As we headed out of Kyoto on a bullet train toward Hakone, I was excited to try teas from the quieter towns and countryside of Japan. With my Ohtani Oi Ocha Hōjicha in hand, we first stopped at Odawara Castle, where we explored the courtyards and enjoyed the beautiful scenery surrounding the lesser-known castle.
At the gift shop, I noticed a refrigerator filled with drinks for sale. Inside was a bottle of green tea grown in Odawara. It came in a small metal bottle and was by far the most expensive drink in the store. Naturally, I bought it.
When I tried it, I was surprised by how good it was. It was the most delicious bottled tea I had ever tasted: good enough to rival traditionally brewed tea.
As we continued toward Hakone to explore the mountains and countryside, we stopped at a small shopping center beside a lake in what felt like the middle of nowhere. We stopped to eat, and I tried eel for the first time, accompanied by some green tea.
I did not know how the green tea dispenser worked. When I tried to pour tea into my cup, I accidentally dispensed far too much, causing it to overflow. I returned to my seat completely humiliated while everyone laughed at me for my mistake. Looking back, though, the whole situation was funny, and it has become one of my fondest memories from the trip. The food and tea were delicious, although the sencha itself was not particularly remarkable.
We continued exploring Hakone and eventually visited the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which might be the coolest museum I have ever visited. The entire museum was outdoors and filled with sculptures, mazes, foot baths, and exhibits that could have kept us busy for days. Sadly, we had to move on after only a few hours, but I know I need to visit it again someday.
Hakone and its surrounding areas were beautiful, and in some ways, I found them even more enjoyable than the larger cities we had visited. There was something special about slowing down, exploring the countryside, and discovering small moments of tea along the way.
