While enjoying a calming cup of tea before dinner, I reminisce about a favorite restaurant that I used to frequent many years ago. The owner of the restaurant, who used to be the manager, branched out and opened a small shop in Kiyamachi. I used to visit this place often when my daughter was staying at a high school dormitory in Kyoto and I would pick her up on Saturdays. The restaurant served the same menu for both lunch and dinner, with delicious Japanese and Chinese teas. The food, including rice and side dishes, was always tasty, and I couldn't resist their summer kakigori and parfaits. I decided to visit the restaurant after a long time, walking through Kiyamachi and hoping it wouldn't be too crowded. Luckily, it was empty! I left the tea selection to the master, who chose a Wenshan Baozhong tea for me. It was perfect for the difficult time I'm going through now. I enjoyed seven infusions of the tea, savoring its aroma after each sip. For dinner, I had tea rice and fried rice with two side dishes and a salad for 2400 yen. The side dishes were carefully prepared by the landlady, including a vegetable dish and simmered eggplant and myoga. The tea rice fried rice was a classic menu item with soybeans, green peas, tiny dried fish, and fluffy eggs on top. It's truly addictive! The restaurant also offers other appetizers, side dishes, and of course, alcohol like beer. But I prefer the set meal with rice and tea, allowing me to enjoy a leisurely and peaceful dinner. Next time, I plan to indulge in delicious daifuku and warabi mochi, perhaps engaging in some pleasant conversation as well.

I used to start drinking early, but now I'm taking a break at this shop in Pontocho and enjoying a matcha shaved ice with ice cream. The generous portion of shaved ice with ice cream coming out from the middle is incredibly delicious. It's a great way to cool down both my body and mind before heading to the next shop.

I had matcha daifuku and sweet red bean soup at this place. The sweetness was just right and very delicious. You can also take them to go. The interior of the shop is dark and small. The owner seemed a bit gruff at first glance, but when we talked, he was actually a funny guy. I thought it was just a dessert place, but the meal options all looked delicious too.

This place is famous for its tea and sweets, but the lunch is also delicious. This time, I had the Chinese-style pork miso bowl. For dessert, I had matcha ice cream. Honestly, the flavors were so good that I wanted to try more dishes! I have been here before, and no matter how many times I come, the food is always delicious.

I finally got to visit Chakoubo Nagatake in Kyoto's Pontocho district. When I entered, there was only one male customer at the counter, and the rest had already left. I sat at the counter and looked at the menu. I had been wanting to try either the matcha parfait or the shaved ice, and since I had dinner reservations at 6:30 PM and it was around 5 PM when I arrived, I decided to go for something light. I love shaved ice, so I ordered the Uji ice with sweet red beans and added shiratama. The previous customer had ordered the matcha parfait and tea, which looked delicious. After a while, my Uji ice was ready. It was delicious, with a strong matcha flavor. The shiratama was a bit hard from the ice, so I ate it quickly. It was chewy and tasty. The sweet red beans were also very delicious. It was quite a generous portion, so I left feeling satisfied. The two male customers who arrived later ordered the matcha parfait and tea set, which seemed to be popular. Next time, I'll try the matcha parfait and tea set. It was a delightful experience!

I chose the matcha parfait and gyokuro tea set. The banter between the two staff members was very entertaining, making it a cozy and enjoyable place. I definitely want to go back! The matcha parfait had a variety of ingredients, including various fruits, matcha mochi, matcha ice cream, and red beans. Despite its size, it remained delicious until the very end. They also taught me different ways to enjoy gyokuro tea, even preparing a different brewing method for me to try, allowing me to experience the depth of the tea world. It was my first visit, but listening to the conversations between the staff and regular customers made me feel warm and fuzzy. It truly is a wonderful place.

