"Summer draws near, on the eighty-eighth night~♪"
The period around Golden Week when this song is sung is the season of "shincha" (new tea) — the most delicious tea of the entire year.
A vivid green carpet as far as the eye can see. In the soft spring sunlight, the sound of snap, snap, snap as soft new buds are plucked, and the refreshing scent of tea — it will refresh both adults and children from the bottom of their hearts.
The appeal of a tea-picking experience lies in the photo opportunities in adorable traditional costumes (cha-musume, or "tea girl" attire), and the food education element of learning "how does the tea we drink every day actually get made?" On top of that, there's the ultimate local experience of making tempura from the fresh tea leaves you've just picked and eating it right there.
In this article, we introduce recommended tea gardens in Shizuoka and Saitama that are reachable as a day trip from Tokyo, along with everything you need to know about "how to brew delicious tea."
Tips for Enjoying Tea Picking as a Family (30 seconds)
- Timing is everything!: New tea picking is mostly limited to "late April through late May"
- The biggest enemy is "sunburn": There is absolutely no shade in a tea field! A hat and sunscreen are essential
- The cute costume requires a reservation: The cha-musume costume rental is extremely popular. Book early
- Wear easy-to-walk-in sneakers: Many tea fields are on mountain slopes — heels are absolutely forbidden
- Make "fresh leaf" tempura!: You need special machinery to make tea. At home, tempura is the most delicious way to use them
* The experience period may shift depending on tea growth conditions. Always check the official information before your visit.
1. [Before You Go] Zero Shade in the Tea Fields! UV Protection and Clothing
Tea fields in May are already feeling like early summer. With nothing blocking the sun, make sure to prepare thoroughly before heading out.
The Three Absolute Rules!
- ① A wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen
Tea fields have no roof or shade. Both adults and children should wear a hat that covers the back of the neck, and apply plenty of sunscreen. - ② A backpack or crossbody bag
You'll need both hands free to pick tea and hold a basket — a handbag gets in the way badly. A hands-free bag is essential. - ③ Sneakers that are okay to get dirty
The soil between the rows in a tea field can be wet with morning dew, and you may need to brace yourself on a hillside slope. Wear comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
What to Bring
- ✅ Plenty of drinks (bring extra!): Like strawberry picking, your throat gets surprisingly dry during the experience.
- ✅ A sweat towel and wet wipes: Your hands may get a little dirty from soil and tea leaf juice.
- ✅ Insect repellent spray: Being out in nature means there may be small insects around.
- ✅ A cooler box with ice packs (for those driving): Handy if you want to keep the fresh leaves you're taking home fresh.
2. [Background Knowledge] "Hachiju-Hachiya" and the Mark of Quality: "Issin-Niyo (One Bud, Two Leaves)"
Tea picking has a fun "mission" you can give your child — finding the most delicious leaves. Give your child this assignment in the car on the way there!
Mission: Find the "Issin-Niyo"!
The still-closed, needle-like rolled bud at the tip of the branch is called the "shin" (heart/core). Together with the two young leaves just below it, this part is called "issin-niyo" (one bud, two leaves)."
This is the softest part, packed with the richest umami and sweetness — destined to become the finest quality tea. If you tell your child "snap off just the soft tip," they'll get completely absorbed in searching for the softest buds.
💡 Fun FactWhat is "Hachiju-Hachiya"?
It refers to the 88th day counted from the first day of spring (around February 4), which falls around May 2nd. It has long been said that "drinking tea picked on this day will keep you healthy and long-lived for the whole year." Going tea picking during Golden Week is perfectly timed — and wonderfully good luck!
3. "Saitama (Sayama)" vs "Shizuoka" — Which Should You Choose? A Regional Comparison
For a day trip from central Tokyo, there are broadly two options: "Saitama (Sayama tea)" and "Shizuoka (Shizuoka tea)."
| Item | Saitama Area (Sayama Tea) | Shizuoka Area (Shizuoka Tea) |
|---|---|---|
| Access (from central Tokyo) | ◎ Extremely close About 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Easy to visit |
○ Great for a drive trip About 1.5 to 2.5 hours via the Tomei Expressway |
| Tea characteristics | Known for its rich body and sweetness, often described as: "Shizuoka for color, Uji for fragrance, Sayama for taste" | Japan's largest producer. Abundant variety including fukamushi-cha (deep-steamed), with a well-balanced flavor |
| Location & scenery | Mostly flat tea fields adjacent to urban and residential areas. Easy to walk | Spectacular views with Mt. Fuji as a backdrop, plus vast hilly landscapes — breathtaking scenery |
| Best for | Families who want a less tiring trip / those who want a quick half-day outing | Families who want to show their children Mt. Fuji / those who want a mini-trip including seafood and hot springs |
4. [Shizuoka / Saitama] Top 3 Family-Friendly Tea Picking Experiences (with Map)
We've carefully selected tourist tea gardens where you can rent the traditional "cha-musume costume" and enjoy the experience as a family.
