Nabeshimameicha
Specialty Deep-steamed Tea Shop
The Shimoichinomachi area in which Nabeshimameicha was founded is close to the traditional streetscape for which Takayama is famous. This is an area that thrived as a traditional merchant’s quarters. When the establishment was first founded, we piled our tea on traditional pull-carts and visited each client one by one. This commitment remains the same today, where we work closely with each of our customers and convey the traditional tea aesthetic. We take into account the unique aspects and strengths of the tea provided by farmers and tea wholesalers and develop our tea with care to meet the needs of wholesale vendors and downstream consumers. To that end, we consider it essential to meet face-to-face and align our approach.
In recent years, we have been promoting the culture of Japanese tea in the United States and Europe, as well as actively selling our products online. No matter the target consumer or destination, we remain committed to our traditional way of considering what type of tea is best suited to the drinker, and in what contexts.
Message from the President
Nabeshimameicha Inc.
President
Kazuhiro Tanaka
A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
“Nabeshimameicha” is a long-established tea company with a history of over 100 years. We inherit the spirit of our predecessors’ legacy, “Everything starts with tea,” and we strive not only to provide delicious tea but also to share the warm hearts nurtured by tea culture and create moments of empathy. Originally, Nabeshimameicha traveled throughout Japan, seeking and providing tea that suited the local customers. Today, our reach extends not only domestically but also overseas. However, our role remains unchanged: to propose the perfect tea leaves for each individual customer. Hida Takayama is known as a high-altitude region, not suitable for tea cultivation. However, in this area without tea fields, we leverage the rich natural environment and our unique technology and tradition to distribute tea carefully cultivated by farmers from various regions to the world, serving as a hub for passing on to the next generation. Now, we are working on developing our brand’s products, pursuing new flavors and aromas such as “Hida Barley Tea” and “Hida Black Tea.” Additionally, using our knowledge as tea sommeliers, we continue to challenge ourselves by creatively blending tea leaves with other ingredients. We promise to continue providing unchanging value by creating special moments for everyone.
Madoka Shimo
My day begins with putting charcoal in the hearth and boiling water in an iron kettle. When serving tea made with the boiling water from the iron kettle, I hope that even for a brief moment, our guests can spend time in a soothing space. While tea is a luxury item for many, it is more than that for me. Understanding that expensive tea does not necessarily mean high-quality tea, I believe that tea which people finds “delicious” is truly valuable tea. With this belief, we place great importance on serving tea with a spirit of hospitality. We listen to each customer’s voice, and propose tea tailored to each of them.
Founded in 1908 : Nabeshimameicha’s History
The mountainous city of Hida Takayama, renowned for passing down masterful craftsmanship from the ancient Nara and Heian periods, is also known as the birthplace of Kanamori Sowa, the founder of the Sowa School of Tea Ceremony. This town continues to convey the spirit of tea. Founded in 1908 “Nabeshimameicha” was born in this region, nurturing the spirit of tea in people’s lives by trading tea with the people of Hida.
- 1908 Founded Nabeshima Jinzaburo Shoten in Takayama City.
- 1965 Incorporated as Nabeshima Jinzaburo Shoten Co., Ltd.
- 1976 Renamed to Nabeshima Shoten Inc.
- 1990 Separated the sales division of Nabeshima Shoten Inc., and established Nabeshima Inc.
- 2005 Separated the tea division of Nabeshima Inc., and established Nabeshimameicha Inc.
- 2005 Moved Nabeshima Shoten Inc. and Nabeshima Inc. from Kamiokamoto-machi to Akahoki-machi, Takayama City.
- 2014 Completely integrated 4 group companies as wholly-owned subsidiaries.
- 2018 Nabeshimameicha Inc. obtained ISO 22000 certification.
Nabeshimameicha’s Store
Recognition of Historic Buildings and Commitment to Modern Safety Standards
On March 24, 2017, Nabeshimameicha was officially recognized in Takayama City for its historical and architectural significance, earning designations as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (No. 21-0250-0251) and an Important Scenic Building (No. 14). The current store, constructed between the mid-Meiji period and the late Taisho period, significantly contributes to the streetscape of Ichinomiya in Takayama City. It stands as a valuable testament to the evolution of commercial spaces in modern Takayama merchant houses, holding great architectural value.
Notably, our storehouse, built in the late Edo period by Yahee, the father of the national scholar Tanaka Oohide, preserves the traditional earthen warehouse construction style of Takayama. This heritage forms an integral part of Takayama’s cultural assets. According to Mr. Aoyagi, a instructor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at Ritsumeikan University’s College of Science and Engineering, “This store effectively illustrates the changes in commercial spaces of modern Takayama merchant houses and is of significant architectural value.”
Moreover, we are committed to maintaining safety standards that align with contemporary global norms. As part of this effort, we have obtained ISO22000 certification, the international standard for Food Safety Management System. This enables us to achieve the highest level of hygiene management throughout the entire process, from blending tea to serving it, while preserving its historical value. At Nabeshimameicha, we are deeply committed to both preserving this historic building for future generations and providing our customers with safe, high-quality tea.
Store Introduction
Nabeshimameicha Inc.
12 Shimoichinomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu Prefecture 506-0843
TEL: +81-577-32-4086 FAX: +81-577-34-7785
Access : 6 minutes by car from JR Takayama Station (or 13 minutes on foot)
