A special space for experiencing Japanese tea, brought to you by a long-established tea shop.

 

Ubunoen, a specialty Japanese tea shop, is a long-established business founded in 20. Located in Yuto-cho, Hamamatsu City, the area is dotted with traditional Japanese confectionery shops and fish shops. The Nakamura family residence also remains nearby, making it an area where you can feel the atmosphere of life in the past.

 

The shop offers a selection of carefully chosen teas, including sencha, deep-steamed tea, and Japanese black tea.

 

 

 

The setting for this experience is "Ochadokoro Ubunoen," a facility dedicated to Japanese tea experiences that opened in 2025.

 

Stepping into the building adjacent to the shop, you'll find yourself in a tranquil Japanese-style room. The atmosphere is somehow nostalgic and comforting, as if you've been invited to a relative's home.

 

 

We were greeted by Yoko Matsumoto, the fifth-generation owner of Ubunoen. She is affectionately known as "Ochako-san, the tea lover." When the conversation turned to tea, her gentle manner of speaking naturally eased our tension.

 

 

"That tea I had back then was delicious. I'd love to drink it again," Matsumoto says, "I want to deliver a cup of tea that people will remember fondly in that way."

 

We don't just sell tea leaves; we want you to enjoy the process of brewing tea and the moment of savoring it. That sentiment is quietly present in every aspect of this experience.

 

 

Ms. Matsumoto also holds workshops and events to share the charm of tea. Her gentle speaking style and easy-to-understand explanations naturally draw in the participants.

 

As the conversation about tea progressed, the participants gradually began to chat, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. It felt less like a difficult lecture and more like a casual chat.

 

 

What you can experience in this tour

 

A Japanese tea experience that begins with "aroma"

 

The experience begins with a welcome tea recommended by Ms. Matsumoto. The moment you open the tea tin, a fragrant aroma wafts out, and you can't help but exclaim, "What a lovely scent!"

 

As Ms. Matsumoto teaches us about how to brew tea, the appropriate water temperature, and the amount of tea leaves to use, a warm and friendly atmosphere spreads throughout the room.

 

Handmade coasters made from origami paper are also provided on the tables. Choose your favorite pattern and use it to mark your teacup. Even small interactions like this are part of the fun of this experience.

 

 

 

Furthermore, the program introduces topics relevant to everyday life, such as the history of how sencha (green tea) is made, various ways to use tea leaves, and the components and health benefits of tea. You'll realize that even the tea you casually drink every day actually involves many processes and ingenuity.

 

 

Making roasted barley tea, enveloped in a fragrant aroma.

 

Barley tea has a long history; in the Heian period, roasted barley was ground into a powder called "mugikogashi" (hattaiko), which was enjoyed by dissolving it in hot or cold water to drink, or by kneading it into a paste and eating it.

 

Later, during the Edo period, "mugiyu" (barley water), made by boiling roasted barley, became widely popular among ordinary people and has been passed down to the barley tea we know today. In this experience, you will savor a fragrant cup of barley tea while learning about the history of Japanese tea culture.

 

 

The experience uses domestically produced barley. You'll roast the barley tea, which is already roasted in Hamamatsu City, in a frying pan, and try making your own fragrant roasted barley tea.

We finish making barley tea using traditional methods, while enjoying the rich aroma that unfolds as the beans are roasted.

 

 

The brewed barley tea is rapidly cooled with ice to lock in its aroma and flavor.

The finished barley tea will be poured into a stainless steel bottle given as a gift, which you can enjoy on the spot, and you can take home any leftovers.

*During the winter season, hot barley tea will be served.

 

 

Enjoy a moment of Hamamatsu matcha, which you prepare yourself.

 

Next, we moved on to a matcha tea ceremony using matcha produced in Hamamatsu City.

You will experience "Gojifuku," where you prepare and drink matcha tea yourself using a bamboo whisk (chasen).

"Go-jifuku" in the context of the tea ceremony refers to "tasting the tea you have prepared yourself," and it is one way of enjoying the tea ceremony, cherishing the time spent engaging with the tea.

Furthermore, we also tried our hand at making a fluffy matcha latte.

 

Even if you have no prior experience with the tea ceremony, we will carefully explain the process, so please feel free to participate with confidence.

 

 

Enjoy a relaxing time with matcha tea and sweets that pair perfectly with it.

During the experience, we'll also share interesting stories about tea, such as how matcha is cultivated, how it's processed, and its health benefits.

This experience allows you to enjoy Japanese tea culture more deeply through "mugicha" (barley tea) and "matcha" (powdered green tea), both nurtured by the climate and culture of Hamamatsu.

 

 

Recommended points

 

◉A 150ml stainless steel bottle will be given as a gift:You can put the barley tea you made into a container and take it home with you.

◉ Experience two tea cultures at once: summery barley tea and matcha from Hamamatsu City.

◉ Enjoy a relaxing tea time with sweets that pair well with matcha.

 

 

 

Guide introduction

 

Yoko Matsumoto, the fifth-generation owner of Ubunoen

Born in Hamamatsu City, she is the eldest of three sisters and has taken over the family business. She holds a Japanese tea instructor qualification and organizes workshops and experiential events to share the charm of tea. Believing that tea in the coming era will be more than just something to "drink," she is also working on regional revitalization, including establishing the Japanese tea experience facility "Ochadokoro Ubunoen." With the motto "A taste that lingers in the heart and is unforgettable," she cherishes each cup of tea that makes people think, "That was delicious, I want to drink it again."