Akito is a vast wealth of knowledge, and truly exceptional guide. The entire tour felt like a green magic carpet ride 🍵

From tea farm to tea garden, traversing the beautiful Shizuoka countryside and trying so many wonderful delicacies – the entire experience was unforgettable!

Akito is very passionate about the cultivation and drinking of green tea. He is also very accommodating to his guests.

We arranged to meet at Shizuoka Station and then he drove us to mountain side tea farm and tea processing center where we served some excellent locally grown tea. The day of the tour it did rain, but he did not let the rain dampened the experience. The view from the tea farm overlooking the fields of tea and onto Shizuoka City in the distance is a site I will not forget. The clouds added extra layers to this view.

The tour continued on a couple cafes in Shizuoka City. The tea tastings were great as he guided us through the different types of green tea. He would explain the differences between the teas.

This is a strong recommendation for anyone that enjoys green tea and wants to learn more.

Akito is an excellent tour guide who is both passionate and knowledgeable. His tours will bring you to places inaccessible to most people and reveal the intricacies of the generations-old Shizuoka tea industry. Akito does an excellent job describing the process of tea farming and how each aspect affects the taste of the tea. Each cup of tea brewed during the tour highlights a different element of the tea making process. And most importantly, All the tea and treats provided were delicious. My sister and I especially loved the strawberry daifuku accompanied by the freshly roasted hojicha.

My favorite part was visiting the tea farm. The drive up to the mountainside farms will show you a different perspective of Japan, far away from the busy streets of Tokyo and into the quiet hills of the Shizuoka countryside. The mossy brick walls remind you of delicate bars of matcha chocolate and the air is filled with the soft rustling of bamboo and tea leaves.

Whether out in the countryside farms or in the cafes of Shizuoka city, this tour is an exceptional way to experience an aspect of Japan that is often disregarded. Akito’s passion for green tea is contagious. If you’re not a tea lover, this tour will make you one by the end. Thank you Akito!

Great tour guide. Akito gave a great presentation about the different types of tea as well as the process of making tea. He also showed us a great soba restaurant for lunch and even showed us around the city. He was a great tour guide!

This was an amazing experience. Meeting Akito at the JR Station was easy and smooth. We first drove up to the tea farm in the mountains and learned about the history and structure of the farm. We then went to the tea factory and got to try many types of tea, including freshly roasted hojicha, and learned about tea manufacturing. Akito also gave us a tour of the tea factory machines. We then went to an excellent restaurant for lunch that he recommended. Afterwards, we got to do more tea tasting and learn about modern tea trends. The store he took us to was delightful and not something we would have been able to find on our own. Finally, we got tasty matcha gelato to cap off a wonderful day. Akito is truly an expert on tea, and answered all of our many questions. Would definitely recommend this tour to tea novices and tea lovers alike!

We went to Akito’s tour with my girlfriend and it was one of the most memorable experiences from our trip! He first shows you and explains many aspects of the tea farming in Shizuoka and shows you the tea farm from above admiring the beautiful landscape and scenery with it. He then carefully explained us and let us try different teas in the factory trying to explain the different methods and tastes for each. After you can enjoy other tea tasting in the tea shops. Akito is a wonderful guide and would recommend to everyone who wants to learn and love Japanese tea or simply wants to explore more about one of the Japanese delicacies such as green tea. Thanks Akito for everything and we hope we can comeback soon!

First we went up the mountains in order to have an amazing view over the tea fields. The day I went, the fog in the mountains created a mystical atmosphere. Afterwards we headed to the tea factory and were introduced to the production of tea, tea cultivars and tea benefits through a presentation. At one point I stopped counting how many amazing teas I was able to taste! The matcha ice cream is also a must try! I can only warmly recommend everyone to embark on this journey into the world of teas! Also, the host (Akito) was really nice, so you can feel free to ask him anything or just have a nice chat with him!

This was the best thing we did on our entire 2-week trip!!! Akito is a superb, deeply knowledgeable teacher and connoisseur. He taught us so much about Japanese tea – and we were so engaged and fascinated from the beginning to the end. The tour is the most perfect mix of farm, factory, and cafe experiences. We tasted several extraordinary teas and gained a profound appreciation for the tea, history, and growing and manufacturing processes after learning from Akito. If you are even a little bit curious about tea (or even someone who is into coffee and beer and likes learning about beverages) I highly recommend this tour. Akito could not have been more hospitable and he has a real talent for teaching and guiding. This is worth a special trip but also works well as an intermediate stop in between Tokyo and Kyoto. Thank you so much Akito!

