Uji Tea Dojo Takumi-no-Yakata

This tea café serves Uji tea, a local specialty, with views of the Uji River. Choose an Uji tea from the menu and learn how to brew it yourself with guidance from staff certified as Japanese Tea Instructors. Each step is carefully explained, so no prior tea-brewing experience is necessary. The staff will also show you an unusual way to enjoy the tea leaves after brewing by seasoning them with ponzu sauce or salt. The café menu offers three options: Uji gyokuro, Uji matcha, and Uji sencha, each served with sweets.

Hands-on programs are also available for those who want to learn more about tea. In the Tea Brewing Class, participants learn about the history and benefits of gyokuro, matcha, and sencha—the main varieties of Uji tea—while discovering how to brew and savor each one. Another option is Chakabuki, a tea-tasting game in which participants identify the names of several teas. The five-tea, five-round competition involves tasting five types of tea over five rounds and competing for points and takes approximately 2 hours. The five-tea, three-round competition involves tasting five types of tea over three rounds and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Advance reservations are required for all hands-on programs.