Kagoshima’s organic sencha tea is medium steamed and it is famous its rich flavour. Grown in the Izumi City located on the border of Kagoshima and Kumamoto, it has a beautiful green color. Harvested from the first round of young spring leaves, it is grown and certified organic.
The city of Izumi is located on the northwestern edge of Kagoshima prefecture and faces the Sea of Yatsushiro. It is famous for the Izumi-fumoto samurai residences dating back to the Edo Period (17th to 19th century).
I have been drinking the organic tea green made here in Izumi, Kagoshima for a long time so I chose to experience farmhouse stay at Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka’s house called “Akari Kaachan no ie”. They grow organic Japanese green tea. The guide and I drove up to a hill to visit the tea farm. After about 30 minutes from town, we arrived at Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka’s house. The perks of staying at a farmhouse is that the stars are clear at night and the mother at the house cooks delicious dishes.
For your information:
Name of house : Akari, Kaachan no Yado
Address : Kami-Okawauchi 2704-30, Izumi-shi, Kagoshima-ken 899-0341 Japan
Reservation : http://www.jtb.co.jp/kokunai_htl/list/A11/46/4605/460504/8652A12/detail.html (japanese only)
Access : http://www.izumi-navi.jp/en/access/
http://www.city.izumi.kagoshima.jp/english.asp
Contact : kanko_c@ city.izumi.kagoshima.jp
http://www.izumi-navi.jp/en/inquiry_farmstays/form (Inquiry Form)
Related web : http://www.izumi-navi.jp/en/feature/minpaku
Photograph and text by meguru hayata
About 15 mins. We enter the deep green forest.
Start 30 mins drive to sky high green tea farm
Our car drive into the forest down and up
On the way to farm, almost all green views.
Tall Ceder Tree natural forest standing all the way to farm
Car gradually climing to the hills.
About 30 mins, we finally arrive the beautiful tea farm zone.
All the sudden, Tea farm opens frint of us.
Beautiful Organic Japanese Tea Farm are breathing deep mountain dew.
Well organized tea farm is so clean and green.
White Cloud is kissing all the organic tea leaves
Tea leaves are picked up with hand and roasted many ways.