture, temples, countryside roads, and photo stops. You’ll visit Byodo-in, taste local tea and matcha, walk among working tea fields, and see Shoju-in’s famous heart-shaped window. Pickup and drop-off are private and flexible.

“Amazing tour would highly recommend. Daiki went out of his way for us much appreciated. Big thanks to Daiki’s Dad as well!”

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4.Osaka; Japanese Tea ceremony experience, Macha and Sencha

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Best value

In a traditional tatami room near Osaka’s Midosuji Line, tea master Yuko guides you through matcha preparation, Japanese tea etiquette, and the spiritual meaning of the ceremony. You also prepare sencha, taste two kinds of sweets, and may add a yukata rental for photographs. The one-hour session is offered in English or Japanese.

“Yuko è una maestra della cerimonia del tè esperta che sa guidarti nella storia di questa tradizione centenaria con garbo e simpatia. Bella esperienza!”

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5.Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 28 reviews · 3 hours · from $173

Meet your English-speaking guide at Keihan Uji Station for a three-hour walk through Uji, matcha’s home district. Visit Byodoin Temple and a historic shrine, sample local dishes, grind tea, make matcha, enjoy wagashi and matcha ice cream, then shop at your own pace. Guides have included Karim, Miki, Jamelah, and Sanae.

“Very nice visit, even better than expected ! It’s a mix with history, religion explanations, gastronomy and Matcha tea taste. Thomas our guide was really good. Knowing a part of Japan through this activity is really amazing and maybe one of my best experience in Kyoto! I really recommend this activity.”

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6.Slow Cycling Tour at Uji’s Matcha Green Tea Fields and Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $130

Spend about four and a half hours exploring Uji by Brompton bicycle with a local English-speaking navigator, including tea culture at Chazuna, Uji and Ujigami shrines, Koshoji Temple, the Uji River, and Amagase Dam. The pace is gentle, the group is capped at six, and the route can be adjusted to your interests.

“We had an amazing tour with Takashi. He was a great guide!”

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7.Small Group Japanese Green Tea Tasting in Shizuoka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $273

Start at Shizuoka Station for a private seven-hour day with an English-speaking guide. Visit Moriuchi Tea Farm, run by a ninth-generation family, taste seasonal sencha, enjoy lunch near a major tuna port, and finish with Mt. Fuji views from Nihondaira Yume Terrace and Nippondaira Hotel. Guides such as Atsuko and Miyuki add local insight.

“This tour was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. Without a doubt we would recommend this to anyone going to Japan. Lovely people and experience!”

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8.Guided Bike Tour to a Green Tea Farm in Shizuoka (not e-bikes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $175

Ride a comfortable hybrid bike from JR Shizuoka Station to a small tea farm in the countryside. Meet the farmer, visit a 150-year-old house, and choose between a broad tea tasting or several sencha teas. Your private English or French-speaking guide then leads you back through Abekawa Park and to either Shizuoka Sengen Shrine or Sumpu Castle Park.

“We recently participated in this guided bike tour to the green tea farm. It was one of our favorite activities during our entire two week vacation in Japan! We were super thankful for Robert, our guide, for not only showing us safe passage tRead more”

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