Ujitawara, Tea production town in Tsuzuki district, Japan
Ujitawara is a town in Kyoto Prefecture characterized by forested hills where tea fields are interspersed with stands of cedar and cypress. The landscape slopes gradually, with settlements and agricultural patches distributed across the varied terrain.
The town was established in 1956 through the merger of two villages that shared a history under the Tokugawa shogunate. This union brought together communities whose connections ran far deeper than their recent administrative joining.
The town's identity revolves around tea cultivation, and you will notice plantations dotting the landscape throughout your visit. The way locals have shaped the hillsides into terraced fields reflects a practice woven into the everyday rhythm of life here.
You can reach the town by train at either Yamashiro-Aodani or Yamashiro-Taga stations, or by car via National Route 307. Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather and are good times to see the tea fields during active growing seasons.
A tea master named Nagatani Soen invented a new method for producing Japanese green tea in the Yuyadani area that eventually became the standard for the region. This breakthrough transformed the local industry and shaped tea-making practices that continue to define the place.
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