Tea production area: Koka City, Hino Town, Nagahama City
Brand name of tea: Ohmi tea, Asamiya tea, Mandokoro tea, Tsuchiyama tea, Hino-Kitayama cha, Kodakami cha
Types of tea: Sencha (steamed green tea), tencha, matcha, gyokuro, genmaicha, kukicha, hojicha (roasted green tea), black tea, flavored tea, etc.

The oldest tea garden in Japan
Near the Hiyoshi-taishai Shrine in Otsu City there is a tea garden called Hiyoshi chaen.
It is said that Saicho (767-822), a Buddhist monk brought back tea leaves from Tang (China) in 805 and planted them in this garden making it the oldest tea garden in Japan. Saicho had visited Tang (China) to study Buddhism. After returning to Japan, he founded the Tendai School Buddhism and built the Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hieizan in Shiga Prefecture.
*There are 4 more tea gardens in other places which are also believed to be the oldest tea gardens in Japan.

Hiyoshi chaen (Hiyoshi tea garden) (October 2018)

Tea served to Emperor Saga in 815
Nihon Koki (日本後紀), an ancient history book compiled by Imperial command, mentions that Eichu (743-816), a Buddhist monk brewed tea and served it to Emperor Saga in 815.
Like Saicho, Eichu also studied Buddhism in Tang (China) and returned with tea seeds to Japan in 805. After returning to Japan, he became the chief priest of the Bonshaku-ji Temple. It is thought that the temple had been located in Shigasato Town, Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture.

Hiyoshi chaen (Hiyoshi tea garden) (October 2018)

Ohmi tea
Tea cultivated and produced in Shiga Prefecture is called Ise tea collectively. However, there are tea brands for each region such as Asamiya tea, etc.

Tea fields of Asamiya tea in Koka City (October 2018)

Asamiya tea
Asamiya tea is made in the highlands of Shigaraki Town, Koka City at an altitude of 400 meters. Shigaraki Town is a suitable place to cultivate tea because there is a wide range in temperature differences, and fog is often generated. Asamiya tea is known to have a good aroma.

Asamiya tea at Katagikokaen (October 2018)

Sweets using Asamiya tea
Various sweets using Asamiya tea are provided at the café WITH TEA which is run by Yamamotoen. You can have Asamiya tea and the sweets at the café.

Asamiya tea Mont Blanc cake at Yamamotoen cafe WITH TEA (October 2018)

Shigaraki ware
Shigaraki ware is produced in Shigaraki Town. Shigaraki Ware raccoon dog ceramic ornaments are famous and popular for bringing good luck.

Raccoon dog ceramic ornaments of Shigaraki ware at TOU-DOU KAN (山上陶器陶堂館) (October 2018)

Koka’s Ninja
Ninja is famous in Koka City. Ninja were professional spies in feudal Japan, highly trained in stealth and secrecy. There are Ninja houses for tourism in Koka City.

Tea mascot Yuru-Chara:
Tea related facilities:
滋賀県観光情報 日吉茶園
https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/23027
山本園 https://www.yamamotoen.co.jp
喫茶 WITH TEA
https://www.yamamotoen.co.jp/tearoom/
かたぎ古香園 http://www.katagikoukaen.com

Ceramic and pottery art: Shigaraki Ware, Shimoda Ware, Zeze Ware, Kotou Ware

Reference:
松下智 (平成3年) 日本名茶紀行 (初版) 雄山閣出版
高野實・谷本陽蔵・富田勲・中川致之・岩浅潔・寺本益英・山田新市 (2005) 緑茶の事典 (改訂3版) 柴田書店
大森正司、阿南豊正、伊勢村護、加藤みゆき、滝口明子、中村羊一郎編(2017) 茶の事典 初版第一刷 朝倉書店
森田悌(2018) 日本後紀(中)全現代語訳 第8刷 講談社学術文庫 p.368

*When visiting the shops and facilities introduced in this article, please check the business hours on their website, etc. before visiting.
*The information provided on this site may be updated. If you find any information in this article that is incorrect, new, or incomplete, please contact CHAMART.
*The site does not describe all “Teas of Japan” or all “Teas of the World”. Additionally, each article expresses the writer’s personal experience and feelings.

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