Wazuka: Tea Gardens with a History

Wazuka is shaped by the tea-growing landscape of Kamatsuka: the plantations are not just a backdrop, but tell the story of how tea cultivation developed. Kamatsuka was known as a tea-growing area during the Edo period. After production expanded in the postwar period, the tea gardens grew into large, rolling plantations that extend to mountain peaks and into the mountains. Here, history and landscape come together in a tangible way—from views of the plantations to explanations of how tea is grown.

Tea Gardens as Landscape and Cultural Heritage

The landscape of the Kamatsuka tea plantations is recognized as “Japan Heritage.” The plantations can be seen from Prefectural Route 5, Wazuka’s main road. From the town center, you can also observe their seasonal changes and the work of tea farmers. These viewpoints complement one another: along the road, the tea gardens themselves take center stage; in the town center, it is the changing seasons and agricultural work. If you’re traveling with children, you can turn this into a shared theme to explore: How does the landscape change over the course of the year, and what work goes into growing tea?

Explore by Green Slow Mobility Tour

The Green Slow Mobility Tour starts at the Wazuka Tourist Information Center and travels in an environmentally friendly vehicle to the Ishitera tea plantation area and back; check availability before booking. The route winds through the tea fields along narrow roads, offering close-up views of the tea plants and wider views of the surrounding landscape. A knowledgeable guide explains Wazuka’s history, the characteristics of Wazuka tea, and the year-round work involved in growing it; check the tour’s operating dates before your trip.

The ride combines views of the landscape with background on the area and its tea. You can then decide whether you’d rather take in the plantations from the town center and the main road, or include the ride and its guided commentary in your plans.

Tea Experiences in Town

The Hokkori Circle serves tea in a tatami room on the second floor of the cha nova Health and Welfare Center in Kamatsuka. The offering is available from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. without a reservation. The Wazuka Tourist Information Center also offers tea on an ongoing basis from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. These time windows apply to two different locations and can be planned as separate stops. Check the current hours and participation requirements for the tea offerings before your trip.

Plan Your Trip and Holiday Rental

From the west side of JR Kamo Station, a Nara Kotsu bus toward Wazuka Kosugi takes about 15 minutes to reach the Wazukakawara bus stop. From there, it’s about a one-minute walk to the tourist information center. Since travel and walking times are approximate, check the current bus schedule before planning your day.

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to decide which stops you want to visit first. If the Green Slow Mobility Tour is your main focus, use the tourist information center as your starting point. If you also want to include the tea offerings, take their separate time windows into account when planning your day. This will help you choose a holiday rental in Wazuka based on which experiences you’d like to combine and which travel arrangements suit your plans.

Discover more destinations: Maizuru, Kameoka, Kyoto, Uji, Miyazu, Fukuchiyama, Yawata, Nantan.

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