Before you stands Ujitawara Town Hall a place deeply intertwined with the story of Japanese green tea. What if these walls could talk? They would tell a tale of transformation.
Ujitawara Town Hall stands as a symbol of a town steeped in history. This town made its mark as the birthplace of Japanese green tea. For centuries Ujitawara has been a vital link between Yamashiro Nara and Ōmi. The town’s story is etched in tea leaves and ancient pathways.
Tea cultivation took root here in the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. A priest Myo-e’s disciple introduced the cultivation method. Obukudani located at the foot of Mt Jubu became the first place where tea seeds were planted. Tea from Obukudani gained popularity. It was even presented to the Shogunate and Imperial House.
But the real revolution happened in the Edo period. Soen Nagatani a tea dealer from Yuyadani. He spent 15 years perfecting a new tea method. Nagatani sought to create tea “as bright as fresh tea leaves”. He developed “Aosei Sencha Seiho”. This method involves kneading tea leaves by hand and extracting water with heat. This became the foundation of modern Japanese green tea.
Nagatani traveled to Edo now Tokyo. He sold his green tea through Kahei Yamamoto. Yamamoto later opened Yamamotoyama Store. The tea was quickly hailed as the “Best in Japan”. It sparked a green tea boom.
Yuyadani’s tea industry flourished. Large tea wholesale stores and tea farmers lined the streets. Soen’s home was restored in Yuyadani. Visitors can see the remains of his tea dryer. Yuyadani’s streetscapes earned recognition as “Japan Heritage”. This included Soen’s birthplace tea plantations tea dealers and tea farmers.
Even today over 100 tea farmers in Ujitawara Town produce tea. Tea events are held especially during the fresh tea season. The town promotes sweets made with tea. Ujitawara Town carries its tea heritage with pride.
Ujitawara has a mayor-council government. The town council has 12 members. Ujitawara contributes two members to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly.
Ujitawara is a rural area. Its economy relies on agriculture and forestry. It is known for green tea and dried persimmons. The town has two industrial parks. Nearly 60 companies operate there.
As you stand here at Ujitawara Town Hall remember the legacy of tea. It is a legacy of innovation hard work and a deep connection to the land. The story of Ujitawara is a story of green tea.