Gotemba: Enjoy Whisky, Craft Beer, Tea, and Horse Riding by Mt.Fuji
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Located near Mt. Fuji, Gotemba City is a great destination for leisure and outdoor activities near Tokyo. We introduce four exciting things to do here: a tour of Kirin Mt. Fuji Whisky Distillery, a tea farming workshop, horse riding, and enjoying craft beer and hot springs at Gotemba Kogen Resort.
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Tokyo, Japan
MATCHA's promotional account for corporate and local government advertising. We aim to provide useful information to our readers in an enjoyable manner.
Gotemba City: Thriving at the Foot of Mt. Fuji
For many visitors to Japan, Gotemba is instantly associated with the Gotemba Premium Outlets, which can be accessed by direct bus from Tokyo. Once here, you’ll notice that the city is right at the foot of Mt. Fuji! Any elevated area or high building gives you the chance to take an incredible close-up photo of Japan’s most sacred peak.
Tea fields by Mt. Fuji. Picture courtesy of Katsumata Tea
However, there is much more to enjoy in Gotemba besides the outlets and the scenic views. Located on the southeastern side of Mt. Fuji, this city benefits from all the blessings offered by the volcanic environment. These include the rich subterranean rivers with clear water, soil that is full of nutrients and minerals and excellent for agriculture, lush forests with plenty of fresh air, and last but not least, hot springs!
These features make Gotemba the ideal destination for those who seek wellness and leisure amid nature. In this article, we introduce four exciting things to do in Gotemba as part of a reinvigorating trip full of insights into Japanese culture.
1. Experience Shizuoka’s Local Tea Culture at Katsumata Tea
Picture courtesy of Katsumata Tea Co., Ltd.
The great temperature differences between night and day, along with the cool mountain air coming from Mt. Fuji, make Gotemba an ideal location for growing tea. Tea has been grown in this area since time immemorial; there are records about the local community sending tea offerings to the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period (1603-1868).
These tea farming and processing traditions that span over approximately four centuries have been inherited by local tea manufacturers such as Katsumata Tea (Japanese).
Picture courtesy of Odakyu Agency Inc.
Visit Katsumata Tea to experience aspects of tea culture for yourself! Tea picking activities are offered between late May and early October. You’ll have the chance to wear the traditional outfit of tea farmers and learn what parts of the plant should be picked in order to make truly flavorful tea.
Photo by Pixta
At Katsumata Tea, you can also take part in a workshop that involves kneading tea leaves by hand.
The green tea that is usually available in stores is processed by machines. Kneading the tea leaves by hand is a traditional method preserved among a very limited number of tea manufacturers in Japan, and Katsumata Tea is one of them.
Hand-kneaded tea looks and tastes very different from machine-processed tea! The steamed leaves are rolled, loosened, and rubbed by hand according to a fixed procedure in order to eliminate the moisture without breaking the leaves. At the end of this process, the tea leaves look like small, dark-green needles with a golden glow. Because they are not being cut or burned, once inserted in hot water, the leaves recover their original shape!
Photo by Pixta
The color of the infusion is a vibrant pale green. As for the taste, it’s incredibly deep and rich; thicker than machine-processed tea. It’s a truly invigorating flavor that has led to hand-knead tea being considered particularly high-quality.
The procedure of kneading the tea leaves by hand to make sencha tea usually takes about five hours in total. During the workshop, you’ll experience a shortened version of this process while receiving instructions from an expert.
Workshop participants will also get the chance to taste the tea they kneaded themselves by hand! The tea professionals at Katsumata Tea will tell you all about how to adjust the water temperature in order to brew excellent-tasting tea. After taking a sip of hand-kneaded tea grown at the foot of Mt. Fuji, you might never want to drink a different type of green tea again!
Picture courtesy of Odakyu Agency Inc.
At Katsumata Tea, you can also enjoy a herb tea workshop where you blend several types of herbs under a pharmacist’s guidance to create an original organic tea blend. We recommend this activity to visitors who seek a truly relaxing leisure activity by Mt. Fuji.
