Tea Event

Japanese tea study tip, Prefectures in Japan

Japanese Tea Study Tip: Prefectures of Japan > Tea Regions in Japan

When I study tea, I tend to jump right into tea specific information.
For example, I am currently participating in the Japanese Tea Marathon to learn more about Japanese tea.

On the first day, I learned about Kagoshima.

During 4-hour sessions in which I spent 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, I learned about Kagoshima, tea in Kagoshima, tea company in Kagoshima, a tea farmer from Kagoshima.

I even brewed & tasted tea from Kagoshima, instructed by the tea marker Nobuo Orita-san (CEO, Ochaen) from Kagoshima.

Yet, all the information was floating around my head without getting absorbed.

Studying Backwards

My floating information started to stick to my brain when I spent time understanding regions in Japan.

When you learn about tea regions in Japan, you will often hear the term “prefecture”.

I am familiar with the term such as city, suburb, district, province, state. I didn’t even know what prefecture meant.

What is the meaning of prefecture in Japan?

Japanese tea study tip, Prefectures in Japan
Yeah, I searched 'what is prefecture?' on Google lol

Prefectures of Japan (都道府県, todōfuken) are one of the basic local entities of Japan. 

Prefectures of Japan

Japan is divided into 9 regions, which are split into 47 smaller prefectures. Those regions are not formally specified; they do not have elected officials nor are they corporate bodies. However, the practice of ordering prefectures based on their geographic region is traditional.

The prefectures are also often grouped into eight regions (Chihō). Those regions are not formally specified, they do not have elected officials, nor are they corporate bodies. But the practice of ordering prefectures based on their geographic region is traditional.[1] This ordering is mirrored in Japan’s International Organization for Standardization (ISO) coding.[14] From north to south (numbering in ISO 3166-2:JP order), the prefectures of Japan and their commonly associated regions are:

Fun Facts

  • Largest prefecture – Hokkaido
  • Smallest prefecture – Kagawa
  • Largest tea growing region – Shizuoka 
  • Second largest tea growing region – Kagoshima 
  • Prefecture with the highest population density – Tokyo
  • Prefecture with the most islands – Nagasaki
  • Prefecture with the most dogs – Aichi
  • Prefecture with the smallest population – Tottori

Once I understood the overall geographical structure in Japan, it became much easier to understand tea regions in Japan.  

Four Sisters Tea

Joining Sydney Tea Meetup at Four Sisters Tea.

August 18, 2018

The next day I first arrived in Sydney, Australia, I joined one of the tea meetups hosted by Sydney Tea Meetup and had cosy tea time.

Adeline, the organiser of the Sydney Tea Meetup, is brewing tea.

Whether you are visiting or trying to settle down in a new place, Meetup is a great way to find people you can share interests and make connections. I was so thankful to find the Sydney Tea Meetup.

Although I had to travel an hour from the Sydney CBD to Four Sisters Tea where the meetup was occurring. I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the meetup. I was excited to join. How exciting to meet tea people in a country you are not familiar with?

I took a bus to stop at the Museum Station (only 2 stops)
It was a chilly cold morning.
Nice sunshine though
When I arrived, the owner of Four Sisters Tea was preparing tea until Adeline was arriving.
I am writing this review two years after I visited, so I don’t remember which tea I drank. But I remember the feeling how everyone was welcoming.
Tea & snack <3
White Tea – Baihao Yinzhen 白毫銀針
White Tea – Baihao Yinzhen 白毫銀針
White Tea – Baihao Yinzhen 白毫銀針
White Tea – Baihao Yinzhen 白毫銀針

Baihao Yinzhen, also known as Silver Needle, is a white tea produced in Fujian Province in China.

Oolong Tea – Tieguanyin
Oolong Tea – Tieguanyin
Oolong tea – Da Hong Po
Oolong tea – Da Hong Po
Oolong tea – Da Hong Po
Black Tea – Lapsang souchong 正山小種
Black Tea – Lapsang souchong 正山小種
Black Tea – Lapsang souchong 正山小種
Black Tea – Lapsang souchong 正山小種
Black Tea – Jin Jun Mei
Black Tea – Jin Jun Mei
Black Tea – Jin Jun Mei
Four Sisters Tea has a community vibe
There were several teawares for selling. I liked this colourful teacup.
However, if I remember correctly the cup was around 750-800AUD so I put it down…lol
You can purchase samples
I visited Mabroc tea factory in Sri Lanka in 2017. I was surprised to find Mabroc tea here.
I didn’t know what this was. The owner told me it’s good for losing weight and increase health.
It’s a fun tea house with lots of varieties.
The weather was gorgeous on the way back.
When I looked up the sky looked like a heart shape. I felt like the city was welcoming me.
Four Sisters Tea