A Journey of Tradition and Innovation in Japanese Tea, Celebrating the 60th Anniversary
The “Museum of Tea Culture Creation” and the “Oi Ocha Museum” are a dual-museum complex opened by the Japanese beverage company Ito En to commemorate its 60th anniversary.
The facility is appropriately housed within the reconstructed building of the Old Shimbashi Station, the birthplace of Japan’s railway system. This location was chosen because the railway system sparked the modern culture of “carrying tea on a journey.” As the Japanese phrase Nichijō Sahanshi (daily routine) suggests, tea is essential to life. The museums invite visitors to deeply experience tea’s vital role and charm using all five senses.
🏛️ Part 1: Museum of Tea Culture Creation — Tracing History and Spread
This museum is themed around the “Inheritance of Japanese Food Culture Through Tea” and offers an in-depth look at the history of tea from ancient times to the present.
Time Travel Through History and Transformation
- History and Spread of Tea: The museum explains the long journey of tea from China to the world and its establishment in Japan, sharing fascinating facts, such as how tea was once consumed as a medicinal decoction.
- Tea Theater: Board a “Tea Train” for a 10-minute video tracing the path of tea as it has been consumed throughout the ages.
- Production and Tools: Exhibits detail the complex process of tea making, from harvesting leaves to the use of processing machinery (seijū-ki). Highlights include a replicated “Chaya” (tea house)—the social gathering spot of the Edo period—beautiful tea utensils used in Chado (Tea Ceremony) and Senchado, and rare “Ranji” labels used on tea chests during the Meiji-era export boom.
Through this museum, you learn that tea is more than a beverage; it has played a crucial role in Japanese culture as a form of etiquette and a vital communication tool connecting people.
🤖 Part 2: Oi Ocha Museum — Experiencing Modern Tea Culture
Located adjacent to the first museum, the “Oi Ocha Museum” focuses on the journey of Ito En’s flagship product, “Oi Ocha” (Oh-ee Oh-cha). This museum celebrates the brand’s 35th anniversary by exploring its history and modern “tea culture.”
Secrets of Modern Tea and Sustainability
- Birth Story and History: Discover the behind-the-scenes story of how the product was initially slow to sell, and how it evolved into a national beverage as Japan’s first canned green tea. Learn how the phrase “Oi Ocha” from a 1970s commercial became the product’s name.
- Oi Ocha History: Trace the evolution of the tea’s packaging, seeing how the enjoyment of tea has progressed with the times.
- Sustainable Initiatives: Learn about environmentally friendly projects initiated by Ito En long before the term “SDGs” became common, such as “Chagara Recycling” (tea leaf residue recycling) and “Circulatory Agriculture.” Exhibits, including benches and even employee business cards made with tea residue, symbolize the eco-conscious approach of the Japanese corporation.
Interactive Experience Corners
- New Haiku Creation: Experience the famous “New Haiku Grand Prize” competition, where winning poems are printed on the product packaging. You can print your original haiku as a sticker—a unique souvenir or gift.
- Digital Photo Spot: Take a commemorative picture with the mascot, “Oi Ocha-kun,” in a digital photo spot designed to look like a tea field.
☕ Café & Shop: Exclusive Menus and Experiences
The central entrance area between the two museums features a shop stocked with original merchandise and a café perfect for a rest.
- Exclusive Drinks: The recommended highlight is “Chaponce” (¥650), a refreshing blend of rich matcha, carbonation, and lemon, recreating a drink enjoyed in American cafés during the Meiji era. Other unique tea-based sweets, like “Drinking Matcha Warabimochi” and “Matcha Soft Serve,” are also available for a photogenic break.
- Limited Goods: The shop offers exclusive souvenirs, including tea bags collaborating with the Old Shimbashi Station and “Oi Ocha-kun,” and original macarons made with Ito En tea.
- Workshops: Future plans include hands-on workshops like “Make Your Own Oi Ocha” and “Tea Brewing Experience” led by professional tea tasters.
⚾ Global Spotlight
In May 2024, MLB star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was appointed the “Oi Ocha Global Ambassador,” drawing worldwide attention to Japanese tea culture. These museums are the ideal place to understand the fundamentals of Japanese culture and diet.
📌 Facility Information and Access
Location：Inside the Old Shimbashi Station Building (5 min walk from JR Shinbashi Station)
Address：Old Shimbashi Station Bldg., 1-5-3 Higashishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo
Operating Hours：10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
Closed：Mondays, Year-end/New Year holidays (* If Monday is a holiday, the next weekday is closed)
Access：15 min walk from JR Shinbashi Station “Ginza Exit”
Access ：23 min walk from Toei Ōedo Line Shiodome Station “Shinbashi Station Exit”
Admission Fee
- Museum of Tea Culture Creation: Adult ¥500, Student ¥300, Age 70+/High School or below Free
- Oi Ocha Museum: Free
Official Website：https://www.ochamuseum.jp/