Please access the link below to learn more details on the activities offered at Katsumata Tea and to book the activity you’d like to take part in.
Book the Tea Workshop at Katsumata Tea in Gotemba
2. Enjoy Horse Riding with Views of Mt. Fuji at Okamoto Riding Club Japan
Picture courtesy of Okamoto Riding Club Japan
Imagine yourself enjoying a leisurely horse ride in a location with lush greenery, fresh air, and splendid views of Mt. Fuji! This vision can become reality at Okamoto Riding Club Japan in Gotemba, just a short trip away from Tokyo. Besides assisted riding, you can interact with adorable horses by feeding and grooming them.
Picture courtesy of Okamoto Riding Club Japan
Okamoto Riding Club Japan was established in 2012 by Masami Okamoto, a former World Championship competitor. Mr. Okamoto has gained over ten years of expertise in North America, Europe, and New Zealand. He has gathered a team of very knowledgeable and skilled instructors who are united in their love for horses and can offer lessons in English.
Picture courtesy of Okamoto Riding Club Japan
Okamoto Riding Club can accommodate visitors of any skill level, from beginners to advanced riders. The club can be frequented on a membership system or can be visited for one riding experience only (*prior reservation required at least 24 hours in advance by phone or online).
Pictures courtesy of Ariel Lee
We suggest taking the time to enjoy the special plan that includes feeding the horse, taking a walk in the surroundings, riding practice, and grooming the horse. Interacting with these strong, beautiful creatures will leave you feeling refreshed and joyful. Riding in the practice area with views of Mt. Fuji is an incredibly rewarding experience that can only be enjoyed in Gotemba!
Please access the link below to book the horse riding experience at Okamoto Riding Club Japan:
Book a horse riding experience at Okamoto Riding Club Japan
3. Taste Excellent Whisky! A Tour of the Kirin Mt. Fuji Distillery
Pictures courtesy of Ariel Lee
Some of the best Japanese whisky is being produced right here in Gotemba! The Mt. Fuji Distillery operated by Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd. was established in 1973. This location was chosen mainly because of rich natural surroundings. The underground water is of excellent quality after being filtered and purified over the span of around 50 years in the strata nourished by Mt. Fuji. The mists that enshroud this region every so often hydrate the forest, which in turn purifies the air.
The Kirin Mt. Fuji Distillery makes both malt and grain whisky, as well as blended varieties, having inherited and refined production methods from prominent manufacturers based in the USA and the UK.
Picture courtesy of Kirin Mt. Fuji Gotemba Distillery
A tour of the Kirin Mt. Fuji Distillery gives you the chance to learn more about each stage of the whisky-making process, peek inside the production facilities, and, of course, take part in a whisky tasting! The tours are held three times a day as of February 2023 and usually take about 80 minutes.
First, you’ll watch an immersive projection mapping movie in the Whisky Theater that offers insights into the history of the Mt. Fuji Distillery and all the processes involved in making excellent whisky.
One of the most impressive parts of the distillery tour is the corner that illustrates the maturation process. Once you see this exhibit, you’ll understand that whisky is a gift of time. It takes from eight to twelve years for the beverage to reach its maturation peak.
The Aroma Booth, where you get to smell the fragrance of various types of whisky and understand the complexity of their aromas, is another highlight. In the Archive, you’ll see award-winning products on display - some of which cannot be obtained anymore!
Pictures courtesy of Ariel Lee
In the tasting area, tour participants can taste two types of whisky made at this distillery. There are even rare and exclusive products available for tasting for a separate fee! You can purchase your favorite whisky at the gift shop.
We also recommend taking a walk in the Kirin Forest to enjoy the rich natural surroundings, as well as enjoy the Mt. Fuji and Gotemba city views from the rooftop observatory!
