When you think of Shizuoka, you think of tea. And when you think of tea, you think of me. The area around the Katsuo Trail is full of tea plantations, and while riding through them, you’re bound to want to stop for a cup.
I’ve got you covered!
The area from along the Oi River to the Southern Alps is where I went bikepacking for the first time, and it's also where I first whisked matcha while out on a ride.
You can read about that experience in the SimWorks article, “-Monday Selection- Cross the Southern Alps!”
This time, Lucas from Papersky introduced me to a fantastic local tea farmer, and we’ve arranged to have tea served on a wooden deck built right in the middle of a beautiful tea plantation.
The tea farm is called "Miyamaen." They grow their tea in the mountainous area just inland from the Oi River. Check out the video of the Katsuo Trail below.
Where you drink is part of the tea experience
Beyond the tea you drink daily, where and how you drink it are also crucial elements of the experience. I’ve whisked tea in many places while riding because that’s the only way to enjoy a tea experience unique to that moment. For this RIDEALIVE, I’m really looking forward to experiencing some special tea in a special place with all of you.
We will depart from the campsite at 9:30 AM on Day 2 and ride about 15km to reach the tea plantation.
Sign up for BIKE to Tea using the form below.
Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
RIDEALIVE 2026 BIKE to Tea
Date: November 8th (Sun)
Depart campsite: 9:30
Tea time: 11:00~12:00 (approx.)Participation fee: 3,000 yen (tax included)
Location: Miyamaen (GoogleMap)
Distance: 14km/160m elevation gainAdvance registration required
I look forward to seeing you there.
