Schedule this in your calendar and experience some Asian culture because there’s an upcoming event that’s worth checking out if you’re in the area. It’s a 2-Day Festival of a Thousand Tea Farmers and Tea Lovers in the Kyoto Prefecture featuring all you can drink (tea) from around Asia. (Click here to download the PDF flyer for directions, info, and contact information)

There will be tea from India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea, Japan (Wazuka, Shizuoka, Yame, Kyoto, Nara, and many more!). You can enjoy all the teas of Asia at one festive venue.

Date and Time:
Saturday March 10, 2012 and Sunday March 11, 2012 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
If you miss it, you can always make your own Japanese tea at home.

Location:
Green Tea Wazuka Town (click for map), Soraku District, Kyoto Prefecture
Address: 35 Hazama, Shirasu, Wazuka Town, Soraku, Kyoto, Japan
* Shuttle bus to event location will be available from JR Kamo Station (click for map)

Admission Fee:
FREE (that’s always a nice price!)

Event Itinerary

Tasting and Sale of Teas

• You’ll get a chance to taste and buy tea from Asian tea farms from India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea, and all over Japan. Even though Admission is free, make sure to bring some Yen just in case.
• There will also be a nice exhibition of photos focused on tea producing areas including an exhibit of local costume.

Tea Culture Seminars

• Calligraphy, Zen meditation, yoga, Shogi, tea ceremony, Rakugo, art

Food Court

• Unique tea inspired meals include: Matcha Curry, Green Tea Sweets, Sushi, Ochazuke (rice with tea), and much more.

Evening Reception Party
Saturday March 10, 2012 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Nara Royal Hotel.
Price： 6,000 円 (All invited)
World cuisine buffet, cocktails, everything made with tea. Gourmet experience with entertainment, attractions, and encounters.

How to get to Wazuka
Wazuka is surprisingly near to Kansai

Getting to Wazuka by car:

• From Kyoto take Route 24 to Route 163 at Kamo (about 90 minutes)
• Nara is about half way from Osaka (about 20 minutes)
• On the way to Nara on Negoya National Highway (about 80 minutes)
• Convenient from Kamo (about 15 minutes)
• Route 24 from Nara to Kamo (about 30 minutes)
• Route 163 from Ueno to Kamo (about 30 minutes)

Getting to Wazuka by train:

• From JR Kyoto station: Take the Miyakoji Kaisoku Naraiki line from JR Kyoto to Kizu Station. Transfer to JR Yamatoji Kaisoku line to Kamo Station (approximate journey time: 45 minutes)
• From JR Osaka station: Take the JR Yamatoji Kaisoku Line to Kamo station (approximate journey time: 65 minutes)
• From JR Nara station: Take JR Yamatoji Kaisoku line to Kamo Station (approximate journey time: 14 minutes)

They will be operating a shuttle bus from JR Kamo station to Wazuka. But if you prefer to take a taxi, the taxi fare is about 2,000 yen.

If you’re bringing your children along, here’s a site with helpful tips when visiting Kyoto with kids.

Download the full PDF flyer here!