Exploring Japanese tea origins and traditions in Wazuka

Looking back on our time in Wazuka and catching up with Obubu Tea Farms.

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Teapot and cups in Obubu Tea Farms

We once heard someone say that when visiting Japan, whatever you are interested in - whether it is vinyl, gastronomy, technology, indigo denim, handicrafts, architecture, or spirituality - you can guarantee that you will find it there, presented with a level of dedication and expertise that you might not have experienced or even imagined before.

For us, tea was one of the main areas we were keen to explore on our trip. Perhaps because we lived in England for a big chunk of our lives, and a mug of English breakfast tea was how we started most days. Or perhaps because a regular cup of coffee was always a little too strong for our active minds and sensitive stomachs, so we had to look for alternatives. As our taste for different teas has developed in recent years, we have grown more curious about their origins, and on this trip, we wanted to get closer to the source. With tea being grown in nearly all of Japan’s 47 prefectures - except for some of the more northern areas - we didn’t quite know where to start.

In September 2025, during the planning phase of our trip, we coincidentally attended a workshop in London hosted by Tiny Tea House, where we learned about different types of tea and brewing techniques. During a conversation with James, who hosted the workshop, he suggested we visit Wazuka as a potential tea-themed stop on our itinerary. It looked like a remote but fascinating place, and not too far from Osaka, which we were already planning to visit.

With over 800 years of tea-growing history, Wazuka is one of the heartlands of the famous Uji tea, where tea fields literally shape the landscape, the rhythm of daily life, and even the local gastronomy, with creative dishes like hojicha pizza dough and tea leaf salad available at local eateries. All of this sounded exactly like what we were looking for.

Fast-forward to the end of November 2025, and we were arriving in Wazuka as the final stop of our five-week tour of Japan. Just over an hour by train from JR Osaka Station and a 15-minute local bus ride, Wazuka welcomed us with rolling hills of tea fields, persimmon trees scattered across the valley, and a crystal-clear river cutting through the town. We checked into Osugi-ya, our accommodation for the next three days, where we were welcomed with a freshly brewed pot of locally grown green tea.

Wazuka valley and tea fields

After a much-needed sleep and the most beautiful Japanese-style breakfast overlooking the valley at Osugi-ya, our tea-fuelled adventure began with a visit to Obubu - an independent tea farm with a charismatic and passionate team on a mission to share Japanese tea culture with the world. We spent the day exploring steep tea fields, learning how Japanese tea is grown, why timing matters so much, and how subtle changes during the growing and production processes can completely transform the flavour and character of each tea. Inside the factory, we followed the journey of the leaves from plant to cup, before learning different brewing techniques and sitting down to taste it all.

We were inspired by the experience, and by getting to know Obubu’s team, so after our visit, we sat down with them to learn more about what they do and why traditional tea farming is worth preserving.

Obubu Tea Farms factory mural

Huevos Rotos: How would you describe Obubu and its mission?

Our mission is to share Japanese tea with the world, and we are built on three core values: quality, education, and community. These values have brought us to where we are today with a small, proactive team that has grown into a hub for tea lovers from around the world through our internship programmes.

Obubu is a multidisciplinary company that continues to expand its activities each year across tea farming, tea production, educational programmes, a global tea club, events and tours for visitors, as well as B2B and B2C tea supply.

Huevos Rotos: What makes Wazuka such a perfect place to grow tea?

There are four key reasons why Wazuka is one of the best places to grow tea in Japan: its elevation, the slopes, its geology, and the temperature variations.

Tea grown in mountainous environments develops under more challenging conditions. This slows down growth and results in a lower yield, but allows the leaves to concentrate more nutrients, giving the tea a richer flavour. Wazuka also sits between 100 and 600 metres above sea level, and the natural slope of the land allows rainwater to flow through the fields, reducing the need for artificial irrigation.

Wazuka was also once part of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake. Because of this, the soil is rich in slate, which releases minerals like magnesium and calcium as it weathers, creating nutrient-rich conditions for tea plants.

Warm days and cool nights create morning mist, which naturally shades and hydrates the young leaves, helping them stay tender and sweet.

Obubu Tea Farms fields

Huevos Rotos: What types of tea are grown and produced in Wazuka?

We are proud representatives of the Kyoto Prefecture. Kyoto produces around 24% of Japan’s matcha, and Wazuka contributes about half of that.

As our co-founder, Akky-san, is a big fan of sencha, we produce more than 15 varieties, including Gyokuro. With Gyokuro, the tea bushes are shielded from direct sunlight by a canopy-style shade for around three weeks before harvest, leading to a rich umami taste.

One of our most unique teas is Kyobancha, a winter tea harvested in March, made from mature leaves and gently smoked.

Huevos Rotos: How are you keeping the traditions of tea harvesting alive?

In line with our value of community, we collaborate closely with Kenta Hosoi, president of the association for preserving traditional hand-picking and tea-making methods. Together, we host events where participants can experience harvesting and processing tea by hand.

At the same time, Japanese tea is facing real challenges. The rise of bottled tea has reduced the consumption of loose-leaf tea, and many family-owned farms are struggling to continue their work. Younger generations are often not interested in taking over, leading to fields being abandoned.

To address this, one of our founders, Matsu-san, created the Tea Club, which is a global community of tea lovers with over 590 members from 25 countries.

For 3,000 yen per month (5,000 yen for US members due to shipping costs), members directly support tea farming in Wazuka. In return, we send seasonal teas worldwide and invite members to special events. And after one year, members receive honorary ownership of a tea field with their name added to our Tea Farm Owners board here in Wazuka.

Details from Obubu Tea Farms factory

Huevos Rotos: We bought some matcha from Obubu when we visited, and we absolutely loved it! How does Obubu’s matcha differ from others?

We prefer not to compare ourselves directly to other farms, as each has its own approach and strengths.

What makes our matcha unique is that we offer single-cultivar spring matcha, which is quite rare, as most brands work with blends. While blending is a complex and beautiful craft, at Obubu we focus on a field-to-cup approach. Our teas are a reflection of a specific year, season, soil condition, and processing decision - a kind of snapshot of a moment in time.

Huevos Rotos: What else should visitors explore in Wazuka besides Obubu?

The most important thing about Wazuka is its nature. We are surrounded by mountains, and the Wazuka River flows through the valley. In spring, you will find sakura and magnolia blooming alongside rice fields.

If you visit on a Thursday, we recommend dinner at Tsunagiba Café, where our friends from Blodge Lodge serve pizza made with tea powder dough. Their vegan cheese and tsukudani (a topping of tea leaves and sesame) pizza feels like something from a Michelin-level kitchen.

On weekends, stop by Tea Party Café, where you can try more than ten types of hojicha. Their roasted tencha is a rare and memorable experience.

In summer, Wazuka also hosts local festivals such as Bon Odori, as well as rally events. We are also located along the road to Ujitawara, which is the birthplace of sencha, and Shigaraki, famous for its tanuki statues symbolising prosperity.

Huevos Rotos: Thank you for your time and for sharing your knowledge and story with us. We can’t wait to be back in Wazuka again soon. Until then, we will continue to enjoy our supply of Obubu tea.