In one of the deepest, remotest parts of Japan sits a small village of tea farmers called Nakai Samurai. The views of the farms sitting on the steep river banks, the surrounding jungle and the Tenryu River below make this a stunning scene that not many (if any) foreign travellers have experienced. Enjoy a secretive and extremely unique tour. Meet the farmer, pick and roast your own tea, and drink it with some local snacks.

About the tea of Nakai Samurai:

Deep in a steep valley cut into the mountains by the Tenryu River is a tiny village of tea farmers called Nakai Samurai. The steep slopes, vivid greens, and stunning views make this an amazing place to be. Here a young farmer who has moved into the village farms his own tea and works to rejuvenate the area. He welcomes visitors, teaches them about Japanese tea farming, and helps them to create their very own green tea, using simple everyday items. The farm is completely organic and sacrifices higher yields to be friendly to the environment and create extremely high-quality green tea. His farm sits literally meters away from one of Japan’s most beautiful and secretive stations, Nakai Samurai Station on the JR Iida Line.

What you will do:

• Meet the farmer and have a cup of tea: The owner of the farm will be waiting for you with a fresh cup of his own produce.

• Tour of the farm: This won’t take long. This farms here are very small scale and the walk to it is over in a matter of seconds. It is literally meters from the train station.

• Tea picking and roasting: Head into the fields and learn what to pick and what to avoid. Once you have enough for a roast, it’s time to get cracking. For the next 30 minutes to 1 hour you will be roasting and rolling your leaves by hand with the farmer’s instruction.

• Tea and snacks: At the end of the experience you can drink your own creation and enjoy it with some local delights. At the end of the tour you can bring what you roasted but didn’t drink home with you.

Getting there on the JR Iida Line:

The best way to get to Nakai Samurai is by train from the Ina Valley using the JR Iida Line. An extremely rural train line, the JR Iida Line, passes through Nakaisamurai Station, stopping there less than 10 times a day. The views from the train are absolutely stunning as it snakes alongside the Tenryu River, through deep mountains, stopping in tiny hamlets all along the way. Be warned, this is the very definition of slow travel. If you need more help getting there, please contact us for more info.

How to make a half day a full day:

This tour can be combined with a hike and/or boat ride along the Tenryu Gorge to make a full day of it. This option adds 10,000 JPY to the price (plus boat ticket costs of 3,600 JPY per adult).

Season:

June to September