Yame
2 tours available
Why Visit Yame
Yame is a tranquil town in southern Fukuoka Prefecture renowned for producing some of Japan's most prized green tea. Yame gyokuro, a shade-grown tea with a rich umami sweetness, consistently wins the highest accolades at national competitions — and the rolling tea fields that surround the town are a beautiful sight in their own right.
Beyond tea, Yame is a living museum of traditional crafts. The area is known for Yame lanterns made from handmade washi paper, intricate Buddhist altar carvings (butsudan), and indigo-dyed textiles. The old town's white-walled storehouses and Edo-period streets remain largely intact, offering a window into rural Kyushu life far removed from the bustle of Fukuoka city, just 90 minutes to the north.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (April – May) — The first tea harvest (shincha) in late April is a celebrated event. Tea fields glow a vivid emerald under spring sunlight.
Autumn (September – October) — The Yame Lantern Festival lights up the old town with hundreds of handmade washi-paper lanterns in intricate designs.
Year-round — Tea tastings and craft workshops operate throughout the year. The town's pace is unhurried in every season.
Insider Tips
- Book a gyokuro tasting at a local tea farm to learn the traditional brewing method — water temperature and steeping time are crucial for this delicate tea.
- Visit the Yame Traditional Crafts Museum to try your hand at washi papermaking or lantern assembly in a guided workshop.
- Explore the ancient Iwatoyama kofun burial mounds on the outskirts of town, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.
- Pick up premium Yame gyokuro as a gift — it's significantly cheaper here at source than in department stores in Tokyo or Osaka.
Tours Visiting Yame
Premium Kyushu: Serenity, Onsen & Coastal Heritage
Kyushu: Southern Japan
13-day onsen journey through Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Unzen. Traditional ryokan, natural hot springs, with all hotels and trains included.
Kyushu Premium Experience: Nature, Heritage & Onsen
Kyushu: Southern Japan
12-day onsen journey through Yanagawa, Ibusuki, Kagoshima. Traditional ryokan, natural hot springs, with all hotels and trains included.
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Region
Kyushu
Location
Available Tours
2 tours