Hitotono Shizenwo Tsunagukai (人と農・自然をつなぐ会)

Hitotono Shizenwo Tsunagukai is a tea farm located among foothills in the town of Fujieda in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Since 1976 the team here have, together with friends, devoted themselves to the organic, pesticide-free cultivation and production of tea that is unique to these mountains. 

Life revolving around satoyama. The cycle of life through agriculture. 

More than just tea however, the people at Hitotono Shizenwo Tsunagukai understand the importance today of living and coexisting with nature and, as part of an agricultural collective of dozens of farmers centering on Fujieda, are working every day to develop methods and technology to aid organic cultivation.

Available experience【Tea Picking and Exchange】

This tea-picking / exchange meet was started in order to show people the radiant yellow-green fields at the time of the season’s first tea. Since beginning pesticide-free organic cultivation this meet has been held every year. Thanks to all who’ve taken part, this year will mark the 42nd edition of the event. 

Enjoy making tea using hand-picked tea leaves!

Do you know that the leaves used in kocha (black tea) and green tea are the same? The difference is in whether or not the leaves have been fermented. Kocha is fermented. Green tea isn't.

Tea leaves are picked from the field and left overnight to wither. The next morning, using a rolling machine imported from Sri Lanka, the leaves are rolled, fermented and dried to become kocha - black tea.

During this experience you will get an insight into the process behind the domestically produced sweet kocha as we pick leaves by hand and make some black tea together.