Sayama Tea Picking and Kawagoe Walking Tour

Two guests in yukata holding bamboo baskets in Sayama tea field

Sayama Tea Picking and Kawagoe Walking Tour

Pick fresh tea leaves at a 150-year-old Sayama plantation, then wander Kawagoe's atmospheric Edo-era streets.

Overview

This one-day journey unveils the traditional craft of green tea cultivation in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo, paired with a relaxed afternoon stroll through the historic streets of Kawagoe. Tea picking is available for a limited window from May to November, when the Sayama plantations are at their seasonal best.

The Sayama Hills, set in the western reaches of Saitama Prefecture, are the birthplace of Sayama tea, considered one of Japan's three great teas alongside Shizuoka and Uji. Cultivated in a cooler northern climate, the leaves develop a deeper, richer flavour after surviving the harsh winters.

Kawagoe flourished as a castle town from the seventeenth century and earned the affectionate nickname Little Edo for its resemblance to the old capital. Its principal street, the townscape of the storehouses, preserves an architectural heritage now rare in modern Tokyo. Throughout the area you encounter Edo-era buildings, the resonant sound of the old bell tower, and quiet alleys where rickshaws still pass through.

Details

❖ Meet at Iriso Station

09:30

Meet your guide at 09:30 at the east entrance of Iriso Station. From there, a pick-up car takes you to the Sayama tea plantation Miyanoen, founded in 1869.

❖ Get Ready and Learn Tea-Picking Tips

10:00 - 10:15 (15 min)

At the plantation you dress in the traditional tea-girl costume and hear practical tips from the master on how to pick tea leaves correctly.

❖ Tea Picking at Miyanoen

10:20 - 10:50 (30 min)

Each group is assigned its own picking spot in the open tea fields. The session lasts about thirty minutes amid lush rows of green tea bushes. At the end, the owner of Miyanoen takes a commemorative photo for you with your phone.

❖ Tea Leaf Making

10:55 - 11:20 (25 min)

Under the guidance of Miyanoen's owner, you process the leaves you have just picked. The leaves are steamed at a low temperature and gently rubbed repeatedly, drying slowly across roughly ten passes of steaming until perfectly prepared. Your finished tea leaves are packaged for you to take home as a souvenir, and the owner welcomes questions about tea growing and brewing throughout the session.

❖ Tasting Tea Leaf Tempura

11:20 - 11:40 (20 min)

Freshly fried tea leaf tempura is served on site. The portion is small and does not include white rice; it is intended as a tasting rather than a substitute for lunch. A self-service tea machine offers complimentary Sayama-cha and Hojicha.

❖ Kita-in Temple

12:40 - 13:25 (45 min)

Set in the heart of Kawagoe, Kita-in Temple offers a captivating window into Japan's spiritual and architectural heritage. The grounds are home to the only surviving structures of the original Edo Castle, transferred here after a great fire. As you wander, you encounter the enchanting Gohyaku Rakan, five hundred stone disciples of Buddha each carved with its own distinctive expression, and the serene main hall.

❖ Hikawa Shrine

14:35 - 14:45 (10 min)

Kawagoe's Hikawa Shrine has been a cornerstone of local spiritual life for more than 1,500 years. It is renowned for its summer furin wind chimes and for the romantic atmosphere that draws couples seeking blessings for love. Explore the ancient traditions and quiet ambience of this sacred site.

❖ The Warehouse District

14:45 - 15:25 (40 min)

Discover Kawagoe's old town and its food scene, both rooted in the Edo period. You pass the 250-year-old Matsumoto Soy Sauce factory, where the traditional brewing process can be observed on certain days. You also visit Kashiya Yokocho, known as Candy Alley: twenty old-fashioned confectioners line this nostalgic street, each selling their own traditional Japanese sweets.

❖ Koedo Kurari

15:35 - 15:50 (15 min)

Housed in a former sake brewery, Koedo Kurari blends history with local culture. Sample local sake varieties, browse artisanal crafts, and savour traditional sweets, all within the nostalgic atmosphere of Little Edo.

❖ Finish at Honkawagoe or Kawagoe Station

16:00

The tour concludes at 16:00 at either Honkawagoe Station or Kawagoe Station, depending on your onward travel plans.

OPTIONS

Notes

The tour is bookable from May to November. From December to April it is out of service.
The tea-picking session lasts approximately one hour and takes place in an unshaded tea field, in small groups.
Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended: tea plants may touch your legs, and insect-repellent spray is advisable.
Wear shoes that you do not mind getting slightly dirty, as you will be walking through the fields.
Bring UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunscreen: there is no shade in the tea field.
On hot days, please bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the picking session.
Tea leaf tempura is served under a tent after the picking session; some sunlight may still filter through.

Meeting Point

Iriso Station, east exit

Meet your guide at 09:30 at the east entrance of Iriso Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. From central Tokyo, the journey takes approximately 50 minutes via Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro.

What's included: