Tokunaga Tea House: Ureshino, Saga Prefecture

Ureshino town in Saga prefecture is a famous producer of Japanese tea. It is located in a basin surrounded by foggy mountains and is ideally suited to growing tea with its fresh air and clean water supply. The Tokunaga teahouse is a specialty shop that sells a wide variety of green, brown and black teas, including the most sort after tea of the lot, namely Matcha. 

This Traditional tea has a specific tea called Tamaryocha ( curly tea ) due to its unique rounded profile of its tea leaves. These leaves have a strong aroma and umami taste. There’s no other region in Japan that sells this type of tea. If you didn’t know, a green tea has a unique taste, and that includes its astringency, bitterness, and most importantly it's Umami There are many health benefits, including catechin, fluoride, caffeine, and most importantly theanine.

What I love about bringing customers to the Tokunaga tea house is that they have an English speaking tea sommelier who originally comes from Slovenia. She is friendly, polite, and most importantly very professional about her craft. It is here where you can get down to the nitty-gritty of the many different elements that go into tea producing and obviously drinking. They have a wide variety of products so be careful, it’s very difficult to leave this place without stocking up on all your favorites. But don't worry they make the decision making process easy by allowing you to sample and compare the dozens of types of tea that they have in stock including many original ones not sold anywhere.

A real tea experience that must be tried to be believed.

Please check out the Tokunaga Tea House on this map below:

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interesting varieties

gift packs galore

Products galore

Smell test

lots of samples

A private audience with a real pro

Please click on this video to see more of the Tokunaga Tea House:

Mameda Shopping Street: Hita City, Oita Prefecture

The Mameda Shopping Street is located in Hita City. This charming shopping street features an elegant and tasteful townscape lined with buildings that date back to the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The preserved atmosphere of old Japan creates scenes reminiscent of a bygone era. With around 100 shops, the street offers souvenir stores, cafés, and restaurants. In fact there is absolutely something here for everyone, with my favorite being the Local Sake Brewery selling incredible varieties of Japanese Sake and other types of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.

For a special experience, you can stroll the streets in a rented kimono, or relax and take in the sights on a rickshaw ride. The area also includes museums and a Soy Sauce factory allowing visitors to casually explore Japanese history and culture. During the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) season, the street comes alive with splendid displays of traditional dolls, adding a festive and colorful touch to the entire town. 

On weekends the crowds can get somewhat busy but in comparison to Gion in Kyoto you will not have to fight the crowds to get to your locations of choice. On a weekday you will basically have the whole street to yourself and of course the local shop keepers will work extremely hard for your benefit to show you incredible hospitality and their extensive selection of local hand made artisan products.

It's a hidden gem alright and you will not be disappointed to visit, in fact you will not need or want to go back to Kyoto as there will be everything you need here.

Please check out the map below to see more about the Mameda Shopping Street.

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This is Mameda Street

How old is this building?

Traditions are everywhere

Lots to see and do

Rice Crackers

Wide streets

Traditional gifts

Old paintings anyone?

Historical significance

Japanese Sake galore

Old authentic buildings

Giant Japanese traditional footwear

Hina Matsuri Dolls

Please watch this video below to learn more about the Maeda Shopping Street in Hita, Oita Prefecture:

Amano Iwato Shrine and Cave: Takachiho Town, Miyazaki Prefecture

This is the site of one of the best known legends of Japanese mythology. The story is about Amaterasu, the sun goddess. She became so outraged by her brother's cruel pranks that she hid herself in a cave, refusing to come out and depriving the world of her life-giving light.

All of the other gods and goddesses gathered to lure her out. They tried everything they could think of to no avail until one goddess performed an outrageously dance that caused the other gods to roar with laughter. Amaterasu left the cave to see what all the fun was about, and in doing so she returned her light to the world.

Just outside central Takachiho the Amano Iwato Shrine was built near the cave where Amaterasu is said to have hid herself away. A short walk down the road from Amano Iwato Shrine is a path that leads down to the river. After a few minutes on this path you will see neat little piles of stones stacked along the river by previous visitors to mark their pilgrimage to this incredible power spot. Farther along, the stacks become more numerous until you are surrounded by thousands of them as far as you can see.

Eventually the path leads to a simple shrine inside a cave. This is said to be the cave where the gods and goddesses met to discuss their strategy of luring Amaterasu out of hiding. The natural beauty of the cave and river lined by countless stacks of stones make Amano Iwato a place not to miss.

I know it is only mythology but the story makes so much sense on all levels, The areas absolute beauty and natural significance is unparalleled. The longer of live in Japan the more I realize that I do have a better understanding of the basic Shinto Principles that most Japanese follow even today. As the west gets further and further away from religion and how we should treat our fellow man, the Japanese seem to be doing the opposite, thanks to the many Shinto norms and teachings.

The only problem I have with this attraction is that most of my guests don't want to leave. I have to pry them away so that we can get to our next attraction. Its a hard place to say good bye to and I am always in aware of what I have just witnessed every time I visit. It never gets boring!

Please check out the Amano Iwato Shrine and Cave here on a map below:

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The scene

Approaching the Cave

Such a surreal place

One of the gods

Autumn is an amazing time to be here

The Shrine

Always has many visitors

Power spot indeed!

The Cave

PICTURESQUE

The winding river

A quick prayer is worth it!

Please click on these videos below to see more about the Amano Iwato Shrine and Cave: