I hope, one day in the future, a lot more people will learn about and visit this beautiful place. About an hour and a half from Kansai International Airport (Osaka), it’s easier to get to than you’d think - but still an absolute hidden gem. I lived there for three months during my summer break at university, and it was one of the most beautiful and picturesque places I’ve ever been. Nestled in the Kyoto prefecture and Uji region of Japan, it’s in the heart of tea country. Most of the town is covered in tea fields, with tea farming being the biggest industry in the area. The landscape is so beautiful that one of the fields is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. The town itself is a huge contrast from the skyscrapers and hectic lifestyle of the cities, with beautiful traditional buildings and acres of peaceful rolling green hills. I highly recommend it if you’re doing a tour of Japan and want a change of pace or sneak peak at what rural life is like in the country.

Wazuka Checklist

1. What to do? Take a tour of the tea fields and enjoy traditional Japanese tea at Obubu

2. Where to stay? Get an authentic and welcoming experience at Blodge Lodge

3. What to eat? Try matcha ice cream at Wazukajaya Yamajin on a hot day, and okonomiyaki at Tampopo in the evening

Watch a film I made in Wazuka and see inside a Japanese tea factory.