Fukujuen CHA Yugaku Park, Kizugawa

Fukujuen CHA Yugaku Park, also known as CHA Experience Park, is a facility dedicated to the research, trial production, and comprehensive exploration of tea culture. Located in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, the park is operated by Fukujuen, a tea company founded in 1790. The facility serves as a meeting place for consumers, producers, and researchers to engage with tea through various educational and hands-on experiences.

The park features a museum documenting the history of tea, its cultivation, processing methods, and diverse uses across different cultures. Visitors can explore example tea rooms representing tea traditions from around the world, showcasing how tea is prepared and enjoyed in different countries including England and Russia. The facility provides comprehensive insights into Uji tea culture, which has been central to Kyoto Prefecture's tea production for centuries.

The park offers multiple hands-on workshops requiring advance reservations, including hand-rolling tea, grinding matcha with a stone mortar (approximately ¥1,320), tea brewing classes (approximately ¥1,320), making Uji tea with ceramic plates, and even Asahiyaki pottery bowl creation. Tea researchers at the facility provide instruction on traditional cultivation practices and optimal preparation techniques for various tea types. The on-site Cafe Hana Chajin operates without reservation requirements, serving matcha opera cake, Japanese black tea, and stone mill matcha experiences.

The park is accessible via a 7-minute walk from Yamadagawa Station or a 15-minute walk from Takanohara Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. Reservations are required for all experiential programs, and fees vary depending on the chosen activity, starting from approximately ¥1,080. The park maintains irregular closing days, so visitors should confirm availability when making reservations.