🍵 Yunomi.Club News 🍵 Exploring Tea Villages #5 — Niyodogawa, Kochi Prefecture

Discover the mountain-grown tea of Kochi, shaped by the crystal-clear waters of the Niyodo River.

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Exploring Tea Villages #5Niyodogawa, Kochi

Continuing our journey through Japan's tea villages, we return to the island of Shikoku, where our journey takes us to Kochi Prefecture, home to one of Japan's most overlooked tea regions: Tosa-cha (土佐茶).

Nestled among the mountains of Shikoku, Kochi produces only a small fraction of Japan's tea. Yet for decades, much of its harvest quietly found its way into blends from larger tea-producing regions, appreciated for its quality but rarely recognized by name. Today, local growers are proudly introducing Tosa-cha as a tea with its own unique identity—one shaped by steep mountain slopes, the crystal-clear waters of the Niyodo River, and generations of dedicated tea farmers.

Note: The top eight tea-producing prefectures account for 90.6% of Japan's 75,100-ton production in 2025: Kagoshima (30k tons), Shizuoka (24.1k tons), Mie (4860 tons), Kyoto (2280 tons), Fukuoka (1850 tons), Miyazaki (2880 tons), Kumamoto (1140 tons), Saitama (921 tons).

Where Mountain Shape the Tea

Kochi's tea gardens stretch through the mountains of Shikoku, many overlooking the crystal-clear Niyodo River, whose striking blue waters have earned it the nickname "Niyodo Blue."

Cool mountain mornings, frequent mist, and pure river water create ideal growing conditions, while the steep terrain means tea farming remains a hands-on craft. More than three-quarters of Kochi's tea fields are located on mountain slopes, making every harvest a labor of dedication.

The result is tea known for its refreshing aroma, gentle sweetness, and exceptionally clean finish.

A Cooperative Built Around Community

One of the producers we're honored to work with is the Ikegawa Tea Farm Cooperative.

Founded in 2002, the cooperative brings together six farming families in the mountain town of Niyodogawa. By working together—from cultivation to processing—they've preserved local tea-making traditions while introducing Kochi tea to a wider audience.

Their commitment to quality has earned recognition at both regional and national tea competitions, including the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the Kansai Regional Tea Competition, along with numerous top honors in Kochi Prefecture. But for the farmers themselves, the greatest achievement is seeing Kochi tea appreciated under its own name.

A Diverse Tea Culture

While our journey today takes us to the mountain tea gardens of Niyodogawa, Kochi's tea culture extends far beyond sencha.

The prefecture is also home to some of Japan's rarest traditional teas, including Goishicha, one of Japan's few traditional fermented teas; Riguricha, an exceptionally rare mountain-grown pan-roasted tea made from zairai tea plants; and Tosa Bancha, the everyday tea enjoyed by local families for generations.

It's just one more reason Kochi remains one of Japan's most diverse tea-producing regions.

Taste the Mountains of Kochi

Whether you're discovering Kochi tea for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, these teas offer a glimpse into one of Japan's most overlooked tea regions.

#0596.K4 🍵 2026 Ikegawa Tea Farm Coop: First Flush Kochi Sencha, Kiri no Kaori

#0858.K4 🍵 2026 Ikegawa Tea Farm Coop: First Flush Shaded Kochi Sencha (Kabusecha)

#0856.K4 🍵 2026 Ikegawa Tea Farm Coop: First Flush Kochi Sencha, Kiri no Zei

#0857.K4 🍵 2026 Ikegawa Tea Farm Coop: First Flush Kochi Sencha, Kiri no Kiwami

#0592.K4 Ikegawa Tea Farm Coop: Spring First Flush Kochi Hojicha (Dark Roasted Sencha), Tosa Aburicha

#0215.K4 Dobashien Tea #22: Kochi Sencha, Tosa no Kaori

#0600.K4 Goishicha from the Otoyo Town Goishicha Producer's Association

#0447.K4 Kunitomo: Riguricha Mitsuranko - The Honey Orchid - Wild, Handpicked Kamairicha

#0306.K4 Furyu: Tosa Bancha

Every cup tells the story of a region that spent decades behind the scenes. Today, thanks to the dedication of its growers, Kochi tea is finally being enjoyed under its own name.

Thank you for traveling with us through Japan's tea villages.

Until next time.

Discover more from Shikoku

From mountain villages to rare regional teas, continue exploring one of Japan's most fascinating tea-growing island.

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