Taito City in 1 Day for Couples - Taste five Japanese tea varieties (matcha, hōjicha, sencha, genmai-cha, Japanese black tea)
In Collaboration with matcha trip. Updated on February 20, 2026.
Learn about Japanese tea cultivation and preparation from a former Kyoto tea farmer and practicing pharmacist. Taste multiple Japanese teas, enjoy homemade sweets, and take part in a hands-on matcha (Ousucha) making session using a bamboo whisk. Small-group experience (limit 5).
This itinerary was created in collaboration with matcha trip, inspired by the tour Matcha Experience with of Japanese Tea Tasting in Tokyo. Please check the tour information during your booking process.
Highlights
- Taste five Japanese tea varieties (matcha, hōjicha, sencha, genmai-cha, Japanese black tea)
- Hands-on matcha (Ousucha) making using a bamboo whisk
- Seasonal welcome drink and comparison tasting served in the best method for each tea
- Homemade sweets paired with a selected Japanese black tea
- Intimate small-group format (limit of five travelers)
Itinerary
Day 1
90-minute guided tea tasting and matcha-making session in Taito City. Start time example: 09:00.
Meet at the experience location
Check-in and brief orientation. The host confirms names, dietary needs, and accessibility requirements before beginning.
Tips from local experts:
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early so the session can start on time and you can settle in together.
- If either guest has dairy allergies, mention milk preference (cow or oat) at check-in.
- Bring a compact bag for any small souvenirs you may buy at the end.
Welcome drink and introduction
Seasonal welcome drink served while the host introduces Japanese tea types, history, and today’s tasting order.
Tips from local experts:
- Use this time to ask the host about the tea-farming background and the teas you’ll taste.
- Keep voices low to maintain the intimate atmosphere; it helps everyone enjoy aromas.
- Note any teas you’re curious about so you can ask for brewing tips at the end.
Tasting: Sencha, Kabusecha, Gyokuro, Deep-steamed sencha, Genmai-cha, Hōjicha
Comparison tasting of six preparations. Observe leaf appearance, then taste each tea brewed in the method that best brings out its character.
Tips from local experts:
- Smell the dry leaves first, then the brewed liquor to notice differences in aroma and depth.
- Sip slowly between samples and rinse your palate with still water if provided.
- Ask the host for exact steeping times and temperatures if you want to replicate at home.
Japanese black tea paired with homemade sweets
Enjoy a selected Japanese black tea chosen to complement the host’s homemade sweets.
Tips from local experts:
- If you have flavor sensitivities, tell the host before sweets are served so they can note ingredients.
- Taste the tea both before and after a sweet to compare how sweetness affects perception.
- Keep a napkin handy—stereotypically small servings may still require a polite table wipe.
Matcha (Ousucha) making experience
Hands-on session: learn how to whisk and make Ousucha using a bamboo chasen. The host demonstrates the ceremony steps and lets each guest prepare matcha.
Tips from local experts:
- Wear comfortable clothing and avoid very loose sleeves that could dip into the bowl while whisking.
- Ask the host to demonstrate wrist technique if you prefer a slower, gentler whisk.
- Take a quick photo before whisking to capture the traditional utensils (bowl, whisk, scoop).
Matcha latte / Hōjicha latte tasting and optional souvenirs & wrap-up
Try matcha latte or hōjicha latte made with cow’s milk or oat milk. Opportunity to ask final questions, buy original products (cash or card), and close the session.
Tips from local experts:
- Bring a small amount of local currency if you prefer to pay souvenir purchases in cash.
- If you’d like oat milk, confirm at the start; it’s served on request.
- Ask the host for a simple recipe or brewing note to take home so you can recreate the matcha latte.
Itinerary Attributes
| Days | 1 |
| Highlights | 5 |
| Season | - |
| Month | - |
| Persona | Couples |
| Transfers | - |
| Restaurants | 1 |
| Total Activities | 6 |
| Total Places | 6 |
| Activities Types | Neighborhood, Break, Culture, Meal, Experience, Shopping |