Today, I visited a tea shop in Kyoto's Pontocho area called Chakoubou Nagatake. It seems to be a place where you can enjoy tea as the main focus. The atmosphere of the shop felt a bit luxurious, fitting for the Pontocho area. They offer items like matcha daifuku, matcha warabi mochi, and rice dishes. I was guided to a counter seat made of a single board. Inside the shop, there were customers accompanied by maiko (apprentice geisha), giving off a good impression of the clientele. The talkative owner welcomed me. Looking at the menu, it seems that the recommended style is to enjoy handmade sweets and tea sets. I chose the matcha daifuku and gyokuro set. - Matcha Daifuku: A daifuku that seems like you can eat in two bites. When you bite into it, it's a chewy and elastic mochi. Inside, there was a refined matcha flavored red bean paste. - Gyokuro: Gyokuro tea leaves were steeped in hot water, and this was my first time trying gyokuro prepared this way. The owner explained that this is the recommended way to enjoy it with daifuku. While the matcha in the daifuku was strong, the gyokuro had a slightly lighter impression. I was given a tea pot with hot water, so I could enjoy the second and third steeping. The subtle changes in strength made me feel the depth of tea. They also prepared gyokuro in the usual way, which was stronger and tasted like the gyokuro I've had before. Comparing the two, the difference in impression was quite surprising!! This is a shop for serious tea lovers. However, even as a first-time visitor, the owner kindly explained everything, and I enjoyed it slowly while listening to his stories. The atmosphere of the shop was great, and it was very cozy.

The tea house Nagatake in Pontocho, Kyoto, is a wonderful place where you can enjoy authentic tea. I had matcha daifuku, matcha warabi mochi, and Touhou Bijin tea. The traditional sweets were delicious, and the tea was prepared by continuously heating water in a pot with an alcohol lamp, ensuring that it was always hot when poured over the tea leaves. The aroma was amazing and the tea was delicious.

I often rely on recommendations from friends when choosing restaurants in Kyoto, but for dinner I decided to go to a Japanese tea specialty shop called "Sakofusa Nagatake" in Pontocho. It may seem like a café, but they also serve dishes like grilled fish set meals, and I was recommended their "Tea Rice Fried Rice" before. The side dishes were incredibly delicious, with stewed eggplant and a vinegar miso dish, paired with sake. The fried rice was packed with beans and dried baby sardines, with a distinct flavor from the tea-infused rice. It was moist and flavorful, different from typical Chinese fried rice, and very interesting and delicious. I originally planned to just have the rice, but I was drawn in by the lively atmosphere and the owner's passion for tea, so I added a serving of gyokuro and matcha warabi mochi. The tea was served in a surprising way, with tea leaves sinking in a wide bowl and hot water poured over them. Despite being different from traditional tea serving methods, it was delicious! The tea was light but full of flavor, easy to drink without becoming too bitter, almost magical. The matcha warabi mochi was also delicious, with a rich matcha flavor and a perfect balance with the kinako topping. I wanted to take the kinako home with me. I enjoyed sipping tea and chatting with other customers and the quirky owner. It was clear that his many years of experience contributed to the amazing flavors. I was fascinated by the idea that good tea leaves can be eaten after brewing tea, so I tried eating the leaves I used. Surprisingly, the leaves mixed with kinako from the mochi were incredibly tasty. I also tried a water-brewed gyokuro served as a special treat, and it was a concentrated burst of flavor that left a lasting impression. This quaint shop in an old alley, focused on tea rather than alcohol, with a simple menu, offered a unique experience that could only be enjoyed here. I left feeling light-hearted and wanting to return to this special place.

Recommended by a friend, I visited this restaurant for the first time. Located in the middle of Pontocho street, the menu offers a wide variety of options, making it hard to choose. I decided on the set of thin matcha tea and bracken rice cakes. The deep green bracken rice cake was so soft that it seemed to melt in my mouth when picked up with chopsticks. The soybean flour was delicate in flavor, unlike any I had tasted before, with a gentle spread in the mouth without any overpowering taste. As everyone says, this soybean flour was exceptional. The thin matcha tea was not bitter, providing a refreshing taste. I heard that the rice dishes are also delicious, so I definitely want to try the fried rice next time. The atmosphere is lovely, and I highly recommend incorporating this restaurant into your Kyoto sightseeing itinerary.

It's hard to find the shop, and you might accidentally pass by it, so be careful. Opening the door also requires courage. You'll understand why when you go there, haha. The shop has a hidden, cozy atmosphere, and the owner is very friendly. Inside the shop, there is a charming traditional vibe where you can relax. The matcha warabi mochi is very smooth, and it goes perfectly with the finely powdered kinako. The Gyokuro tea was also very delicious. When we ordered an additional daifuku and mentioned that we would share it, the owner kindly cut it into two pieces for us. The prices are a bit high because they pay attention to detail.

