Station Tea Village Higashishirakawa

Sip the Essence of Japan’s Premier Tea Country

Nestled in the serene highlands of Higashishirakawa, Tea Village Higashishirakawa is more than a roadside station—it’s a celebration of terroir, tradition, and seasonal abundance. As the birthplace of the renowned White River Tea, this destination offers visitors the rare chance to taste freshly crafted, hand-picked sencha in its purest form, crafted from the crisp mountain air and rich volcanic soil of the region.

Beyond the tea, the station shines with locally made, additive-free cuisine and seasonal specialties that change with the year. From summer’s river trout and autumn’s wild mushrooms to winter’s game dishes and year-round handmade desserts, each bite tells the story of the land. With cozy cafes, a vibrant farmers’ market, and scenic trails just steps away, Tea Village Higashishirakawa invites travelers to slow down, savor the moment, and connect with the heart of rural Japan.

Tea Village Higashishirakawa is the only roadside station where you can taste the region’s signature hand-picked "Shirakawa Tea" straight from its birthplace, including rare seasonal varieties like the award-winning "Shiokaze" and the exclusive winter harvest "Kuroi Kiri." Beyond tea, the station offers a unique seasonal experience: a limited-time sakuraen ice cream made with locally crafted matcha and fresh dairy, available only during autumn and winter months. This combination of artisanal tea and hyper-local desserts, crafted from ingredients grown in the village’s pristine highland soil, cannot be found anywhere else.

• Best Arrival Time: Visit between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on weekdays to secure the fresh batch of the seasonal O-nigiri Morning set, which sells out quickly and is only available until 11:00 AM.

• Hidden Gems: Check the deli counter near the tea shop for the Homemade Apple Compote, a limited-time seasonal item available only during autumn and featured in the Instagram posts; it’s used in the Apple Cup Soft Serve and often sells out by mid-afternoon.

• Weekend Special: On Sundays, visit the roadside station between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM to catch the Autumn Tea Market (as mentioned in the blog), where local artisans sell handmade tea-related crafts and seasonal snacks not available during regular hours.

• Seasonal Food: Order the White Glutinous Rice Zenzai (300 yen) during winter months—this limited-time dessert is only available from November through February and features a warm, sweet red bean soup served with steamed glutinous rice and is not listed on the standard menu.

• Specialty Beverage: Try the Tea-Infused Ice Cream Set at the café—this exclusive offering combines the roadside station’s own Premium Steamed Green Tea Ice Cream with a freshly baked cake, available only during the winter months (November to February) and not advertised on the main website.

• Off-Peak Visit: Arrive between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM on weekdays during winter (January–February) to enjoy the Winter Tea Tasting Corner, where staff offer complimentary samples of the Hand-Picked Tea – Ultimate variety, which won eight first-place awards at the Kansai Tea Evaluation.

• Best Photo Spot: Stop at the entrance’s seasonal flower arrangement, created by Abou Farm, which changes monthly and features a mix of silver dragon Persicaria, pink Cockscomb, and trailing Checkerberry—this display is highlighted in Instagram posts and is especially vibrant during October and November.

Spring (March–May): Freshly harvested sencha tea is available from late April, and seasonal bamboo shoots are sold at the market in early spring.

Summer (June–August): Enjoy grilled ayu fish from the clear White River and summer blueberry picking from late June to early August.

Autumn (September–November): Savor seasonal matsutake dishes and participate in the autumn market held in November.

Winter (December–February): Try seasonal treats like homemade apple cup ice cream and sweet red bean rice cakes, available through February.