In the rolling countryside of Nagasaki Prefecture, agriculture has long shaped both the landscape and the rhythm of daily life. While the region is often associated with its historic port and international heritage, its coastal hills tell another story—one of fertile soil and generations devoted to cultivating the land. Among its agricultural traditions, tea holds a particularly meaningful place.
In 1191, the Zen monk Eisai returned from China with tea seeds, landing in what is now Hirado, where he established one of Japan’s earliest Zen hermitages and tea plantations and introduced matcha (powdered green tea). He later wrote “Kissa Yojoki (Drinking Tea for Health),” the country’s first book on tea. Centuries later, when Japan reopened to the world, Nagasaki once again became a gateway as the starting point for the nation’s first tea exports—at one time accounting for as much as 75% of Japan’s total exports—underscoring its foundational yet often overlooked role in both the birth and global spread of Japanese tea.
Today, in Nagasaki’s tea-growing districts, mild coastal temperatures, well-drained hillside terrain, and fresh breezes carried from the quiet inland sea create favorable conditions for cultivating balanced, aromatic leaves. This scenery is more than picturesque—it is the living stage of a deeply rooted tea culture. Tea cultivation here reflects centuries of accumulated knowledge, adapted to local terrain and climate.
Bridging tea fields, producers, and visitors in the region is Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea, a locally grounded initiative that creates opportunities to share tea experiences and bring people together through a simple, meaningful moment over a cup.
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea and the Stories Behind the Leaves
Rooted in the communities of Nagasaki’s tea-producing regions, Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea is centered on connection. Tea is not just a product; the initiative highlights the relationships behind it—between farmers and merchants and between local producers and curious visitors from near and far. In fact, the name “Ikedoki” comes from a local dialect expression referring to “tea break” —a moment shared over tea, a pause in the day when people gather, talk, and reconnect. This philosophy guides all of their activities.
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea’s work unfolds through three main pillars. First, its online shop offers carefully selected Nagasaki teas, allowing customers to explore regional flavors from wherever they are. Second, its tea tours invite visitors into the fields and production sites—into the beautiful Sonogi tea fields. Third, its “Tea for Peace” initiative uses tea as a symbol of dialogue and cultural exchange, reinforcing the idea that a shared cup can foster mutual respect and connection.
Tea Fields and Tea Tours
Nagasaki’s tea fields benefit from a distinctive natural setting. Hills overlooking coastal waters, including views toward Omura Bay, create a microclimate shaped by sea breezes, mist, and balanced sunlight. The terrain’s gentle slopes allow for good drainage, while mineral-rich soil supports healthy tea plants. These conditions contribute to teas known for their clarity, refined sweetness, and clean finish.
Thanks to the bounty of the region, Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea produces a range of Japanese teas, including vibrant matcha with its rich umami and smooth depth; tamaryokucha with its fresh, grassy brightness; deeper-steamed varieties with mellow sweetness; and carefully roasted hojicha with warm, toasty notes. Some teas highlight a subtle sweetness, while others emphasize briskness and aroma. Together, they reflect both the local environment and the skill of those who cultivate and refine them.
Tea tours offered at Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea typically begin with a scenic walk through the tea fields. During the tours, guests learn how the bushes are pruned and maintained, and how seasonal cycles influence flavor. Hands-on tastings follow, where participants compare varieties and discover how temperature, brewing time, and leaf selection shape each cup. Along the way, guides share stories of Nagasaki’s tea history and the cultural practices that continue to define it.
Behind every fragrant cup is a careful production journey. Freshly picked tea leaves are quickly steamed to halt oxidation, preserving their vibrant green color and fresh aroma. They are then rolled, shaped, and dried through precise processes that concentrate flavor and ensure quality. The final result is an elegant, aromatic tea that carries the essence of field, climate, and craftsmanship.
Most tours are led by the English-speaking team of Marjolein Raijmakers and Yasuharu Matsumoto, both experienced tea specialists and sommeliers. Here are some of the main tours you can book to explore the land and meet the experts:
Scheduled Tea Tour
This immersive four-hour experience in the Sonogi region of Nagasaki Prefecture begins with a welcome tea and an introduction to Japanese tea culture and the history of Nagasaki’s tea heritage, followed by lunch (with advance notice for dietary requests). Guests then visit rolling tea fields overlooking Omura Bay and step inside a local factory to see how Nagasaki’s signature curled green tea, tamaryokucha, is crafted from leaf to cup. The experience concludes with an interactive tasting session, where participants sample carefully selected regional teas, brew their own cup of tamaryokucha, and try whisking traditional matcha.
The tour runs from 11am to 3pm and is priced at ¥14,000 per person (¥15,400 including tax), with small groups of up to eight to 12 participants to ensure an intimate atmosphere. Advance booking through the official online reservation form is required at least one week prior to the tour date.
Book your Nagasaki tea tour.
