2026 Soraku District Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Wazuka Town in Kyoto Prefecture is one of Japan's leading producers of tencha (matcha before it's ground) and boasts breathtaking landscapes of rolling tea plantations. This time, I visited "Okeriki Chaten," a hojicha (roasted green tea) specialty shop housed in a former traditional inn 🚗 Here, they package hojicha made by local Wazuka tea farmers, sorted by individual producers, and sell it by weight starting from 30g. During my visit, they had an impressive lineup of 15 varieties across 8 brands. With such a wide selection, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you can take your time sampling different teas while chatting with the staff. They’ll help you find that perfect cup tailored just for you 🍵 Because they offer such personalized, attentive service to each customer, you might find yourself waiting 30 minutes to over an hour depending on how busy it is. I highly recommend visiting when you have plenty of time and a relaxed mindset 😌 Since it was my first time here, I tried several of the staff's recommended hojicha. It’s fascinating to learn about the roasting techniques and the farmers’ stories while sipping on the tea and discovering its unique characteristics and background ☺️ The 15 varieties range from everyday teas to meticulously crafted premium leaves, including highly unique ones made from rare cultivars or specific parts of the tea plant. Out of all these, I chose "Haku - Deep Umami" and "Kurenai - Obsidian Camellia." If you want to compare different flavors, buying them in 30g increments is highly recommended so you can finish them while they're still fresh ✍️ The producer of "Haku" originally specialized in sencha (steamed green tea), which gave "Deep Umami" a fascinating profile: it has the rich, roasted aroma of hojicha, but the deep umami of sencha spreads across your palate 😮 "Obsidian Camellia," on the other hand, was a happy accident created when tencha leaves fermented. It’s an incredibly smooth cup that balances the unique tang of slight fermentation with the signature umami of tencha ✨️ I visited on a weekday with an advance reservation, but during their regular weekend hours, you can kick back and relax on the engawa (traditional porch) or even enjoy some hojicha shaved ice during this season, so definitely check that out too 🍧 Spending a laid-back weekend picking out hojicha in a peaceful old Japanese house in Wazuka is just wonderful 😌 It’s not too far from Nara, making it a perfect spot for a scenic drive. 【 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 】 📍 43-1 Nakahirata, Wazuka-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture 🚗 12 mins from JR Kamo Station 🕙 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM 🗓 Weekdays (Open only with advance reservation) 🅿️ Available ⁡.⁡ ⁡.

#japanitinerary Beautiful tea town. The Mausoleum of Imperial Prince Asaka, located on top of a small hill, offers a panoramic view of the Wazuka area. Gyokuro tea leaves are covered with a black net to protect them from the sun, so you can tell at a glance. There are also Uji tea cafes where you can buy directly from the manufacturer, so please come and visit us. Take the bus from the west exit of JR Kamo Station. Most of the attractions are concentrated around the "Heshu Mountain Home" bus station.

🏖️Overview: Kasagiyama stands at an elevation of 288 meters and has long been a place of ascetic training and worship. The mountain is dotted with numerous large and unusual rocks🪨. Near the summit, Kasagi Temple卍 is a famous spot for autumn foliage🍁, and there are well-maintained hiking trails within the temple grounds. This area is also historically significant, known for the Genko War involving Emperor Go-Daigo as depicted in the 'Taiheiki,' making it a place where you can feel the history. 💞Recommended Reasons: The hiking trails are well-maintained, featuring stone Buddhas and unusual rocks. The large rocks and cliff-carved Buddhas🪨 are impressively large. Near the summit, there is a temple卍 where you can tour ascetic training sites🧘. Note that there is an entrance fee💰. Along the way, you will find a large rock called Kaibuki-iwa, where loyalist warriors blew conch shells🐚 to encourage their comrades🤛, allowing you to reflect on history. Given its historical significance, it's more interesting to visit after some prior study. 📍Location: Kasagi-cho, Sōraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture 📍Access: 🚃: 5-minute walk from JR Kansai Main Line Kasagi Station 🚙: 14 km from Route 24 and Route 163 from Yamashiro About 30 minutes from Keinawa Expressway Yamada-gawa IC