Grinpia Makinohara Maruobara operates inside a restored farmhouse roughly 140 years old, set on the Makinohara plateau, the largest single tea-growing plain in Japan, where rows of tea bushes stretch across the flat highland in every direction. The menu channels the surrounding fields directly into the food, with cha-soba buckwheat noodles kneaded with green tea, tea leaf tempura that uses the leaves themselves rather than just the brewed liquid, and a green tea soft-serve for dessert. The dining room preserves the farmhouse's old wooden beams and tatami-adjacent seating, giving it a rustic, unhurried character quite different from a modern cafe, with casual dress and no particular soundtrack beyond ambient countryside quiet. Drinks are, unsurprisingly, tea-forward, featuring the plateau's own green tea rather than coffee or alcohol. The restaurant keeps seasonal hours and can close unexpectedly around harvest periods or bad weather, and while reservations are not required, calling ahead in shoulder seasons is a reasonable precaution.
Signature dishes
- Cha-soba (green tea buckwheat noodles)
- Tea leaf tempura
- Green tea soft-serve
Good to know
- Known for
- Green tea-infused Shizuoka cuisine; housed in a 140-year-old farmhouse in Japan's largest tea-growing plain
- Hours
- Daily 10AM-4PM (seasonal closures possible)
- Reservations
- Not required
Location
Makinohara-shi, Shizuoka, Japan (inside Grinpia Makinohara tea park)
34.7239, 138.2145 View on map
Highlights
- Housed in a restored 140-year-old farmhouse
- Cha-soba noodles kneaded with green tea
- Set on the Makinohara plateau, Japan's largest tea-growing plain
Tips for visiting
- Check seasonal closures before visiting, especially around harvest time
- Try the tea leaf tempura for a preparation rarely found outside the region
- Pair a meal with a walk through the surrounding tea fields
Accessibility
The farmhouse setting includes traditional wooden thresholds and some tatami-style seating, which may present step-over obstacles for wheelchair users; visitors with mobility concerns should call ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Is the building historic?
Yes, the restaurant occupies a farmhouse approximately 140 years old on the Makinohara tea plateau.
Does the food actually use tea leaves?
Yes, dishes like the tea leaf tempura and cha-soba noodles incorporate actual tea leaves or tea-infused dough, not just brewed tea.
Is it open year-round?
It has seasonal closures possible, so checking ahead before visiting is advisable.