Japanese matcha regions

Compare the main matcha regions in Japan.

Use this guide to choose regions for your supplier search. Then check each producer, product, lot, available volume and document.

Find a starting region Compare all six ↗

6 regionsRegions to consider

4 prioritiesProduct and supply needs

1 principleVerify product by product

Japanese tea fields used to introduce major matcha sourcing regions

Choose a starting region

What are you sourcing?

Choose your main buying need. The result is a starting list, not a quality ranking.

Suggested regions to investigate

Kyoto / Uji · Aichi / Nishio · Fukuoka / Yame

Start with regions known for premium tea. Then compare taste, available volume, packaging and confirmed origin for each product.

See regional details

Six regions to consider

Main regions and common business uses.

Regional reputation helps narrow the search. The supplier and product still determine flavor, grade, price, MOQ, certification and availability.

01Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto / Uji

Heritage · premium drinking · high-end retail

Uji is closely associated with matcha and tea ceremony. It is a useful starting point when customers care about region, premium quality and traditional tea production.

Explore for: Premium drinking matcha, gift or enthusiast retail, heritage-led brand stories
Verify: Exact leaf origin, producer and processor; “Uji tea” can involve a wider four-prefecture leaf origin under its established definition
Check before ordering: Allocation, MOQ, price tier and whether the quoted product fits the intended margin

Ask about Kyoto / Uji ↗

02Aichi Prefecture

Aichi / Nishio

Matcha specialization · vivid color · retail

Nishio has a matcha-specific GI covering Nishio and Anjo. Official characteristics emphasize vivid blue-green color, mellow flavor and lasting umami.

Explore for: Drinking matcha, premium lattes, retail tins and matcha-forward product identity
Verify: Whether the exact proposal qualifies for the Nishio Matcha GI and how origin may be stated
Check before ordering: Product tier, milling or pack format, current volume breaks and recurring availability

Ask about Aichi / Nishio ↗

03Kagoshima Prefecture

Kagoshima

Larger supply · cultivar range · repeat orders

Kagoshima is a major tea-producing prefecture with a warm climate, many cultivars and several harvest periods. It can be a useful option for larger or repeat orders.

Explore for: Latte and beverage programs, manufacturing, multi-tier product ranges and organic or export needs
Verify: That the supplier is quoting tencha-based matcha rather than tea in general. Confirm the farm, cultivar and lot details.
Check before ordering: Batch consistency, target color/flavor, annual forecast, documentation and logistics from southern Japan

Ask about Kagoshima ↗

04Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka

Tea infrastructure · versatility · export development

Shizuoka has extensive tea-production infrastructure and diverse tea-making areas. Official regional information identifies both tencha and matcha production, while the prefecture supports conversion toward export-oriented organic matcha.

Explore for: Beverage and manufacturing supply, export programs and alternatives to a heritage-only shortlist
Verify: Which local production area, factory and matcha program sit behind the proposal
Check before ordering: Product-specific organic status, specification, scale-up timeline and destination-market testing

Ask about Shizuoka ↗

05Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka / Yame

Premium tea identity · sweetness · umami

Yame is known for premium tea with sweetness, body and strong umami. Fukuoka is also expanding tencha production. Some suppliers may suit premium or newer matcha products.

Explore for: Premium drinking, differentiated retail offers and clear origin information from Kyushu
Verify: Current tencha and matcha availability; Yame’s wider tea reputation does not mean every supplier offers matcha
Check before ordering: Smaller allocations, pack options, repeat-order capacity and product-level documentation

Ask about Fukuoka / Yame ↗

06Mie Prefecture

Mie / Ise

Alternative supply · covered tea · integrated production

Mie is an established tea region with covered-tea expertise. Some producers handle both tencha and matcha processing. It is another option outside the most requested regions.

Explore for: Drinking, latte and ingredient options where supply capability matters alongside regional differentiation
Verify: The individual producer’s tencha source, milling, certification and export readiness
Check before ordering: Available volume, pack formats, price breaks and whether one supplier can support multiple product tiers

Ask about Mie / Ise ↗

Priority matrix

Choose regions by need, then compare suppliers.

These are practical first regions to investigate. They are not exclusive recommendations and do not replace samples or current written terms.

If your priority is…	Regions to investigate first	What decides the winner
Premium drinking	Kyoto / Uji, Aichi / Nishio, Fukuoka / Yame	Sample profile, verified origin, available volume and target price
Retail tins	Kyoto / Uji, Aichi / Nishio, Fukuoka / Yame	Brand position, pack capability, finished-goods MOQ and retail margin
Café & latte	Kagoshima, Shizuoka, Aichi / Nishio	Color in milk, flavor impact, cost per cup and recurring consistency
Food manufacturing	Kagoshima, Shizuoka, Mie / Ise	Specification, lot consistency, capacity, particle performance and price
Organic / export	Kagoshima and Shizuoka as starting points; verify all regions supplier by supplier	Product-level certification, testing, destination documents and available volume

What origin does not tell you

Region alone does not define the product.

Two suppliers in the same prefecture can offer different flavor, harvest, blend, price, MOQ and documentation.

Producer & processor

Confirm who grew the leaf, who processed tencha and who milled or blended the matcha.

Product category

Separate premium drinking, latte, ingredient and private-label requirements before comparing origin.

Order terms

Request current MOQ, price tiers, lead time, allocation and recurring-order conditions.

Claims & documents

Verify exact origin wording, COA or testing, traceability and certification for the quoted product.

Reference basis

We checked these descriptions against official sources.

Regional information is intentionally framed as a starting point. Current availability must be confirmed with each supplier.

Visit suppliers in the region

Use the region guide to plan in-person meetings.

Choose one region or several. We can contact suitable suppliers, request appointments and attend the meetings with your team.

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Region-led supplier and producer research
Visits to named suppliers where approved
Appointment and itinerary coordination
Questions and meeting agenda
Japanese-English meeting support
Visit notes and supplier follow-up

Region-led supplier search

Have a preferred region, or need help choosing one?

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