Monday, January 29, 2024

Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum- Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture

There is something about Green Tea that is very fascinating.  We all know that Green Tea is good for us, it's great for the brain and improves cognitive function, great for aiding digestion and it's an excellent drink to help with weight loss and for skin and eye quality.  The green tea industry in Japan is booming as demand from abroad has been peaking in the last 10 to 15 years. 

The best thing is that the Green Tea region of Ureshino is right in my backyard and its such an interesting and picturesque location to explore. I will endeavor to promote this region of Kyushu and give those Green Tea lovers insights into production techniques and the history of the town.

The best place to do this is at the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum located in the middle of the town.  It has everything that one could need to understand more about Green Tea in general.  

1) There is a quaint little museum in the building which although sign posted in English doesn't have extensive information.  However there is just enough to get the gist of what is going on within the historical background and the production process.


Please click on the photos below to enlarge:


English guide is available

Background Information

Main floor



Interesting place to explore



Tea moments

Tea Production 





Tea regions of Japan



Tea fields

Stages of production

2)  There is a tea cafe located inside the building which allows you to try some of the various tea products. There are a multitude of hot and cold drinks as well as many different types of sweets to enjoy. 


Profile of various farmers


The menu

Tea Cafe



Plenty of seating

2 person table

Plenty of awards







3) The sales shop is a place where you can buy quite a few products to take home with you. Teas and sweets round up the products on offer.  They also offer a great selection of ceramic tea pots that shouldn't be missed. The ladies may I say are completely friendly and try to help you at every opportunity. I am sure you will enjoy the interactive experience.


Plenty of sweets

The teas of Ureshino

Tea options

Options galore

Tea pots

4) The tea fields outside are also a nice option to explore. On this cold wintery day (we had quite a bit of snow the previous 2 days) it was a pleasant surprise to see a white dusting of snow on the top of the hedges. The nature involved with these outdoor scenes are very powerful indeed and add to the overall experience of the situation.








I am sure you will agree that the combination of these 4 combined attractions make the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum a special place to visit.

Please check out the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum on this map below.


 




Please click on these videos below to see more of the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum:






Here are some photos of a recent family tour enjoying the experience of sampling Green Tea.

Traditional Japanese Tea Room

Preparing the tea

Reading the description in English

Lots of friendly staff