Group Tea Tour
Designed especially for organized travel groups, this two-hour program offers a memorable way to encounter traditional Japan through tea. It can be customizable and may include a visit to picturesque tea fields in Higashisonogi, where guests learn about Japanese tea cultivation in a stunning natural setting, along with an introduction to Nagasaki’s historical ties to tea. Participants can also enjoy an interactive tasting of regional teas paired with Japanese sweets, with tea available for purchase afterward. The group rate is ¥6,000 per person (before tax) for organized groups of a minimum of 15 people.
Book a group tea tour.
Custom Tea Tour
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea also offers custom tours to suit different travel plans. Guests with limited time can arrange shortened or rescheduled versions of the experience. For those wishing to explore further, there are also customizable itineraries in collaboration with local partners, including visits to the 350-year-old tea tree and tea museum in Ureshino or excursions to renowned pottery towns such as Hasami, Mikawachi, and Arita.
Simply reach out to the organizers at info@ikedokitea.com to begin planning your visit. Make sure to share your travel dates, group size, interests, and any time constraints, so the team can recommend the most suitable program.
New Behind-the-Scenes Tea Experiences
Beyond the tea fields and tasting rooms, Nagasaki Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea now offers new behind-the-scenes tea experiences that bring visitors closer to the people and processes shaping each cup.
Here are two new private tea experiences you can book:
Meet a Tea Merchant Tour
What makes this experience so special is the rare chance to step behind the scenes—into a part of the tea world that most visitors (and even many tea lovers) never get to see. Led by tea merchant Ikeda Ryo, the Meet a Tea Merchant Tour offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the refinement stage of tea production and explores how raw tea is refined and prepared for market. This is an opportunity to understand how blending, sorting, and final adjustments shape the character of the tea in the cup.
Guests are welcomed to Ikeda Chaen, an award-winning family-run business specializing in the finishing process of Japanese green tea. The visit includes guided tea tastings, a short tour of the refinement factory, and time in nearby scenic tea fields overlooking Omura Bay.
Japanese tea production typically unfolds in two stages: first, farmers cultivate and process fresh leaves into aracha—an unrefined “rough” tea that forms the base of what consumers eventually drink. The second stage is where specialists sort, sieve, blend, and roast the aracha to create balanced, expressive finished teas.
The two-hour experience costs ¥22,000 per person (tax included). Scheduling is arranged individually to match both the guest’s travel plans and the producer’s seasonal workflow. However, during peak production from mid-April to the end of June, when tea auctions and new-leaf refinement are underway, the private merchant tour is not available. Guests are encouraged to inquire in advance to tailor the experience.
Book the Meet a Merchant Tour
Meet a Tea Farmer Tour
Knowing the farmer—and the story behind the leaves in your cup—adds a new dimension to tea at home. This Meet a Tea Farmer private tour invites you to connect directly with one of the growers in Higashisonogi, Nagasaki and discover the dedication, seasonal rhythms, and family heritage that shape the region’s teas.
During this two-hour experience, guests are brought to a local tea farm in the Sonogi tea region to taste the farmer’s own teas, tour their small-scale processing facility, and walk through picturesque fields where the tea is grown. Many farmers in the area operate their own processing sites, overseeing every step from harvest to final drying.
The tour costs ¥22,000 per person (tax included) and includes transportation between the the tea room, a 10-minute walk from Sonogi Station, farm, processing site, and tea fields. Starting times are arranged individually to suit both your travel plans and the farmer’s seasonal schedule. If you wish to extend your stay, the visit can be expanded into a longer custom experience with additional tastings, deeper exploration of Nagasaki’s tea history, extra field visits, or lunch.
Farmers carefully maintain the fields throughout the year—pruning, fertilizing, and monitoring growth in tune with the changing seasons, but private tours cannot be guaranteed in spring and early summer (early April through the end of June) as it marks the busiest harvest and processing period.
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea collaborates with several respected local producers for this tour. Possible hosts include tea farmers such as Koichi Tozaka of Tozaka Chaen and Yoshitaka Ohyama of Ohyama Seichaen, among others. Each farm offers its own perspective and character, ensuring that every visit feels personal and distinct.
Book the Meet a Tea Farmer Tour
From Nagasaki to the World
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea acts as a bridge between producers, visitors, and the wider tea community. By introducing travelers directly to local farmers and sharing the stories behind each harvest, their initiatives help sustain not only individual tea families but also the cultural landscape of Nagasaki’s tea region.
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea is in Higashisonogi—accessible by train from central Nagasaki, with Sonogi Station serving as a convenient meeting point for tours. The journey itself—passing along the calm waters of Omura Bay and through rolling tea fields—offers a gentle introduction to the rural charm of the region. Detailed access information and meeting arrangements are provided upon booking to ensure a smooth and relaxed experience.
If your schedule does not allow for a tour, you can still experience the character of Nagasaki tea at home through Ikedoki Tea’s online store, where a curated selection of locally produced teas is available for domestic and international shipping. Each tea carries with it the same stories and craftsmanship shared during their tours, allowing you to enjoy a taste of the region wherever you are.
To stay connected, consider following Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea online for updates on tours, seasonal teas, and stories directly from the fields via their website, or sign up for their newsletter.
