Shimada City is home to the Oigawa Railway, which is famous for its SL and Thomas-go trains, and there are tourist attractions along this line. For example, in 2020, Goka Station was renamed to Pass Station. It is now a place where people can pray for success in exams and other tests. In addition, the city has a “Shimada City Green Tea Plan” as a city promotion, aiming to become “the most green tea-loving city on earth.
Shizuoka Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading tea-producing regions, and this time we participated in a tea-themed press tour in Shimada City and Kakegawa City, two of the most tea-producing cities in Shizuoka Prefecture.
KADODE OOIGAWA” where you can become a tea leaf, learn about the manufacturing process, and buy tea and gourmet local ingredients.
We visited KADODE OOIGAWA (62 Takeshita, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture), a hands-on tea and agriculture food park directly connected to Kadode Station, which is located next to Kadode Station.
Here, visitors can experience the green tea factory by pretending to be a tea leaf at the “Green Tea Tours” (500 yen per tour). Wearing a green poncho, visitors can learn about the steaming, rubbing, and fire-working processes as if they were tea leaves. Wind, mist, and other elements create a sense of attraction. All narration is done by voice actor Daisuke Namikawa.
The facility sells original green teas classified into 16 types by “iroha,” a combination of steaming and firing tea leaves at different stages. After the tour, visitors will be able to compare four types of the original green teas, each with different heating times: shallow steamed and deep steamed. Asa-mushi green tea has a refreshing taste, while deep-mushi green tea has a mellow taste. Low heat produces a fresh aroma, while high heat produces a savory flavor.
After the “Green Tea Tours,” four types of green tea were available for tasting: “I” (shallow steamed, low heat-activated), “Ni” (shallow steamed, high heat-activated), “Wa” (deep steamed, low heat-activated), and “Ta” (deep steamed, high heat-activated). I bought the “I” variety, which has a refreshingly strong umami flavor and a pleasant green tea aroma. According to the tour guide, “Ta” is also popular because it is mild, has a strong bitter taste, and is characterized by its savory aroma.
You can take home the original miniature tea bowl you used for the tasting, so it is recommended to try it as a souvenir for yourself. 16 kinds of teas are explained on the “MANDARA Tea Pillar” near the booth, and you can choose one by referring to the description of each tea and its characteristics, or by answering 8 questions to get a diagnosis of which green tea matches your mood. There is also a “Green Tea Diagnosis” that will help you choose the green tea that best suits your mood by answering 8 questions, and a “Tea Lottery” that allows you to choose the tea that best suits your mood.
There is also a “Green Tea B.I.Y. Stand” (experience fee: 500 yen with bottle) where you can take home your chosen tea in an original “KADODE Bottle. At the stand, choose your favorite tea leaves and select iced or hot. The system is designed to make it easy to brew a delicious cup of tea by using the brewing method that matches the tea leaves.
Of course, it is convenient to choose a souvenir as it sells tea-based sweets, tea-related goods, and specialty sweets of Shizuoka. You can also choose tea to go with the sweets, as the shop introduces pairings of Shizuoka’s famous sweets, such as “Unagi Pie” (eel pie) and tea.
Also in the food court is Menya Tsubame KADODE Oigawa branch, a popular Shizuoka specialty morning noodle restaurant, where visitors can enjoy “Tebayama Katsuo no Gokujo Tsuke-soba” (1,200 yen), which is served with noodles kneaded with green tea in a soup with a rich bonito broth. In addition, visitors can also enjoy a restaurant specializing in ochazuke (rice with green tea) and a SL-themed hamburger and craft beer store.
The “KADODE OOIGAWA Marche” area will feature craft beer from Shizuoka Prefecture, local sake, a fresh fish store called “Uoki” where visitors can enjoy fish caught in the surrounding waters, and a vegetable stand. In addition, the booth of Tenjinya, a local delicatessen, sells not only boxed lunches but also Shizuoka’s specialty “Shizoka Oden,” which can be purchased as a souvenir and enjoyed hot oden.
There is also a corner for new processed products that have won the “Fujinokuni New Product Selection,” so if you are looking for a product that will become a standard souvenir in the future, this booth is a good place to pick out a souvenir.
In addition to the stores, there is a play area for children, a tree house, and a dog run, making it a great place to stop by when traveling with children or pets.
© Source travel watch
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