Photo/Illutration A demonstration of crafting the Takayama Chasen tea whisk is depicted in this image for illustrative purposes. (Provided by Nara Prefecture’s Ikoma city)

IKOMA, Nara Prefecture--A specialized tour here will cater to visitors from across the world who want a behind-the-scenes peek into “chasen” tea whisk artisanship amid the global matcha boom.

The one-day sightseeing package was proposed by Ikoma city and the Ikoma City Tourism Association for participants to see the making process of the area’s specialty, Takayama Chasen, and bask in a tea ceremony experience.

Prices for the tour to “take pleasure from tradition and gourmet cuisine” will start at 70,000 yen ($474), as a Japanese traditional “kaiseki” course meal is included in the charge as well.

The program aims to promote the appeal of local resources, with primarily inbound tourists in mind.

Takayama Chasen originates from the Takayama district in the northern part of Ikoma city. Known by a different name during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), the region was ruled by the Takayama clan in bygone days.

The Takayama family is said to have begun producing Takayama Chasen at the request of Murata Juko (1423-1502), who is particularly renowned as the founder of the “wabi-cha” style of tea enjoyment.

Chasen has recently become increasingly high profile now that matcha has surged in popularity outside Japan. Orders for tea whisks currently arrive from abroad more frequently.

Seeing this trend, Ikoma city sought to cash in on the potential tourism wave timed with the Osaka Kansai Expo.

The municipality is planning to organize its tour at the Sahoro store of the long-established Nakamoto Shuzoten sake brewery in the Kamimachi district within the city.

Visitors will watch a demonstration of how a tea whisk is crafted. Participants will be entertained by kaiseki cuisine paired with carefully selected sake from the brewery, too.

A ceremonial session will similarly be held to serve cups of tea in a candlelit setting. Guidance is to be provided via interpretation.

The tourism service is scheduled to start in September and expected to carry a price tag of a minimum of 70,000 yen, including tax.

To sell the tour, Ikoma city is reaching out to luxury hotel operators in Nara city and Osaka as well as travel agencies.

“Foreign guests often stay overnight at accommodations without meals and ask hotel concierges about notable tourism spots,” said a representative of Ikoma’s department of tourism, commerce and industry. “Our hope is that accommodation staff members, among other promoters, will share our package information with these guests, encouraging them to visit a variety of destinations in the surrounding area.”

Related News