Booked a tour while visiting Japan as I always loved tea. Akito is a great guide that goes above and beyond to not only show a beautiful tea farm but also get a deeper appreciation of Japanese tea as a whole. I would definitely recommend anyone interested in tea make a day trip to Shizuoka for this tour.

We had an incredible experience with Akito, there are not enough words to describe how this experience completely surpassed our already high expectations about the Japanese Tea world. Akito’s work inside the tea ecosystem in Shizuoka is completely fascinating, he has been able to build experiences that are truly unique. From beautiful tea farm landscapes to the best tea tasting, you’ll see everything about the tea world in Japan. And of course, the highlight of the tour is Akito himself, what a pleasure to meet him, his passion and ikigai around the tea world is truly admirable. Would take this tour on every trip to Japan, this is a real gem and a must if you visit Japan. Thank you Akito for your kindness and for this unforgettable experience.

Akito is a wonderful guide and, as a certified tea expert, provides a very personal and in-depth experience into everything tea related that Shizuoka has to offer. From growing tea, to processing tea, to preparing and consuming tea, the extended tour will go into every detail. You will also get a brief tour through Shizuoka, including walking outside the old castle grounds and having a chance at seeing Mt. Fuji from the government building’s top floor during a good day. Akito’s wonderfully warm personality makes this tour especially wonderful and he makes sure to take his time with any question you might have! Since he will personally drive you around and bring you to the tea plantations in the mountains, spaces are extremely limited and the tour feels very exclusive and intimate. Highly recommended and be sure to book early!

Akito was super knowledgable and answered all of our questions! We learned so much about Japanese tea, how it’s grown, the different factors that affect flavor and preparation. We even learned a bunch of different things you can use used tea leaves for! Thank you so much for the amazing tour!

The tea tour with Akito was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. We booked the full day tour which gave us a great overview of Japanese tea culture from processing and traditional drinking to the modern third wave (think sencha expresso & matcha ice cream). Akito speaks very good English and it was a pleasure to explore Shizuoka and the tea farm right outside the city with him. The itinerary is relaxed, we at no point had the feeling of being rushed. Akito takes time to answer questions and make interesting conversation. He is a certified tea instructor and very knowledgeable on all things tea & Japan. Without hesitation, we also recommended the tour to friends visiting Japan who are also into tea.

This is surely the most thorough tour we’ve ever done! Within 6 hours we learned and experienced so much with all our five senses.

From getting to know the rural side of Japan, over the nice views over Shizuoka, to the tea tastings and the stroll through the town – every moment was fascinating.

It didn’t feel like a set tour at all. Akito has a nice pace of introducing, explaining and showing things and does it in a very personal and individual way. No question was left unanswered and he himself is very eager to learn about other cultures, too.

The people at the places we visited were also very kind and welcoming. They gave us some unforgettable moments and served the most delicious food and tea! If you like fish, Shizuoka has one of the freshest to offer!

Shizuoka is indeed a gem hidden in plain sight on the way from Tokyo to Kyoto.

A slower, more relaxed pace and practically no tourists. Just get off here and give it a try.

If you like tea, you will love this tour❣️

あきと、いつもどうもありがとうございました。^_^

I truly consider this tour to be among my best, if not the best experience I have had during my trip to Japan. Akito was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, showing an obvious passion for tea. He offered rich insights into both the intricate production process and the cultural significance of tea in Shizuoka and throughout Japan.

The tea farm in the mountains is a real hidden gem and during the tour I was able to taste many different varieties of tea at a local tea shop. Additionally we had lunch at a local specializing in fish where I had delicious tuna sashimi and finished the tour with some matcha gelato.

I really can’t recommend this tour enough, every moment was a treasure.

This entire experience fully met and exceeded our expectations! The tea farm up on the mountains was truly a hidden gem that needed to be experienced firsthand as it offered some of the most magnificent views. Being able to see how tea is harvested and where it comes from allowed me to have a greater appreciation for Japanese green tea. Akito is a friendly and charming individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Japanese tea. During the tour, he went through the entire tea-making process and taught us how to properly brew and enjoy Japanese green tea. Not only did we learn about tea, but also learned about the other beauties that Shizuoka has to offer! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wishes to learn more about Japanese tea and is in the Shizuoka area!

