Sayama, Saitama (狭山)
The northern tea of the Kanto plain: 'Sayama tea' is counted among Japan's three great teas in a traditional saying.
| Where | Saitama Prefecture (Iruma, Tokorozawa, Sayama) |
|---|---|
| Known for | Sencha, wakoucha |
About the region
A proverb ranks Uji for colour, Shizuoka for aroma and Sayama for flavour — a nod to Sayama's repeated firing (Sayama hiire) that gives a rich taste. It is one of Japan's northernmost commercial tea areas, so leaves grow thick in the cold.
Visit note: fields spread across the Sayama hills about an hour from central Tokyo.
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.
Advertisement