Discover 5 Recommended Destinations for a Gourmet Lunch and the finest Japanese Green Tea!【Shizuoka Prefecture】

Shizuoka is one of Japan’s most renowned tea-producing regions. In addition to specialized tea shops, the area is also home to gourmet restaurants that serve delectable dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Visitors can indulge in a variety of luxury gourmet experiences unique to the tea-producing region, such as japanese tea, green tea sweets, tea soba noodles, tea rice bowls, ochazuke, alcoholic tea cocktails, and many more.

This article presents five top gourmet destinations in Shizuoka Prefecture to relish delicious japanese tea, food, and drinks.

Five Gourmet Destinations for Japanese Tea, Sake, and Lunch in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Shizuoka, one of Japan’s most famous tea-producing regions, produces a wide variety of teas, including premium gyokuro tea, rich and sweet fukamushicha(deep steamed tea), aromatic asamushicha(light steamed tea), and matcha. Different types of teas are blended with seasonal ingredients to produce delectable dishes and beverages that are loved not only by tea enthusiasts but also by foodies from all parts of Japan. We would like to introduce you to some gourmet destinations in Shizuoka Prefecture, where you can savor tea, food, and drinks.

Matcha Kondo no Shokudo offers Japanese cuisine by a former French chef with a unique touch of Shizuoka.

Matcha Kondo no Shokudo is a Japanese restaurant situated along the Aoba Symbol Road, which is just a 15-minute walk from Shizuoka Station. Here, you can enjoy Shizuoka tea, Japanese sake, and food. Mr. Kondo, the owner and former French chef, is also a certified Japanese tea instructor. His love for Japanese tea is evident in the stone mortar and tea kettle set up behind the counter.

A wide variety of Shizuoka teas are available here. Asamushi green tea, fukamushi green tea, Japanese black tea, kamairicha(japanese-kettle-roasted-tea), oolong tea, and hojicha(Roasted-tea), are all special brews that tug at Mr. Kondo’s heartstrings. Among the alcoholic beverages, we especially recommend the “Matcha Shot”. This special beer cocktail, coloured beautifully with three contrasting layers, attracts tea lovers and drinkers alike. A wide variety of dishes and tea sweets are also available.

Enjoy Shizuoka’s Japanese tea, Japanese sake, food, and Mr. Kondo’s unique take on Shizuoka.

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【Budget】 from ¥3500 per person.
【Take-out】Available for certain dishes.
【Address】1F Shizuoka Tokiwa-cho Embl Court, 2-4-5 Tokiwa-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture,  420-0034.
【Access】 15 min walk from Shizuoka Station.
【Parking】Pay parking available nearby.
【Opening Hours】Lunch 11:30 to 13:30 (LO 13:15), Dinner 18:00 to 22:00 (LO 21:00)
【Holidays】Thursdays and third Wednesday
【TEL】090-8130-1274
【Seats】 7 Counter Seats, 2 Tables

NO’AGE Concentré offers tea cocktails and pairings served in a luxurious setting for your enjoyment.

Located a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Shin-Shizuoka Station, the bar “NO’AGE Concentré” offers Japanese tea cocktails paired with teppanyaki dishes and sweets. The restaurant has six counter seats facing the griddle and tea kettle. With soothing music and a modern Japanese luxurious atmosphere, you will feel as if you are in a prime location in Tokyo or Kyoto, even though you are in Shizuoka.

The establishment is owned by Masamichi Itani, who also serves as the bartender and chef. His bartending skills have been highly acclaimed and he has received recognition for winning the Grand Prix in the Creative Category of the Yokohama International Cocktail Competition. His exceptional skills have been featured in several books on cocktails and food pairings.

Although the bar specialises in tea-based cocktails, Itani is flexible to accommodate individual preferences, including non-alcoholic options.

Enjoy a luxurious teppanyaki dinner (reservation required) or spend a chic and relaxing time during bar time after 21:00. Many people from within and outside of the prefecture, as well as from abroad, visit “NO’AGE Concentré” to enjoy Masamichi Itani’s skills, exhibiting the immeasurable potential of Shizuoka tea. If you have a chance, be sure to visit.

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【Budget】from ¥7000 per person
【Take-out】None
【Address】1F, 2-5-12 Takajo, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 420-0839
【Access】 15 min walk from Shizuoka Station
【Parking】Pay parking available nearby.
【Opening Hours】Advance booking recommended. Subject to change. Excluding bartime starting from 21:00, opening hours will be updated on social media and the website.
【Holidays】Mondays and third Sunday
【TEL】054-253-6615
【Seats】 6 Counter Seats

Maruyo Chaya is a Japanese cafe that specializes in Fukamushicha(deep steamed green tea) and rice balls.

Located at the southernmost tip of Shizuoka Prefecture, Omaezaki is surrounded by both ocean and mountains and is a treasure trove of local produce. Blessed with an abundance of locally produced delicacies, the area has produced many Shizuoka brand food products. Maruyo Chaya, a Japanese green tea café in Omaezaki City, prides itself on its fukamushicha made by a 75-year-long established tea wholesaler. Here, visitors can enjoy a lunch menu that pairs green tea with dishes all prepared by a dedicated chef.