Thank you Akito for a great day full of wonders of tea. A wholesome tea experience; we learned a lot of the origins of tea and enjoyed the contemporary tea culture as well. Akito is a knowledgeable and friendly guide, we couldn’t have asked for more.

This tour was absolutely amazing. We saw the tea fields and learned about the plant and its growing conditions. Akito was so lovely and comprehensively explained everything. He tailored his explanations to our interests, and we could get all the questions answered that arose during the day.

The tour had a good balance between knowledge transfer, tea tasting, and hands-on experience.

Apart from the tour, we wanted to highlight the lunch restaurant we chose, the Sashimi place, where we had one of the best meals in Japan. The chef came to our table and prepared a kind of Sushi roll in front of us. The fresh tuna was incredible and worth every penny.

After all, we gained a lot of insight into tea production and the different ways it can be enjoyed. We also got many fantastic recommendations for the area (onsen, shopping, etc.).

It was an incredible day and probably our favorite experience in Japan. We will never forget this day. Thank you!

Excellent combination of tea related activities. We loved the opportunity to

Visit a tea farm and factory as well as the cafes. We would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys tea!

I highly recommend taking the Tea Cup Trip tour! It was one of the most memorable parts of my first trip to Japan. This tour allows you to learn and see firsthand the production process from the farm to the factory, and taste diverse green teas produced in local regions. This tour also takes you to a landscape in Shizuoka that is beautiful and inspiring to see.

We had such a lovely day in Shizuoka with Akito! Akito was kind to explain us everything abt Japanese teas! He showed us around Shizuoka- his hometown- introduced us to a great soba place and many other things! Thank you so much for all the information and kindness! Hope to see you again when we are in Japan!

Akito san is an AMAZING host! Super accommodating, friendly, and easy to talk to. If you’re a tea lover and looking for things to do in Shizuoka, I highly recommend this experience!

The “Hidden Gem Tea Farm and Stylish Cafe Tour with Matcha Gelato – Private Tour“ was just amazing! We learned a lot about cultivation and processing of tea plants and tasted different facets of Japanese tea. The recommendation for lunch was superb and we are very thankful for this great place. The tea espresso and matcha gelatto were intense tasting experiences we would definitively not have discovered without the tour. In addition, Akito-san is a very kind and well organized person. You can feel his passion for tea and the Shizuoka region which made the tour very entertaining.

Highly recommended!

The tour was the highlight of our 3 week trip through Japan. Akito is extremely knowledgable and has answered our many questions about tea and Japanese culture in general. We have brought different kinds of green tea with us back to Germany and I would love to come back, soon! We can recommend this experience without any doubt and have already sent the contact details to several of our friends also travelling to Japan this year.

Our 6 hr tour:

– pick-up from Shizuoka station (we put our large backpacks in coin lockers)

– 20 min drive to the green tea plantation on the mountain side

– amazing view over the tea plantation and an tea ceremony

– visit of the local tea farmers’ factory -> we had the great honor of tasting freshly produced tea!

– lunch at a very tasty restaurant with typical Japanese food

– Matcha ice cream and the opportunity for matcha-based sweets

– tea tasting of several different kinds of teas at a modern and stylish tea shop

– learning about pouring green tea correctly at the International foundation for Japanese green tea

– back to Shizuoka train station

Wonderful tour by Akito! He gave us much insight on the entire tea process from the growing, to the harvesting and processing, to the brewing, and even a glimpse into the modern take and future evolution of what tea consumption might be. He walked us through the background stories at the different points and also explained the science behind why things are done in various ways. A truly memorable experience that I would recommend to all! Thank you Akito.

I had a great time visiting the tea farm and visiting local tea shops with Akito. We ended up spending almost a whole day of him showing me around Shizuoka and teaching me everything about the tea making process. He clearly cares a great deal about local teas and tea culture, and I think what they are doing is great. If you love tea or just want to learn more about tea, this is definitely the tour to take.

I loved this tour. Everything was so well organized. And we enjoyed so many things and got new information about Japanese green tea.

It was nice to see farmers, in action and visit a local home.

And all those lovely tea places in Shizuoka… I was in my tea heaven.

Thank you guys! You made my dream come true.

Ps. There is a story, my pics and my video on my blog (which is in Finnish) ->

menaiset.fi/akito