A Virtual Japanese Green Tea Tour: Tokyo Online Experience
Arigato Japan has been the pioneer for English-speaking Japanese tours for many years, featured by the New York Times Travel Shows, CNN Travel, and more. With the rise of COVID-19, a brand-new tour was born: A virtual green tea tour named “Tokyo Online: Green Teatime in Japan”. In this article, I want to share with you a small segment of the virtual tour, and my first-person experience of this brand-new experience.
The Host and the Organization
It was hosted by Lauren, a partner of Arigato Japan, who has been an extraordinary tour guide for close to a decade. Having lived there for multiple decades, Lauren has a deep passion for Japan, its history, its culture, food, the world of Japanese tea, and sharing the world of Japan through her organization’s many offerings. Arigato Food Tours has been featured by several prominent media outlets:
| Organization Recognition | Media Features |
|---|---|
| Arigato Food Tours | New York Times Travel Shows, CNN Travel, Forbes and Newsweek |
| Industry Presence | U.S. News & World Report Travel Weekly, Travel with Darley |
The Experience of Japanese Tea
There are two elements in the world of tea that have helped drive a critical part of my love for tea: The experience of tea and the complexities of Japanese tea. This virtual tour provides a unique way to explore the following:
- Provide experiences related to Japanese green tea.
- Simplify the beautiful world of Japanese green tea for easy enjoyment.
- Teach some tips on brewing better green tea at home.
- Provide an interactive experience of brewing and drinking tea together.
What is the Tour Like?
This tour began with introductions and included individuals from the Czech Republic, Tokyo, and America. Everyone on the tour loves green tea or Japan in some way, so it was very nice to hang out with people with similar passions. Her tour included the making of Japanese green tea, the “better” way. She explained this so well in simple terms.
Walking through each of the steps, each participant made a delicious cup of tea and reviewed it accordingly. As Lauren details the health benefits of tea, her passion for education shines. The tour then moves to the history of tea, and what makes matcha unique and concludes with participant questions.
Types of Tea Explored
While the focus is on the green varieties, the world of tea includes many distinct types:
- White Tea
- Green Tea
- Oolong Tea
- Black Tea
- Dark Tea (Pu’erh)
- Herbal Teas
Understanding the Complexities
On the complexities of Japanese tea, look no further than to these considerations: Why is the year’s first batch of Japanese tea so important? What makes it unique? Why has Japanese culture developed specific brewing instructions for some specific teas? The questions are seemingly endless, yet the tour helps to synthesize their organization’s value for any tea lovers and “Japan lovers” in the world.
