This is a sweet shop operated by a long-established tea shop in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is located about a 5-minute walk from Keihan Uji Station. I had been ordering their matcha cheesecake through mail order for a while, but I wanted to visit the main store in Uji if I ever had the chance. I arrived around 10 a.m. and there were only a few parking spaces available. However, there were already several groups of people at the entrance. It seems like many people come by train rather than by car. The matcha parfait decoration at the entrance is quite cute. Inside, the left side is the sales floor while the right side is the cafe space. Although it wasn't full right away, there were quite a few customers. On this day, I left Nagoya in the morning and used this place for an early lunch and snack. I ordered the Special Itoh Kyuemon Parfait, Chestnut Matcha Sweet Plate, and Matcha Curry Udon (with rice topping), which was quite an adventurous choice for 10 a.m. First, the Special Itoh Kyuemon Parfait. Of course, it's a matcha parfait, but it's quite luxurious. It includes matcha jelly, shiratama (rice flour dumplings), matcha ice cream, red bean paste, along with chestnut sweet stew, black beans, and more. The matcha jelly was my favorite, with its smooth texture and subtle matcha flavor. The matcha ice cream was also rich and delicious. It was an excellent parfait. Next, the Chestnut Matcha Sweet Plate. It includes hojicha (roasted green tea) cheesecake, chestnut matcha roll cake, chestnut matcha daifuku (rice cake), hojicha and matcha chocolate, two types of ice cream, and a mini matcha parfait. The flavors of matcha, hojicha, and chestnut were evident throughout, making it a perfect plate for autumn. Everything was delicious, but the rich hojicha cheesecake tart and the chestnut matcha roll cake with a hint of liquor stood out. In addition to this matcha sweet feast, I also tried the Matcha Curry Udon... Matcha Curry Udon!? It's quite an unusual udon dish. The green noodles and curry sauce have a subtle matcha aroma. The curry udon was surprisingly easy to eat. On the other hand, if you're expecting a strong matcha flavor, you might find it a bit lacking. Perhaps if it weren't so green, you wouldn't even realize it's matcha curry udon. I finally fulfilled my wish to have Itoh Kyuemon's matcha sweets along with matcha curry udon. Last time I was in Kyoto, I didn't have time to try the matcha parfait and sweets, so this time I was able to fully enjoy them, having a blissful matcha time. The products for sale were also full of matcha and looked delicious. I refrained from buying anything this time because I had sightseeing planned afterwards, but I felt like ordering some for delivery again.

I came to Uji and wanted to eat something typical of Uji, so I came here. The parking lot is spacious, but I had to wait about 5 minutes to park. It was around 2:30 pm, but it seems smoother to park a little later. It was a hot day, so I had the Uji Kinmochi with rich matcha ice cream on top. It's not the trendy fluffy type, but the matcha flavor is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I had some errands in Uji, so I decided to visit the main store. It was crowded during lunchtime, but I was able to wait in line using my smartphone while waiting in the car. I waited for about 20 minutes. I ordered the warm herring soba set. The soba seemed to have matcha kneaded into it, but I couldn't really taste it. Overall, the taste was elegant and refined!

Visited Kyoto for the first time in a while to see a friend. Stopped by this place just before last order. It was a holiday but thankfully no line. Ordered the parfait, zenzai, and the limited edition shaved ice. Took a sip of the green tea that came with the set. So sweet! What is this? Must be syrup or sugar in it. The sweetness is overpowering the deliciousness of the matcha. The parfait and shaved ice were not bad but nothing amazing either. I still prefer the matcha parfait at Umekodo. Thank you for the meal.

After returning from glamping in Shiga, I thought about stopping by Byodoin Temple on the way back. But before that, I decided to grab a light meal. I thought Nakamura Tokichi might be crowded, so I chose another place with parking. It was around midday and about 60% full, with many university students and foreign tourists. I didn't order the curry and went for the herring soba instead, which was delicious. I also tried the matcha anmitsu for kids, but it didn't have that strong "Let's come back here!" feeling like Nakamura Tokichi. However, I got a souvenir coupon and bought a matcha cheesecake for my snack, which turned out to be a great combination. The rice cakes and senbei were familiar tastes. It was good to visit the main store. The total cost was 4060 yen. Thank you for the meal.