4. Enjoy Excellent Craft Beer, Cuisine, and Hot Springs at Gotemba Kogen Resort
Picture courtesy of Ariel Lee
Gotemba Kogen Resort Toki no Sumika is an expansive complex that comprises hotels and glamping facilities, restaurants and cafes, hot spring and sports facilities, a brewery, a winery, and many other leisure facilities. With seasonal highlights such as magnificent winter illuminations and cherry blossom tunnels in the spring, this resort is the perfect outdoor getaway from Tokyo.
At Grand Table and Mugibatake, the main dining facilities within the complex, you can enjoy exquisite cuisine along with the delicious craft beer made by Gotemba Kogen Brewery. This facility makes five types of original craft beer (Pils, Weizen, Weizenbock, Schwartz, and Gotemba Koshihikari Lager, the latter of which is made using Koshihikari rice (*1), as well as exclusive seasonal varieties.
*1 Koshihikari: a type of short-grain rice that was developed in Japan and is widely loved in Japanese households throughout the country.
If you order the Craft Beer Sampling set, you get to taste six beer varieties and discover which you like best while enjoying the flavor differences. The beer made at Gotemba Kogen Brewery has become a signature local souvenir of Gotemba.
The quality of soil and underground water, as well as the climate in the area around Mt. Fuji, are also ideal for cultivating grapes and making wine. This prompted the Gotemba Kogen Resort to venture into establishing a winery.
Gotemba Kogen Winery produces a wide variety of flavorful wines that could satisfy any taste. They even make a rare type of orange wine using mikan oranges from Higashi-Izu, a city in the Izu Peninsula that is famous for producing mikan. Even a sip of orange wine will leave you impressed with its full-bodied, aromatic taste!
Among the highlights of Gotemba Kogen Resort are its hot spring facilities. Chame-Yudono, in particular, occupies a renovated traditional Japanese building with impressive wooden architecture. Dedicated to guests who wish to unwind in complete leisure and tranquility, this facility can only be used by guests over 18 years of age.
In addition to hot spring baths, lounge areas, and dining facilities, Chame-Yudono also has a rooftop bathing and sauna area facing Mt Fuji!
With all the leisure activities it offers--from hot springs and sports to hands-on workshops and even a goldfish aquarium--Gotemba Kogen Resort is the perfect place to spend one or two perfect days enjoying the outdoors and great dining by Mt. Fuji!
Accessing Gotemba from Tokyo
Shinjuku Bus Terminal. Photo by Pixta
Gotemba can be reached in about two hours or less from Tokyo by highway bus, train, or car. There are buses operated by Odakyu-Hakone Highway Bus departing for Gotemba Station from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal every 30 minutes during the day. A one-way ride takes about one hour and 40 minutes and can cost less than 2,000 yen. (*Fees vary by bus type and the number of stops along the way.)
If you travel by train, the easiest way is to take the Special Express Romancecar Fujisan on the Odakyu Odawara Line from Shinjuku Station. It takes you directly to Gotemba Station in one hour and 35 minutes. The fare costs 2,710 yen as of February 2023.
It is also possible to travel by regular train from Tokyo to Gotemba. If you board the train at Tokyo Station, you’ll be changing trains at Kozu Station. Alternatively, if you take a train from Shinjuku Station, you'll change trains at Shin-Matsuda Station. The fee is less than 2,000 yen and the ride takes a little over two hours.
If you travel by car, the ride from Tokyo to the Gotemba Interchange takes about one hour and 10 minutes via the Tomei Expressway. For more information, please refer to this page (Japanese).
Enjoy a Wholesome Experience of Mt. Fuji in Gotemba
Photo by Pixta
A visit to Gotemba will give you the chance to discover that a trip to Mt. Fuji means so much more than scenic views alone. The entire natural environment and local climate are heavily influenced by this mountain, resulting in blessings such as exquisite food and beverages, hot springs, and rich natural surroundings that give a higher quality to life.
We hope you’ll take the next opportunity to spend time in Gotemba at the foot of Mt. Fuji; enjoying the outdoors and the excellent food and beverages made here.
Written by Ramona Taranu
In cooperation with Gotemba City
MATCHA's promotional account for corporate and local government advertising. We aim to provide useful information to our readers in an enjoyable manner.
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