This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check our disclosure policy for more details.

Many tourists flocks to Japan’s major cities—Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hakone to name a few (click on the cities to view my travel guides!)—for obvious reasons. After my family’s visit to Japan, I realized that many visitors feel overwhelmed from spending a majority of their time in the larger urban areas and could benefit from a couple days in lesser-frequented regions of the country, such as Shizuoka, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures.

Hiking, fruit picking, and tea picking are all fantastic options to escape the chaotic crowds and concrete jungles while learning about different aspects of Japanese life and culture. Tea picking has been one of my favorite activities I’ve experienced while living in Shizuoka, which is Japan’s #1 tea-producing prefecture. Recently, I visited the town of Makinohara and spent some time in the green tea fields. Keep reading to learn how you can do the same when visiting Japan!

Tea Picking at Greenpia

Not many people think of tea picking as a fun activity, but it’s quite enjoyable and you can gain appreciation for Japan’s prized green tea and its cultivation. A popular tea-picking destination in Shizuoka Prefecture is Makinohara, as Makinohara produces about 40% of Japan’s green tea. Greenpia is the place to learn about tea, see where the tea comes from, and pick your very own tea leaves to take home. Women can even dress in traditional tea picking outfits (“cha-musume”), while men and others who do not wish to wear the outfit can opt for a simple coat.

Making a Reservation at Greenpia

As of June 2019, they offer tea picking between the months of April and October at either 11:00 am or 2:00 pm, weather permitting. If you call the phone number on their website, you can request to make a reservation in Japanese or English. They will ask for the number of people in your group, as well as number of males and females to ensure they reserve a tea picking outfit for the women if desired.

Tea picking prices are per person. Tickets can be purchased from the vending machine in the main shop day-of, but prior reservations are required. Prices as of June 2019: Adult 820 JPY / Adult with outfit 880 JPY / Children 720 JPY.

Greenpia provides details on their website about openings and availability. Click here for more information.

What to Expect at Greenpia

Tea picking takes about an hour in total if you choose to wear the outfit, as the staff helps dress you in a private room and you are given a short introduction on how to properly pick the leaves before heading to the fields. The actual tea picking lasts for 30 minutes. Afterward, you can have your tea leaves fried into tea leaf tempura or request instructions on how to make your tea leaves into something tasty at home. In Greenpia’s main shop, you can sample different tea-based sweets and products, purchase tea ceramics and serving-ware, and even sample Shizuoka’s famous Nanaya ice cream.

Travel tip: If you’re looking to learn more about tea, visit Ocha no Sato in Kanaya. This tea museum was renovated and re-opened in May 2018 and is a great place to learn about the history of tea. You can partake in Japanese tea ceremony (chado), appreciate a traditional Japanese garden, see Mount Fuji, and even grind your own matcha powder! Learn more about Ocha no Sato by clicking here.

Accessing Greenpia in Makinohara

If you are a tourist with a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), you can take the Tokaido Shikansen to Shizuoka Station. From there, you can transfer to the local JR Tokaido line and take the train to Kanaya Station. From Kanaya Station, it takes approximately 20 minutes by car to arrive to Greenpia. A taxi from Kanaya Station costs around 3,000 JPY (~$27 USD) one-way, so it is best to make this journey with several people to keep transportation costs low.

If you’re searching for a tea picking location closer to Tokyo, Izunokuni is an alternative option. You can read more about my experience there by following this link!

Peace & happy travels,

Tay