* The pins on the map indicate spots introduced in this article. Season dates and prices vary each year.
① Miyanoen (Saitama, Sayama City) | The closest tea picking to central Tokyo
A famous tea garden in the heart of Sayama tea country — known for its taste — that's been featured heavily in media.
In addition to excellent access, their "Tea Full Experience Plan," which lets you wear the cha-musume costume (with sizes for men and children too!), pick tea, and eat it right there as tempura, is hugely popular with families.
👨👩👧👦 Family Checklist
- Access: Close to the Kendo "Sayama-Hidaka IC" — no long car journey!
- Experience: A wide range of cha-musume costume rental sizes (including for boys!)
- Learning: Includes a tempura tasting of freshly picked tea leaves + a lesson on how to brew delicious tea
Basic Information (approximate)
- Season: Late April to around October (new tea in May)
- Duration: About 90 to 120 minutes
- Price range: Tea picking + costume + tempura tasting from ¥2,500
- Reservation: Advance reservation required via official website
② Kuraya Narusawa (Shizuoka, Izu no Kuni City) | Breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji and a World Heritage Site
A tourism complex adjacent to the World Heritage Site "Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace."
The biggest attraction here is that on a clear day you can capture "tea picking in cha-musume costume with Mt. Fuji as the backdrop" — the most quintessentially Japanese photo you'll ever take. The grounds also offer craft beer and BBQ-style lunch.
👨👩👧👦 Family Checklist
- Scenery: A Mt. Fuji x tea field photo will be a lifelong memory
- While you're there: The World Heritage Site (Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace) is just a short walk away!
- Dining: The on-site restaurant is spacious and perfect for a family lunch
Basic Information (approximate)
- Season: Around mid-April to late June
- Duration: About 60 minutes (tea picking only)
- Price range: Tea picking + costume + original tenugui towel, etc., from ¥2,000
- Reservation: Advance reservation recommended
③ Grinpia Makinohara (Shizuoka, Makinohara City) | A vast tea theme park
A huge tea theme park on the Makinohara plateau, one of Japan's leading tea-producing regions.
In addition to tea picking in the expansive fields, you can tour a state-of-the-art tea factory and buy the signature "tea chocolate" — a full day of immersion in the world of tea.
👨👩👧👦 Family Checklist
- Factory tour: Watch tea being made by machine (perfect for a summer school project!)
- Souvenirs: An unmatched variety of tea sweets — you can also try Nanaya gelato
- Scale: Vast grounds where both groups and individuals can relax and enjoy
Basic Information (approximate)
- Season: Late April to early October (new tea in May)
- Duration: About 60 minutes (tea picking + factory tour)
- Price range: Adults from ¥1,000 / Costume rental extra from ¥1,000, etc.
- Reservation: Advance reservation via official website
🍵 Bring the Scent of New Tea Home! Direct-from-Origin Tea Leaves & Sweets
For those who can't make it to a tea garden but still want to enjoy the seasonal fragrance! Here we introduce new tea shipped directly from producing regions like Shizuoka and Saitama, brimming with umami. Premium tea bags that brew beautifully even without a teapot, and rich matcha sweets made by a tea shop, are the perfect treat for moms looking for a moment of calm!
5. [Model Course] Mt. Fuji and New Tea! A Day-Trip Schedule
A breathtaking day-trip plan from central Tokyo via the Tomei Expressway to Shizuoka (Izu / Nirayama area).
- 08:00 | Depart from central Tokyo (about 2 hours via the Tomei Expressway and Izu Jukan Expressway)
- 10:00 | Arrive at "Kuraya Narusawa." Change into the cha-musume costume and start picking tea!