199th edition! A must-visit restaurant in Kyoto - Itoh Kyuemon Uji Honten - Enjoy the traditional matcha parfait and matcha soba [Ordered Items] - Matcha soba (cold) with side dish rice 1,190 yen - Matcha soba (hot) with side dish rice 1,190 yen - Special Matcha Parfait 1,590 yen Total: 3,970 yen (including tax) They offer cold matcha soba, hot matcha soba, matcha curry, and more, making it a perfect lunch or cafe spot in Uji. The subtly fragrant matcha soba is exquisite. You can choose from individual items, sets with side dish rice, or sets with a mini parfait. Both cold and hot soba were delicious. A must-visit for matcha lovers! They also have a souvenir corner with a variety of gift options. Whether for a cafe or lunch, this place comes highly recommended. Check it out! Location: 19-3 Aramaki, Uji, Kyoto Access: About a 5-minute walk from Uji Station or Sanjusangendo Station Business Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Last order at 17:30) Closed: Open daily Seating: 62 seats (10 tables for 4, 11 tables for 2) Payment: Cash, card, electronic money, QR code payment accepted #ItohKyuemon #ItohKyuemonUjiHonten #KyotoGourmet #KyotoIzakaya #Izakaya #Gourmet #KyotoSightseeing #KyotoTravel #KyotoStroll #KyotoDate #KyotoCafe #KyotoMatcha #UjiGourmet #UjiCafe #Recommendation #KyotoRecommendation #Uji

Matcha Curry Udon (1090 yen) Just a 1-minute walk from JR Uji Station. A long-established tea house located just across the signal. When you peek into the showcase, you'll see all kinds of food in matcha green color. What is this?! But wait... it's matcha curry udon. A unique combination of matcha curry and matcha udon that can only be found in a tea house!!! With the first bite... of course, the curry is not very spicy, it's mild. It has a Japanese-style flavor with a base of white dashi. They mentioned that it contains multiple spices, giving the curry a deep taste. The udon also has matcha kneaded into it, providing a nice texture. Delicious! Next time, I want to try their matcha soba too.

The store is spacious and comfortable. They provided children's tableware. I had warm soba noodles, and the broth was delicious! My child enjoyed it too. I would like to try their desserts next time. Thank you for the meal.

Seeking some relief from the heat, I drove to Kyoto Uji and headed to Itoh Kyuemon Uji Honten. There is a large parking lot both in front of and behind the store, so you can visit by car with peace of mind. Inside the store, you take a numbered ticket and wait for your turn, but you can wander around the store looking at the products, so it's not a bother. The table I was seated at was spacious and had a nice atmosphere. I ordered the Hojicha Kinako Kakigori with Vanilla Ice Cream for 990 yen. The shaved ice, which I ate while it was melting, was exquisite. Towards the end, it got cold and I kind of regretted not getting the parfait... I'll save the parfait for next time. It was very delicious.

Two-tone Kinji (matcha and hojicha) is a shaved ice that truly lives up to the reputation of Itoh Kyuemon, a famous tea shop. The matcha syrup is smooth with minimal astringency and bitterness, while the hojicha syrup has a rich aroma and concentrated umami flavor. It's generously topped with red beans and served with condensed milk. I debated between getting a parfait or shaved ice, but opting for the shaved ice was definitely the right choice. The matcha curry udon features slightly thin matcha noodles with a Japanese-style spicy curry broth, grilled rice cakes, and other ingredients that complement each other perfectly, resulting in a delicious curry udon. Since it's curry-flavored, the matcha taste was not very noticeable. The cold matcha soba set includes matcha soba, mixed rice, yuba (tofu skin), and tea leaf tsukudani (preserved in soy sauce). Overall, the shaved ice and matcha curry udon were great, while the matcha soba was just average.

