Kagoshima (鹿児島)
Now Japan's largest crude-tea producer by volume, and the engine of export matcha growth.
| Where | Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Kyushu |
|---|---|
| Known for | Matcha (tencha), sencha, wakoucha |
About the region
Warm climate means an early first harvest. Large, mechanised fields suit tencha production for matcha, which is why Kagoshima features in the export boom: Ministry of Finance figures put 2025 green-tea exports at 72.1 billion yen, up 98% year on year, with powdered tea about 84% of value.
Visit note: Chiran, in Minamikyushu City, combines tea fields with a preserved samurai district.
Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) crop statistics; Ministry of Finance trade statistics; Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); prefectural and municipal official information. Checked 5 November 2026.
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