(Take plenty of family photos with Mt. Fuji as the backdrop) - 11:30 | Stroll through the adjacent "Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace" and have a BBQ-style lunch on the grounds
- 13:30 | Drive 20 minutes to "Mishima Skywalk"
(Cross Japan's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, then let the kids loose on the giant adventure course!) - 16:00 | Head home (to the Tomei Expressway from Numazu IC)
6. What to Do After the Experience! Nearby Spots
Mishima Skywalk
Easily accessible from Kuraya Narusawa (Izu no Kuni City), this 400-meter-long pedestrian suspension bridge is the longest in Japan.
Beyond the spectacular bridge, you'll find the "Long Zip Slide" that lets you soar through the forest, and a "Forest Adventure (obstacle course)" among the trees — a hugely popular spot where elementary school-age children can play to their heart's content.
7. From the Breathtaking Tea Fields to a Hot Spring! Recommended Family Accommodations in Shizuoka
The Saitama (Sayama) area is convenient for day trips, but if you're going tea picking in Shizuoka, "staying one night to fully enjoy the hot springs and seafood" is the classic family travel experience!
After soaking up plenty of sunshine in the tea fields, refresh both parents and children with a delicious buffet and hot spring soak.
♨️ Izu-Nagaoka Area (just a short drive from "Kuraya Narusawa"!)
Hotel Sunvalley Izu-Nagaoka
About 10 minutes by car from "Kuraya Narusawa," and with excellent access to "Mishima Skywalk" too — a hugely popular hotel for families with children.
It boasts a grand hinoki cypress hot spring bath and a lavish buffet with over 50 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes! On top of that, there's a heated swimming pool (seasonal) and a manga library available free of charge for hotel guests — the ultimate entertainment space where children can play all day long even inside the hotel.
🌊 Yaizu Area (Stop for seafood on the way back from "Grinpia Makinohara"!)
Yaizu Grand Hotel
A scenic resort hotel reachable by car from "Grinpia Makinohara," with stunning views of Suruga Bay and Mt. Fuji.
What makes this hotel stand out is that drinks and activities (alcohol and coffee in the lounge, table tennis, etc.) are all included in the room rate as "all-inclusive"! Without worrying about your wallet, both parents and children can enjoy a truly luxurious time together.
8. [After You Get Home] Make "Tempura" from the Fresh Leaves You Picked! & How to Brew New Tea Deliciously
Even at home, the enjoyment of tea continues. Actually, the fresh tea leaves you've just picked cannot be made into drinkable tea simply by adding hot water! (They need to be steamed, kneaded, and dried at a factory.)
The most delicious way to eat fresh leaves: "Tea Leaf Tempura"
Rinse the fresh leaves you brought home, pat them dry, coat them lightly in batter, and fry them at 160–170°C for a short time until crispy.
Sprinkle with a little salt and eat — and after the satisfying crunch, a wave of refreshing new-tea fragrance and a pleasant gentle bitterness fills your mouth. This is the ultimate indulgence that only those who have gone tea picking can enjoy!
How to Brew the "New Tea" You Bought as a Souvenir, Deliciously
- Cool the hot water to "70°C" (Boiling water is a no-no! It draws out bitterness. Pour the water into a tea cup and wait about 1 minute — it will cool down to just the right temperature)
- Add tea leaves to the teapot and pour the cooled water
- Wait patiently for about 1 to 1.5 minutes (Resist the urge to swirl the teapot — it makes the tea bitter!)
- Pour out every last drop (the "golden drop") (The umami is concentrated right here)
🫖 Dramatically Better Tea! Lifelong Teapots and Tea Canisters
To brew the new tea you brought home at its absolute best, a "kyusu" teapot is indispensable! Earthenware teapots like Tokoname-yaki absorb astringency and draw out a mellow, rich umami. And a "tea canister" with a high airtight seal — protecting the delicate tea leaves from moisture and light — is another wonderful Japanese kitchen tool you can love for a lifetime.
Conclusion: A Journey to Taste Japan's "Green"
The tea we drink casually every day from a teapot or a plastic bottle.
But when you walk into a tea field yourself, carefully plucking new buds under the warm spring sun, you suddenly realize just how much time and care goes into every single cup.
"The leaves we picked back then — they were so good as tempura!"
"If you brew it with slightly cooler water, it tastes sweeter, right?"
The parent-and-child conversations that come from a tea picking experience become a lifelong "taste education."
In this season of vivid fresh green. Please take a day with your family to be surrounded by the fragrance of tea!