Are you currently working in the tea industry or considering a career in it? Do you have a passion for Japanese tea and want to deepen your knowledge? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you: a two-week Japanese Tea Master Course. This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Japanese tea, equipping you to confidently share your knowledge and better serve your customers. The program covers an extensive range of topics, from tea cultivation and processing; to tea industry and culture. Beyond theoretical learning, you will also gain valuable hands-on experience with Japanese tea under the guidance of seasoned tea professionals, who will deliver in-depth knowledge and cultural insights in a clear and engaging manner. Moreover, the tea course takes place in the Kyoto region, renowned for its over 800 years of Japanese tea cultivation history and celebrated as the birthplace of the iconic Ujicha brand. Therefore, by participating, you will gain exclusive insider knowledge, access to unique experiences, and resources that will benefit you throughout your tea career.
Course Content
Day 0 – Welcome tea mingle
Day 1 – Course introduction, Tea present & future, Gyokuro tasting & evaluation, Tea cultivation & processing
Day 2 – Japanese tea industry, Organic Tea Farming, Tamaryokucha tasting & evaluation, Tea ceremonies
Day 3 – Machine harvesting exercise on a tea farm; Tea pan-firing exercise
Day 4 – Visit to a historic tencha factory, Visit to an inspiring tea shop
Day 5 – Visit to a creative tea shop, Sado ceremony experience
Weekend – Free time
Day 6 – Tea components, Japanese tea export, Wakocha tasting & evaluation, Japanese teaware
Day 7 – Visit to a matcha factory, Visit a bamboo crafts workshop
Day 8 – Tea hand-picking exercise on a tea farm; Traditional tea hand-rolling exercise
Day 9 – Visit to a historic pottery area, Senchado ceremony experience
Day 10 – Water, Rare Japanese teas, Chakabuki, Course closing & party
*Content may be revised
Course Dates
Summer Course: 8th – 20th Jun, 2025 (application deadline 28th Feb 2025)
Autumn Course: 7th – 19th Sep, 2025 (application deadline 11th May 2025)
Classes will run from Monday to Friday. Weekend in between will be free to explore Kyoto or other cities in Japan.
Course Location
The course will be held at our classroom in Kyoto City center with day trips to nearby towns like Uji, Wazuka, Kyotanabe, Shigaraki and Takayama.
Course Language
The course is delivered in English with Japanese translation provided as needed.
Group Size
To ensure personalized learning and attentive instruction, the course is limited to 12 people.
Course Instructors
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Tomoyuki Nishimura (Senmu) Senmu, the owner of one of the largest matcha processing factories in the region and an experienced tea professional, will teach about matcha production. |
Kenta Hosoi Kenta, the leader of the Wazuka Tea Hand-Rolling Preservation Association and president of his family tea farm, will share his expertise on traditional Japanese tea-making. |
Kaoru Nakai (Nakai Sensei) Nakai Sensei, a certified instructor of Urasenke tea ceremony, Furyuu Sencha ceremony, and Chikusenryu flower arrangement, will lead tea ceremony activities. |
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Simona Suzuki Simona, president of the Global Japanese Tea Association and a licensed Urasenke tea ceremony instructor, will guide students through tea tasting and evaluation. |
Yasuharu Matsumoto (Matsu) Matsu, co-executive officer of the Global Japanese Tea Association and vice president of Obubu Tea, will deliver classes on the Japanese tea industry and tea science. |
Akihiro Kita (Akky) Akky, president of Obubu Tea and a certified Japanese tea instructor with over 20 years of tea farming experience, will lead tea cultivation exercises. |
Additional knowledgeable and experienced tea instructors will cover other specialized topics throughout the course.
Graduate Voices
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Tiffany – the founder of Minnesota Tea Society in the USA, 2024 course “Amazing! Covered everything that is essential to tea and understanding how it relates to past, present and future.” |
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Steen – IT Consultant in Sweden, 2023 course “The course was really good with lots of topics and visits to relevant sites. Looking back at two weeks, we have done and learned so much!” |
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Susanne – the founder of Horenso Consulting in Germany, 2019 course “Everything was important and useful! Many details about all parts a foreigner would not know. Logical and well prepared.” |
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Simone – the owner of More Tea in Australia, 2018 course “The course covered a wide variety of subjects presented in a warm and inviting manner. Altogether brilliant, fun, informative and hands-on. Cemented all I have learned through online study and reading.” |
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Kori – the founder of Piano Black Trade Co. in the USA, 2018 course “Absolutely fantastic! Very good mix of hands-on experiences and classroom theory. Really appreciated the diversity of class content and showing the whole regional Kyoto tea industry.” |
Requirements
Japanese Tea Intermediate Course certificate is a requirement for joining the Master Course. Priority will be given to Tea Catalysts and Tea Fellows.
Course Cost
The cost of the course program is 350,000yen.
*10,000yen discount for Tea Fellows / Tea Catalysts on a yearly membership plan.
What is included:
- Course classes delivered by Japanese tea experts
- Course handouts
- Transport on the day trips out of Kyoto City
- Lunch on the day trips out of Kyoto City
- Course certificate upon successful course completion (full attendance of the course is required)
What is not included:
- Flight tickets to and from Japan
- Accommodation (the classroom is located in Kyoto City centre and there are many options for every budget)
- Meals (except for the day trip lunches and the closing party)
- Travel insurance (please choose an insurance that does not exclude the cover for farming activities and manual labour)
- Personal expenses
Cancelation Policy
More than 2 calendar months prior to the course start date: full refund (excluding transaction fees)
2 calendar months prior to the course start date: 50% refund
1 calendar month prior to the course start date: no refund
Registration
Applications for 2025 have closed. Dates for 2026 will be announced later.