I visited this place because I wanted to try the Uji Matcha Parfait Ice Bar. It was before lunchtime, so we waited for a few groups to be seated. They also offer meal options like Uji Matcha soba, so I ordered the Zaru Soba and Yakigohan set for 1190 yen. My companion ordered the Special Assorted Matcha Parfait for 1590 yen. The parfait was luxurious, using products also sold in the souvenir corner of the shop. While the soba wasn't matcha-flavored, it had a beautiful green color and I could taste yuba and matcha tsukudani, which added to the Kyoto-like atmosphere. You can also buy souvenirs in the shop and pay for them at the same time as your meal, and you get a 30 yen discount coupon for each person. They also have coupons on Tabelog, where you can get matcha senbei for each person. The parfait ice bar had delicious toppings on the surface, with a coating on the outside and matcha ice cream inside. It was really tasty. I also got curious about the Matcha Curry Udon, so I'd like to try that next time when it's not summer.

I went to eat a parfait on Friday morning. I had the seasonal limited edition peach matcha parfait (served separately @1390). The rose wine jelly in the middle of the parfait is processed so that even children or those driving can enjoy it. It was nice that there was matcha powder sprinkled on the parfait according to preference!

Arrived at 2 pm. There were 7 groups waiting, but we were seated in about 15 minutes. The portion was large and the taste was delicious. The price is reasonable, but it feels like a slightly luxurious snack. The matcha was also delicious. It seems they also serve shaved ice, which would be perfect for the upcoming season. However, looking at other customers' shaved ice, it seemed quite large. It might be a bit too much for one person.

I went to Uji in Kyoto! When you think of Uji, you think of "matcha," so I had soba noodles with a mini matcha parfait. The soba noodles were okay, but the matcha parfait was delicious, as expected from a cafe. It also came with a matcha drink, which I think they also sell as a souvenir. I finished off the meal with the matcha drink!

We went around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday with two people. The wait for dining in the restaurant was 75 minutes, so we gave up. We got a takeout of matcha and vanilla ice cream with sweet red beans on top of shaved ice, and sat outside the store to eat. The ice was packed tightly, and even though it was steamy hot, we finished it before it melted completely. Next time, I would like to try eating inside the restaurant.

The parking lot at the store is available, but on Sundays, it gets full quickly by the 10:00 am opening time, and everyone was parking in the second parking lot. I arrived at 10:10 and had to wait for 30 minutes, so it might be a good idea to get a ticket number from the machine and explore a bit more. On this Sunday, I was number 65 at 11:30. As the turn approached, the staff would come to hand out menus. When my turn came, they guided me through the TV outside the store, the ticket machine, the audio, and the staff. There is plenty of time to search for things like "Tenpo 3...1832, oh, Oshio Heihachiro, Siebold, Great Fire of Edo, Katsushika Hokusai, etc." Personally, although in the opposite direction, I bought souvenirs at a share shop within a 5-minute walk and bought bread for tomorrow at Mogumogu Bakery within a 10-minute walk. There are many sightseeing spots nearby, such as the Tale of Genji Museum and Uji Bridge. The store also provides a tourist map of the Uji Bridge area inside. The left side of the store is for souvenir sales, and the right side is for dining cafe seats. When you sit at a table, you receive tea and a hand towel and place an order with the busy staff and wait. The products arrive relatively quickly, so the reason for the good turnover rate seems to be the staff's customer service and product delivery. Oh, presenting a coupon from Tabelog is essential. ⭕Special Matcha Parfait (¥1590) Matcha jelly, agar, shiratama, matcha ice cream, sweet red bean paste, candied chestnuts, black beans, tea dumplings, whipped cream. They recommend eating the roll cake separately because it's hard to eat. You can also have extra matcha, making it a luxurious parfait. It's great that you can taste "tea" in terms of quality and quantity. ⭕Matcha Soba with Yuba and Kayaku Rice Set (¥1190) It's been a while since I had tea soba, and it has a good texture and a subtle tea flavor, along with the parfait (although they don't go together). The tea-flavored pickles are unusual. The yuba was also good with a light dashi flavor. Looking at the menu, there's tea curry udon, matcha craft cola, and for takeout, parfait ice bars. "They have really well-designed products. As expected in a competitive area," I thought. Also, you pay at the merchandise register, so of course, you end up buying souvenirs as well. That increases the average customer spending. Wonderful. I'd like to give a rating of around 3.9 if there were a category for "store concept." ⭕Combo promotions The turnover rate is fast, but it seems like a good idea to use the waiting time effectively. Personally, as mentioned above, I feel like stopping by the Friend Mart across the street. I visited after seeing the hydrangeas at Mimurotoji Temple.

