Ofuro Cafe Utatane (おふろcafe utatane), a Nordic-inspired bathing facility in Kita-ku, Saitama City, is running a "Sayama Tea Fair" from May 1 (Friday) to June 30 (Tuesday), 2026. The fair features a Sayama tea bath, sauna events with tea-inspired twists, and special cafe menus developed in collaboration with Matoba-en, a long-established tea farm in Iruma City, Saitama.
Sayama tea (狭山茶), one of Japan's three most celebrated teas, enters its peak new-tea season each year in early May. The fair was organized to let visitors experience the local specialty through bathing, sauna, and dining — not just drinking it.
Sayama Tea Bath
Upcycled tea leaves — those that would otherwise be discarded or used as fertilizer during the production process — are used as bath additives. The dried leaves are processed to enhance their aroma, transforming them into a fragrant bathing experience.
Period: May 1 (Friday) to May 14 (Thursday), 2026
Hours: 5:00 AM–9:00 AM / 10:00 AM–2:00 AM
Venue: Indoor baths (men's and women's)
Tea-Inspired Sauna Events
Sayama Tea Heat Wave (茶熱波)
During the heat wave sessions, the sauna attendant dresses in the traditional outfit of a tea picker and fans guests using a "mi" (箕), a traditional tool used for sorting and carrying tea leaves. In addition to the heat wave event, an Sayama tea-infused löyly (steam sauna aromatherapy) is offered separately.
Heat Wave Event
- Dates: Saturdays from May 1 (Friday) to May 14 (Thursday), 2026 (excluding guest or Arabian Nights performance days)
- Time: Women's section at 4:00 PM / Men's section at 9:30 PM
- Venue: Izness sauna (men's and women's)
Sayama Tea Löyly
- Dates: May 1 (Friday) to May 14 (Thursday), 2026
- Time: Men's — 5:30 AM / 2:30 PM; Women's — 6:00 AM / 6:00 PM / 8:00 PM
- Venue: Izness sauna (men's and women's)
Sayama Tea Cafe Menu
The cafe menu was developed in collaboration with Matoba-en, a tea farm established in 1945 in Iruma City, Saitama, where the same family has been producing Sayama tea for four generations. The dishes incorporate fresh new tea leaves harvested only during the short new-tea season — a texture and flavor not found in commercial products.
Available Period: May 1 (Friday) to June 30 (Tuesday), 2026
Hours:
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM–12:00 AM (L.O. 11:00 PM)
- Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays: 11:00 AM–1:00 AM (L.O. 12:30 AM)
Venue: Nordic Cafe & Dining matka, inside Ofuro Cafe Utatane
Saitama Sayama Tea Chanobeze Pasta — ¥1,280 (tax included)
Inspired by Italian pesto genovese, this pasta uses Sayama tea leaves in place of basil — hence the name "chanobeze" (チャノベーゼ), a play on the words for "tea" and "genovese." The slightly bitter tea pairs with garlic oil, and fresh new tea leaves are added as a topping for extra fragrance and texture.
Sayama Tea-Scented Salmon Risotto Chazuke — ¥1,280 (tax included)
A creamy salmon risotto finished with Sayama tea, presented as a new-style chazuke (tea-over-rice dish). A side of tea-simmered greens shaped like flowers is served alongside, allowing the flavor to evolve with each spoonful.
Nordic-Style Anmitsu with Sayama Tea Chocolate Fondue — ¥1,480 (tax included)
A dessert imagining Sayama tea served as afternoon tea, arranged in a Nordic anmitsu style. Fruits and mochi are dipped into a bittersweet Sayama tea chocolate fondue, layering the sweetness with the tea's distinctive aroma.
Sayama Chai — ¥580 (tax included)
An original "cha"-i made by combining Sayama tea with cinnamon. The clean sweetness and lingering spice make for a light, refreshing finish.
Sayama Chahito (Alcoholic) — ¥880 (tax included)
A cocktail based on Sayama tea, rum, and tonic water, with fresh tea leaves added. The tea aroma rises with each sip, delivering a crisp, refreshing drink.
Venue Information
Ofuro Cafe Utatane
4-179-3 Taisei-cho, Kita-ku, Saitama City, Saitama
Website: https://ofurocafe-utatane.com/
