【Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture】Special Recap Feature on the Shincha (New Tea) Event, Part 2: "88th Night Shincha Festival"

Shincha Festival Venue

On May 2, 2026 (Sat), Iruma City in Saitama Prefecture hosted the "Reiwa 8 88th Night Shincha Festival," organized by the Iruma City Tea Industry Association, at the city hall plaza (west side) and adjacent tea fields. Approximately 1,400 visitors attended. Despite strong winds on the day, the event proceeded safely without incident thanks to thorough preparations, allowing attendees to enjoy the season's fresh tea and the early summer atmosphere of this renowned tea-producing region.

"The 88th night, as summer draws near" — A seasonal tradition in tea-growing Iruma

Iruma City leads Saitama Prefecture in both tea cultivation area and harvest volume, making it a primary production area for Sayama Tea. The "88th Night Shincha Festival" is a long-standing local event that marks the arrival of the new tea season. Around 1,400 visitors attended this year's festival, enjoying various activities centered on the season's new tea, including tea tastings and hands-on tea-picking experiences in the tea fields.

Highlight: Live Demonstration of Japan's Top-Ranked Hand-Rolled Sayama Tea

One of the festival's main attractions was the live demonstration of hand-rolled Sayama tea. Iruma City's hand-rolled tea has achieved an unprecedented record at Japan's National Hand-Rolled Tea Competition, winning first place in the team category for 20 consecutive years (25 times overall)—a national record. The skilled artisans' precise movements, rolling tea leaves over heated roasting trays (hoiro), represent the master craftsmanship that Iruma City proudly showcases nationwide. Visitors were able to observe this delicate yet powerful technique up close.

Live demonstration of hand-rolled Sayama tea

A variety of engaging events delighted visitors

- Live demonstration of hand-rolled Sayama tea (showcasing Japan's top craftsmanship) - Fresh tea tasting (served by Iruma City Tea Ambassadors) - Hands-on new tea picking experience in the tea fields - Free distribution of 1,000 single-brew tea pouches and approximately 150 tea saplings - Sale and pre-order of new tea (70g for 1,000 yen per pack) - Booths operated by the Iruma City Tourism Association

The opening ceremony was attended by 35 guests, including the mayor, city council chair, and Director of Saitama Prefecture's Agriculture and Forestry Department, celebrating the start of the new tea season as a city-wide event.

Event Overview

Event name: Reiwa 8 88th Night Shincha Festival

Date and time: May 2, 2026 (Sat) 8:45–11:30

Location: Iruma City Hall entrance (West Gate) and adjacent tea fields

Number of attendees: Approximately 1,400

Main giveaways: 1,000 single-brew tea pouches, approximately 150 tea saplings

Program: Sale and pre-order of new tea, tea tasting, free distribution of single-brew tea pouches and saplings, hands-on tea picking, live hand-rolled tea demonstration, tourism association booths, and more

Organizer: Iruma City Tea Industry Association

Co-organizers: Iruma City Hand-Rolled Sayama Tea Preservation Society, Iruma City

Support: Iruma City Tourism Association

Closing Message

Sayama tea is now entering the "second harvest" season, offering a distinct flavor profile different from the new tea. When visiting the area, be sure to enjoy delicious Sayama tea at one of Iruma City's tea farms.

URL: https://www.city.iruma.saitama.jp/material/files/group/23/cyaen-maruwakarimap.pdf

【Inquiries regarding this event】

Program content:

Agricultural Promotion Section, Environment and Economy Department: Kawamura, Sato

1-16-1 Toyooka, Iruma City

TEL: 04-2964-1111 (ext. 4233)

Future Co-Creation Policy Promotion Office, Planning Section, Planning Department: Yamanaka, Motohashi

1-16-1 Toyooka, Iruma City

TEL: 04-2964-1111 (ext. 3135)

Others:

Secretariat and Public Relations Section, Planning Department: Kishida, Toyama

1-16-1 Toyooka, Iruma City

TEL: 04-2964-1111 (ext. 3122)

About Iruma City

"From the Sayama Tea Village to the World": Iruma City's Vision for a 'Well-being City'

~ A new model blending world-class traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge collaborative urban development ~

About an hour from the capital region, Iruma City lies in the fertile natural landscape of the Kanto Plain, home to scenic tea fields—the northernmost large-scale tea-growing area in Japan. As the main production area for "Sayama Tea," with a history of about 400 years, the city has achieved an unprecedented milestone at Japan's National Hand-Rolled Tea Competition: first place for 20 consecutive years (25 times overall)—a record never before accomplished. At the Osaka-Kansai Expo held in 2025, the city demonstrated its exceptional traditional techniques to the world.

At the same time, the city's unique charm is enhanced by the American culture of Johnson Town, a redevelopment of a former U.S. military base, coexisting with large commercial facilities. In 2022, Iruma City was selected as an "SDGs Future City" and enacted Japan's first "Iruma City Sayama Tea Lovers Ordinance." Guided by the purpose of "creating and passing on a future landscape where people can live with rich hearts," the city is striving to realize "Well-being City Iruma."

Furthermore, through the public-private collaboration platform "Iruma Future Co-Creation Lab," the city is actively turning next-generation urban development initiatives into reality—such as university collaborations on aroma analysis, esports, and cross-industry partnerships with entertainment companies—without being bound by conventional frameworks.

▼ Proposal form for businesses and organizations interested in solving local challenges or launching co-creation projects in Iruma City

The "Iruma Future Co-Creation Lab" connects your ideas with the potential of our community.

https://www.city.iruma.saitama.jp/gyosei_joho/purpose/10547.html

【Basic City Information】

Iruma City Hall

Address: 1-16-1 Toyooka, Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture

Phone: 04-2964-1111 (main)

{Link List}

Official website: https://www.city.iruma.saitama.jp/

Iruma Disaster Alert Mail Plus: https://plus.sugumail.com/usr/iruma/doc

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LINE: https://line.me/R/ti/p/@irumacity

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