On Saturday, November 28, 2026, Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro will hold a matcha event called "Matcha o Tanoshimu Kai" (抹茶を楽しむ会, a gathering to enjoy matcha) for guests staying at the hotel, with Japanese tea instructor Mika Hasegawa as the guest instructor. The event is part of the Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project, which operates 29 accommodation-focused hotels across Japan and encourages travel that explores each region's lesser-known attractions.
About Minamiyamashiro
Minamiyamashiro, the only village in Kyoto Prefecture, is known as the main production area of Uji tea, one of Japan's leading tea brands, and tea-making culture remains part of daily life there. The temperature swings and morning fog typical of mountain areas suit the cultivation of quality tea leaves, and the village has long supported Kyoto's tea culture. Tea fields stretch out right in front of the hotel, and the scenery changes with the seasons. Spending time with the breeze and the scent of the tea fields is itself part of a stay in Minamiyamashiro.
What to Expect at the Event
The event is one of a series of four Japanese tea events held each year at Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro. This edition focuses on matcha, which is popular both in Japan and overseas. By staying in the main production area of Uji tea and learning about the flavor and background of matcha, participants can gain a deeper understanding of Japanese tea.
Mika Hasegawa will introduce three types of matcha produced in Minamiyamashiro. Participants compare the aromas of matchas with different strengths and flavors, feel the character of each, and then choose their favorite to whisk themselves. A tasting of tencha, the leaf used to make matcha, is also included. Tencha is rarely something people drink in everyday life, so the tasting offers a chance to learn about the steps that lead to matcha and to enjoy a delicate flavor that differs from matcha. Experiencing the raw tea leaf as well, rather than only drinking matcha, helps participants understand the background of tea production and the techniques passed down in the growing region.
About the Instructor
Mika Hasegawa is a Japanese tea instructor. After spending 10 years living in the United States, she returned to Japan, where she was moved by the taste of sencha and began visiting tea farmers to learn about Japanese tea. While working to promote Japanese tea as an instructor, she wanted to connect it with tourism and obtained the Kyoto City interpreter guide qualification. She plans a variety of events to share the appeal of Japanese tea with people in Japan and abroad.
Website: https://www.mikasteabox.com/
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Venue: Lobby Lounge, Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro
- Eligibility: Guests staying at Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro on the day of the event
- Admission: Free
- How to participate: Please speak to the front desk staff on the day. During event hours, groups of up to 4 people will be guided in turn.
Around the Hotel
Next to the hotel, Michi-no-Eki Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro-mura (道の駅 お茶の京都みなみやましろ村) sells products unique to the area, including sweets and original drinks made with Minamiyamashiro-grown tea called 「村茶」, as well as tea leaves. Visitors can enjoy the lingering taste of the tea from the event while taking in the tea fields and the local way of life.
Hotel Information
- Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro
- Address: 京都府相楽郡南山城村大字北大河原小字殿田105番地 (Minamiyamashiro-mura, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture)
- Website: https://www.marriott.co.jp/ukyfi
The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project is also offering its "Autumn Campaign" plan for a limited time until November 30, 2026. The plan is also suited to guests considering the event. Reservation page
