The Shincha (new tea) season has come! Many tea picking events start across Japan around this time! So does in Saitama, Sayamacha’s hometown, the nearest tea production area from Tokyo! Let’s join the tea picking that happens only limited time in the year. Many local people (mostly ladies) participate in this event every year. This will be a very rare opportunity to join and experience the real Japanese tea culture.

【Date】

Sunday, April 27th

【Content】

Picking leaf of tea

【Event Organizer】

Hiratsuka-en Tea Farm (Haruna or Jojo will be the contact)

【Schedule】

8:30~12:00: Tea picking (there will be a 15min break with tea and snacks)

12:00~13:00: Lunch (Bento box will be provided)

13:00~15:00: Tea picking

*Schedule may change

*You can come anytime (preferably by 10am), leave anytime

*You will go into the tea farm – please wear something that can get dirty

*No shade in the farm – please bring your hat and towel

*This event is canceled in case of rain

【Things to Bring】

Clothes and shoes easy to move, hand towels, white gloves, sun cap, a small werable bag for valuables (if it is necessary)

【Attention!!】

1. No fragrance or hand lotion/cream until finish to protect the quality of tea – fragrance of cosmetics transfers to tea leaves easily

2. You need to leave your bag outside of the farm. Sheet or newspaper is convenient to leave your bag on the ground. For valuables, please use a small wearable bag

【Venue】

Hiratsuka-en’s tea farm

Approx. address: 1163-22 Shimofujisawa, Iruma-shi, Saitama-ken, Japan

About 1h from Ikebukuro station (Seibu Ikebukuro Line)

Direction from Ikebukuro station (about 1h):  http://p.tl/U4Go

At Ikebukuro station, take a train going to Hanno staion. 

(Usually Express/Semi-express train to Hanno)

Get off at Musashi-Fujisawa station, go to West Exit.

From Musashi-Fujisawa station, walk to the tea farm (about 15min).

Map from Musashi-Fujisawa station to the tea farm

http://p.tl/Zgih

【Meeting place and time】

The ticket gate at Musashi-Fujisawa station (Seibu Ikebukuro Line) at 8:30am

The transportation cost from Shinjuku to Musashi-Fujisawa is 555yen.

【Time】

9:00am ~ around 3:00pm (It's OK to leave early)
*Anytime between 8:30-15:00

【Cost】

500yen

* Pay at the door

* Please do NOT change your status after April 26th. If you cancel to the event after April 26th, please email Jojo at info@intlcentertokyo.com

◆ What is Japanese tea? ◆

Literally it means, “Any tea produced in Japan”. However, usually “Japanese tea (Nihon-cha)” means Sencha because Sencha (regular green tea) accounts for about 80% of the tea production in Japan,

You can find more detailed information at http://www.o-cha.net/english/index.asp.