What to know
Shizuoka Prefecture is Japan's top tea-producing region, and Kakegawa City is a key hub within it. Tea plays a major role in the local economy, and on the city's outskirts, rolling hills are blanketed with seemingly endless tea fields stretching for acres.
The finest views of these tea fields are northeast of the city center, around Mount Awagatake. The mountain itself features the Chinese character for 'tea' spelled out in bushes on its slope. From here, you can see the tea fields with Mount Fuji in the background. Roads in this area can be narrow and steep, so drive carefully.
As one of Japan's premier tea areas, Kakegawa offers several tea-themed attractions. The Ninomaru Tea House, located within Kakegawa Castle grounds, lets you enjoy matcha and a Japanese sweet in a traditional setting with lovely garden views. You can also rent the tea house for a private tea ceremony.
Kiwi Fruits Country, a kiwi fruit farm on the city's edge, also manages a tea plantation and offers hands-on experiences like tea leaf picking. English guidance is available. Other activities include kiwi picking and outdoor barbecues. Many experiences are seasonal; tea picking is generally possible from April to October.
The tea fields around Mount Awagatake are about a 30-minute drive north of central Kakegawa. There is no public transportation access.
The Ninomaru Tea House is inside Kakegawa Castle grounds (outside the paid area), about a ten-minute walk north of Kakegawa Station.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- 510 yen (~$3.26) (tea and Japanese sweet)
- English name
- Kiwi Fruits Country
- Original name
- Tea-related attractions
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.