Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture held the 'Sayama Tea Picking Experience Bus Tour' on Saturday, April 25, Reiwa 8 (2026). The event, which had a capacity of 20 participants, received 81 applications, making it a highly popular program where attendees enjoyed the charm of fresh tea with all five senses. A unique seasonal experience during fresh tea season Iruma City is the leading production area of Sayama tea in Saitama Prefecture in terms of both cultivation area and harvest volume. Previously held as a standalone tea-picking event, this year it was conducted as a bus tour to bring the fresh season's tea closer to the public. Centered on the theme of 'seeing, touching, and eating,' the event offered unique experiences available only during this season: tea picking and tasting tempura made with fresh tea leaves. A half-day journey from tea fields to the dining table: exploring Sayama tea With cooperation from the Iruma City Tea Industry Association, Restaurant Chadokoro Issen, and the Iruma City Museum, participants followed this itinerary to explore the world of Sayama tea: Tea-picking experience (Nakagami Hayadashi House): Hand-picking tender new buds using the 'one bud, two leaves' method Tea factory tour (Iruma City Agricultural Training Center): Close-up observation of tea manufacturing processes Exhibition explanation (Iruma City Museum ARITTO): Lecture on Sayama tea by a museum curator Lunch 'Colorful Six Bowls' (Dining Place Issen): Tasting tempura made with freshly picked new tea leaves Participant feedback The event received numerous positive comments from participants: "I'm glad I could experience tea picking for the first time." "I was happy to be able to eat tempura made with fresh tea leaves." Enjoying freshly picked new tea leaves as tempura is an experience unique to this season, making for a day of discovering new charms of Sayama tea. Event summary Event name: Sayama Tea Picking Experience Bus Tour Date and time: Saturday, April 25, Reiwa 8 (2026), 9