Located in the Kanaya hills of Shimada, in the heart of the Makinohara tea-growing area, this museum covers the cultivation, processing and culture of Japanese green tea in a region that is Japan's largest tea-producing prefecture. Exhibits walk through tea-making equipment and history, and the grounds include a Japanese garden and tea house set among the surrounding plantations.
The Fuji-no-kuni Tea Museum, also known as the Shizuoka Tea Museum, sits amid the Makinohara plateau's tea plantations near Shimada, one of Japan's largest tea-growing regions and the source of a significant share of the country's Shizuoka-brand green tea. The museum's exhibits trace the cultivation, processing, and cultural history of Japanese tea, including displays of traditional tea utensils, a recreated Chinese-style teahouse garden, and demonstrations of tea ceremony practice available at set times. A tasting session, typically included with admission, lets visitors sample different grades of Shizuoka tea alongside seasonal wagashi sweets. Large windows and an outdoor terrace look out over the surrounding plantation rows, giving a direct view of the working landscape the museum interprets. A full visit including the exhibits and tea tasting takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The plateau is most visually striking in May during the first-flush tea harvest, when pickers work the rows by hand and the plantations are at their greenest, though the museum and its tasting sessions operate year-round regardless of harvest timing.
| Admission | Adult JPY 300-500 depending on exhibits (approx $1.89-$3.15) · Child Free for elementary age and under |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 9:00AM-5:00PM (last entry 4:30PM), closed Tuesdays and year-end/New Year |
| Typical visit | 1.5-2 hours including a tea tasting |
| Best time | May for the first-flush tea harvest across the surrounding Makinohara plateau plantations |
| Getting there | 5-minute bus ride from JR Kanaya Station on the Tokaido Main Line |
| Address | 3053-2 Kanaya Hokkoku, Shimada-shi, Shizuoka 428-0034, Japan |
Location
3053-2 Kanaya Hokkoku, Shimada-shi, Shizuoka 428-0034, Japan
34.8103, 138.1394 View on map
Highlights
- Exhibits on Japanese tea cultivation and processing history
- Recreated Chinese-style teahouse garden on the grounds
- Included tea tasting with seasonal wagashi sweets
- Terrace views over the working Makinohara tea plantations
- Tea ceremony demonstrations at scheduled times
Tips for visiting
- Visit in May to see the first-flush tea harvest across the surrounding plantations
- Check the schedule for tea ceremony demonstration times before visiting
- The tasting session is a highlight, so allow extra time rather than rushing through
- Closed Tuesdays, so plan a visit for another day of the week
- Buy a small tin of local tea at the gift shop as a practical souvenir
When to visit
May brings the first-flush tea harvest across the surrounding Makinohara plateau plantations.
Accessibility
The museum building is step-free with elevator access between floors, and the teahouse garden paths are mostly flat and manageable for wheelchair users.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to the Fuji-no-kuni Tea Museum take?
Touring the exhibits and taking part in the included tea tasting typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
Is it worth it for kids?
The museum leans toward an adult audience interested in tea culture, though the teahouse garden and plantation views can still interest children on a broader Shizuoka itinerary.
Is photography allowed inside the museum?
Photography is generally allowed in the main exhibit halls and the teahouse garden, with some restrictions on flash near delicate displays.