It is a shop that serves tea, alcohol, and a few small dishes. I had a Sencha Gin and Tonic. It's a calming drink that you can enjoy with the taste of tea. The staff at the shop kindly explained about the tea leaves and alcohol. The shop has a small number of seats and limited opening days, so it has a hidden gem feel. It's a good place to go when you feel like relaxing with a cup of tea or alcohol on the weekend. I didn't order any food this time, so I'll try ordering next time.

I decided to visit Tokooka Kanbei Tea Shop, a place where you can drink matcha. I thought it was a Japanese tea cafe, but it turned out to be a small restaurant. They offer only two types of Japanese sweets along with matcha: Sarashi An Mantou (200 yen) and Chestnut-filled Yellow Bean Cake (200 yen). The rest of the menu looked delicious, with a variety of drinks available. In essence, it was a small bar serving Japanese cuisine. We ordered the two types of Japanese sweets and two matcha drinks (620 yen each). Sarashi An Mantou looked similar to Yamadaya's steamed bun and tasted delicious. The Chestnut-filled Yellow Bean Cake had an elegant flavor and was also delicious. The matcha and tea utensils were both beautiful and tasty. The interior of the place was a mix of old building and traditional house parts, making it quite stylish. They only accepted cash.

The light tea at this shop is sourced from Hoshino Seichaen in Yame and Yagisakuraen Chaho in Kyoto, while the roasted tea is hand-picked by the owner from farms across the country. The homemade sweetness is carefully selected to complement the tea. The owner is friendly and accommodating, willing to offer tasting comparisons. The teas are reasonably priced and delicious, making this shop popular among locals. They also offer a variety of alcoholic drinks, and have recently expanded their small dish menu, making it a great place to visit at night. The shop is located in Taito-ku Negishi, chosen because it is the setting for the classic rakugo story "Chanoyu." Negishi was once a famous villa area in Edo, where retirees and mistresses lived. The name "Uguisudani" station reflects the peaceful and natural landscape of the area. Even the poet Masaoka Shiki lived in Negishi in his later years, writing a poem that goes, "More mistresses than wives, enjoying the cool breeze at the gate."