Uji & Wazuka Matcha Tour: Private Guide, Farm Visit & Tasting

Walk tea fields owned by the Imperial Family, taste five grades of matcha, and lunch with the farmers who grew it

A 6-hour private guided tour of Uji and the Wazuka tea valley, led in English by a guide who lived abroad and returned to share matcha culture. You visit Uji Byōdō-in temple, walk through 800-year-old tea fields, hand-pick leaves with a 5th-generation farmer, taste multiple ceremonial-grade matchas, and eat kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese home. Advance booking is required for the tea ceremony, farm access, and lunch. Pickup from JR Kyoto Station is available on request.

The experience

You start in Uji, a small tea town built around Japan's oldest bridge, then travel to Wazuka in the rolling hills where matcha has been grown for over eight centuries. The tea fields here were once reserved exclusively for the Imperial Family, and you walk through them with a farmer whose family has tended the same land for five generations. Along the way you learn how matcha is cultivated, harvested and processed, not from a script but from someone whose livelihood depends on it.

The tasting is the core of the day. You sample at least five different grades of matcha, all ceremonial quality, and taste the difference between them. You also try hand-whisking matcha the traditional Zen way, which takes more skill than it looks. Tea with the local farmer happens at their home, where you sit in a traditional Japanese-style room and eat kaiseki lunch: a multi-course meal built around seasonal ingredients, with a vegetarian option if you request it in advance. The guide walks you through Uji's streets and takes you to a farmers market where you can buy matcha and tea to take home.

The farm itself can be muddy and uneven underfoot, especially after rain, so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a stroller. The tour runs six hours and includes free transportation if you request it. Pickup from JR Kyoto Station is one option at checkout. A tea ceremony can be arranged in advance if that interests you.

What’s included

• Guide through Uji and the tea fields.
• visit to a matcha farm and farmers market.
• hand-picking of tea leaves.
• tasting of five or more ceremonial-grade matchas.
• tea ceremony (with advance booking).
• kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese home with vegetarian option available.
• tea with the local farmer.
• free transportation on request.
• pickup from JR Kyoto Station as an option at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full-Day Uji and Matcha Valley TourGuide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Lasts 6 hours, Private van

Pickup from JR Kyoto StationGuide in English · 09:00 and 10:00An English-speaking guide or driver will handle pickup and drop-off at JR Kyoto Station.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 9 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Matcha Tourism

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to meet the people who grow matcha and learn directly from them, rather than visit a commercial tea house. The private format and advance booking for lunch and tea ceremony mean the farmer and guide can tailor the day to your pace and interests. Extra drinks and snacks are available for purchase on the street during the day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 9 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is Uji Byōdō-in and why do we visit it?

Uji Byōdō-in is one of Japan's most iconic Buddhist temples, located in the tea town where the tour begins. It anchors the cultural side of the day before you move into the working tea fields and farms.

Can I actually pick tea leaves myself, or is it just a demonstration?

You hand-pick tea leaves yourself as part of the authentic experience. A 5th-generation farmer shows you how, and you work alongside them in the fields.

How many different matchas will I taste?

You taste a minimum of five different kinds, all ceremonial grade. The tasting happens at the farmer's home and lets you experience the real differences between premium matchas.

What is kaiseki lunch, and are there options if I'm vegetarian?

Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal built around seasonal ingredients and presented with care. A vegetarian version is available if you request it when you book.

Do I need to arrange my own way to Uji, or is transport included?

Free transportation is available on request. At checkout, you can choose pickup from JR Kyoto Station, or arrange a different meeting point with the guide.

What should I wear for walking the tea fields?

Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy, as the farm paths can be uneven and wet. Comfortable walking shoes are best for a full day on the hillsides.