Ureshino Tea — 550-Year-Old Hillside Garden

Ureshino-cha is the collective name for teas grown in the mineral-rich hills around Ureshino Onsen — a tradition established in 1504 when a Buddhist monk brought seeds from Kyoto and found that the hot-spring-influenced soil produced an unusually deep, sweet flavor. Modern Ureshino tea production emphasizes tamaryokucha, a lightly steamed green tea with a distinctive roasted aroma unlike the grassy freshness of Shizuoka teas. The Ureshino Tea Cultural Museum and adjacent tea gardens offer seasonal harvest experiences.