The most popular item is the rice ball lunch. The chewy rice ball made with the variety “Milky Queen” pairs perfectly with the deep steamed tea(Fukamushicha) “Akane”. Visitors are also encouraged to try the ochazuke (rice with green tea), a dish full of the abundant ingredients of Omaezaki. In addition, you can enjoy a lunch menu using “Enshu Yumesaki Beef” (awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize) and other ingredients at a very reasonable price. They also offer a full lineup of high-quality confectioneries that only a tea specialist can provide.

After dinner, how about a tea blending experience at the tea presentation corner? A professional tea master will supervise you in blending and creating your favorite tea. It will surely be a wonderful memory of your visit to Shizuoka.

On a fine day, take time to unwind and relax on the terrace under the sunlight filtering through the ash trees while enjoying Maruyo Chaya’s rice balls and deep steamed green tea.

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【Budget】from ¥2000 per person
【Take-out】Available for certain dishes
【Address】1950-2 Kadoya, Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture,  437-1615
【Access】 Take the Shizutetsu bus bound for Omaezaki on the Osaka Line from the north exit of JR Kakegawa Station and get off at the Kamaike bus stop.
【Parking】Available
【Opening Hours】Retail shop 9:00 to 18:00, Café and Tea Ceremony 10:00 to 17:00(LO 16:30)
【Holidays】Wednesdays (Open on the 4th, 14th, 24th and Bank Holidays of every month)
【TEL】0120-04-6089
【Seats】 8 Table Seats

The finest gyokuro tea, well-known among the Japanese for its rich taste and fragrance can be found at Gyokuro-no-Sato.

Gyokuro is a premium green tea variety that boasts a mellow aroma and rich flavor. The regions famous for producing this precious Japanese green tea are Uji (Kyoto), Yame ( Fukuoka), and Asahina (Shizuoka). Gyokuro-no-Sato opened in October 1991 with the vision of promoting nature, culture, tradition, and history along with the Asahina region’s specialty, gyokuro.

Here visitors can enjoy dishes lavishly prepared using tea and locally sourced ingredients from the Asahina region. The soba noodles are specially made by blending green tea and buckwheat, resulting in a rich and flavorful taste. Additionally, you can enjoy the unique aroma of gyokuro in their gyokuro affogato and gyokuro oshiruko. If you’re looking for some local delicacies, try the Okabe-jiru soup made with wild yam, which is also available.

After dinner, take a walk in the elegant and beautiful Japanese garden. In the garden lies the Hyogetsu-tei tea house, situated on the Hyotan-Ike (Gourd Pond), where visitors can indulge in an authentic tea ceremony with gyokuro and matcha.

What kind of aroma and taste does genuine gyokuro have? It is well worth visiting Gyokuro-no-Sato just to experience its unique flavour. Please visit and immerse yourself in the world of genuine gyokuro.

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【Budget】from ¥2500 per person
【Take-out】Available for certain dishes
【Address】1214-3 Okabecho Nyuufune, Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 421-1115
【Access】 10 min drive from Fujieda Okabe IC on the Shin-Tomei, 20 min drive from Yaizu IC on the Tomei, Take the Fujieda City bus and get off at “Gyokuro-no-Sato” stop
【Parking】Available
【Opening Hours】Tea House and Restaurant 11:00 to 15:00 (LO 14:30)
【Holidays】28th December to 2nd January
【TEL】054-668-0019
【Seats】 24 Table Seats, 48 Tatami spaces

Restaurant Maruobara in Fujinokuni Tea Museum, Shizuoka satisfies both the mind and appetite of tea lovers.

Located on the Makinohara Plateau in Shizuoka Prefecture, Fujinokuni Tea Museum is a tea museum where visitors can enjoy tea experiences and tea ceremony events. On the premises is the café-restaurant Maruohara, where visitors can enjoy green tea sweets, green tea kaiseki cuisine, and a Shizuoka tea drinking contest. Green tea confectioneries are also offered on the café menu in the retail corner. The menu differs from that of the restaurant, so if you are still hungry, you can enjoy them as well!

Although events can be limited during the new tea harvest season in April and May due to the busy schedules of the tea farmers, Fujinokuni Tea Museum hosts tea presentations, tea seminars, and events throughout the year.

Indulge in an immersive experience at this tea museum that promises to tantalize your senses, enlighten your mind, and satiate your taste buds with its exquisite range of teas. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, savor, and enjoy!

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【Budget】from ¥2500 per person
【Take-out】Available for certain dishes
【Address】3053-2 Fujimicho, Kanaya, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 428-0034, Japan
【Access】 10 minutes by car from the Sagara Makinohara IC on the Tomei Expressway, 10 minutes by car from the Shimada Kanaya IC of the New Tomei Expressway
【Opening Hours】11:00 to 14:00 (LO 13:30)
【Holidays】Monday to Thursday (Open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.)
【TEL】0547-54-5181 (during Opening Hours)
【Seats】 90 Table Seats

Summary of the Discover 5 Recommended Destinations for a Gourmet Lunch and the finest Japanese Green Tea!【Shizuoka Prefecture】

We have presented five stores and facilities in Shizuoka where visitors can experience traditional tea culture and enjoy gourmet food. Come and indulge in the unique tea experiences that Shizuoka has to offer. There are many more spots in Shizuoka Prefecture for tea, sake, and gourmet food, and we plan to introduce them in the future. Stay tuned for more information!

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