Soraku District

Soraku is an administrative district in Kyoto Prefecture comprising four municipalities: Kasagi, Wazuka, Seika, and Minamiyamashiro. The area features mountains and farmland, with tea plantations and small towns spread across the landscape.

The district was established in 1879 during Japan's Meiji period reforms that reorganized local government. A major reorganization occurred in 2007 when three towns merged to form Kizugawa City.

The district remains tied to traditional tea farming, with Wazuka being known for producing high-grade Ujicha tea on terraced slopes. Visitors can see the green tea fields that shape the landscape and observe how this practice remains part of daily life.

Buses and trains connect the district's towns to each other and to central Kyoto, with the main transportation hub in Seika. Visitors should expect rural roads and walking paths, especially when exploring the tea-growing areas.

The region has experienced significant boundary changes, starting with seven municipalities that were reduced to four through mergers. These shifts reflect broader patterns in rural Japan as communities adapt to modern administrative structures.

Location: Kyoto Prefecture

Inception: April 10, 1879

GPS coordinates: 34.76900,135.96100

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:20