I went to Byodoin Temple in Uji. I had wanted to try the ice cream there before but couldn't, so this time I was finally able to. It's popular, but since I went around 4pm, it wasn't crowded and I was able to buy smoothly. I bought matcha ice cream bar and strawberry ice cream bar. I enjoyed eating them while walking around. They were very delicious. Thank you. They also looked cute.

In Uji City, many people visit Itohkyuemon Main Store Sanjyusangendo Temple, located a 10-minute walk from Keihan Uji Station, after seeing the hydrangeas and Byodoin Temple. Their lunch options, from tea soba to tea sweets, are very popular. It's recommended to take a waiting number at 1 pm on weekdays and explore the area while waiting. The lunch set with tea soba, rice with toppings, yuba, and mini parfait is highly recommended for both lunch and dessert.

I stopped by after seeing the hydrangeas at Sanjusangendo Temple. Once inside, I found out it was the trendy ice cream bar that was trending on that social media platform. I wanted to eat soft serve ice cream, but I couldn't eat a large one. The mini parfait was just right. The set also came with soba noodles, but I thought I could handle that amount, so I decided to order it. In the end, the portion wasn't too big and I was able to finish it. On the way back, I also bought some Uji matcha snacks and souvenirs. It seems like it gets crowded on weekends, so this is a place to visit on weekdays.

Before going to Sanjusangendo Temple to see the hydrangeas, I went to this place for lunch♡ They have a variety of attractive menu items (check out menu pics 5th and 6th). They even fulfill selfish requests like wanting to eat parfait❗️ Set menu includes herring soba, mixed rice, and mini parfait with yuba for ¥1,690. Kyoto specialty! Colorful matcha soba topped with sweetened herring in a secret sauce. The refined broth and slightly sweet herring complement each other perfectly. The special tea tsukudani was also delicious. The limited edition shaved ice looks delicious for the upcoming season. The Uji matcha parfait ice bars are also popular. There is a souvenir corner inside the store, so even just looking around was fun♪ #Itohkyuemon #ItohkyuemonMainStore #Kyoto #KyotoGourmet #KyotoLunch #Uji #UjiLunch #UjiCafe #Matcha #MatchaSweets #KansaiGourmet #CafeLovers #KyotoCafe #UjiCafe

It's so cute... it's a snack. I feel guilty about opening it because it's so cute, that's just my frugality. When I come home from work, there's a cute package on the table. "Look how cute it is, right? I got it from a Kyoto sweets shop through a friend in the circle." I'm not good with socializing, but I try my best to participate in this circle. It's a cherry jelly. Surprisingly, there are quite a few cherry orchards in Abashiri, and there are three places where you can go cherry picking that I know of. So, it's not a big deal, but... I think it's best to eat it cold... it has quite a good bounce... but I can't bend the spoon, so I'm not as good as Uri Geller. It has a strong cherry flavor, but I don't have the power to discern the real thing. I used to have that power, but it feels different now. It's enjoyable because the intensity of the flavor comes later when it's cold. It was a delicious jelly.