Today's visit was to Chakobo Nagatake. Chakobo Nagatake is a dessert shop located a 5-minute walk from Sanjo Station. Upon entering the shop, it is set up in a counter style and doesn't give off the typical atmosphere of a dessert shop. Chakobo Nagatake is famous as the birthplace of matcha parfait, but looking around the shop, there is a diverse range of customers from elderly couples enjoying a meal to young people indulging in matcha parfait. It's quite a rare sight. Looking through the menu, there is a wide variety of options from desserts to meal menus, making it hard to believe it's just a dessert shop. The owner is very friendly and creates a cozy atmosphere. We ordered the following items. If you want to read more detailed reviews, search for "eatery japan".

Matcha parfait for 1100 yen. The matcha jelly is rich and chewy. The shiratama (rice flour dumplings) are also chewy. The matcha gelato is rich and delicious. There's also red bean gelato. The seasonal fruits are persimmon and grapes. The apple and pineapple are fresh and plentiful. A regular customer who had lunch is eating half.

#920 ★ Tabelog rating 3.53 (as of August 2, 2020) This time, I visited a place near Kyoto's Sanjo Station in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Here are the details of my visit: ■ Usage Scene: - Standard for dining alone for men. - Standard for dining alone for women. - Recommended for dining with multiple friends (2-4 people). - Recommended for a date. □ Date and Time of Visit: - Around 3:40 PM on a holiday. □ Waiting Situation: - None. □ Estimated Number of Seats: - Counter seats: 7 seats - 2-person table: 1 table □ Occupancy Rate of Customers in the Store: - 80%. □ Main Customer Base: - Women in their 20s-40s or couples. □ Atmosphere of the Store: - A small store with a refined Kyoto atmosphere. The walls are lined with maiko (apprentice geisha) fans, which is a unique feature. □ Ordering and Payment Method: - Place order verbally with the staff, pay on the spot after dining. ★ Order Menu: - Matcha Parfait: ¥1,100 □ Serving Time: - Food served after 12 minutes. ❏ Eating Report: I start with the cherry... I like the subtle taste. Next, I try the matcha jelly. It has a rich matcha flavor, which I appreciate. Then I have the melon, which is sweet. Lastly, I try the matcha vanilla. Each component is well-balanced, and they all harmonize well when eaten together. Despite being a popular spot, I appreciate the subtle timing of serving tea or water even after finishing my meal, showing the sophistication of Sakyo-ku. The service is commendable. ★ Summary: I had a wonderful parfait in Sakyo-ku. I appreciate the master's subtle attention to detail. □ Remarks: * Prices include 10% consumption tax. That's all, thank you for the meal.

I was drawn to the impressive appearance of Uji ice that I saw on the internet, so I visited in the evening. It was not just shaved ice, but more like "thin layers of ice condensed with matcha." It was really delicious! Even though it looked like too much for one person to eat, I finished it all in one go. (The matcha color was so dark that when I took a photo, it was recognized as "wood/nature" instead of "food" ... haha) Thanks to the regular customers and the friendly owner, I felt very comfortable and ended up also trying the Kamo eggplant miso, shishito peppers, and tomatoes. It's a wonderful shop where you can enjoy the sweetness and vegetables unique to Kyoto.

I originally planned to go to a dessert shop, but right before my trip to Kyoto, I found information about this tea shop and decided to change my plans since I love tea. I had trouble finding the place and passed by it twice before finally entering on the third try. It was a Saturday, but maybe due to the rain stopping or the evening time, there were no other customers and the owner was relaxing at the counter reading a newspaper. The parfait looked tempting, but I had dinner plans so I ordered a set of matcha and a matcha daifuku. Soon, more customers arrived and the place quickly filled up! Despite the small space, it's definitely popular. As for the matcha daifuku, the mochi was soft, the sweet bean paste was subtly sweet with a strong tea flavor. The size was small, so I felt like having another one. However, the atmosphere was a bit awkward. I wonder if the owner's customer service changes depending on the customer? In my case, he initially made small talk like "The rain has stopped," but then mostly left me alone. I'm not very social, so it was fine for me, but a couple that came in later only ordered one tea and the owner served the other person for free. Then, a group that seemed to have visited before mentioned they didn't come in last time because there was a line, and the owner replied with a denial or modesty like "We never have lines here." It was a bit inconsistent throughout. Lastly, the owner advised the last customer who came in that the warabi mochi was better than the daifuku. When I was leaving, he even asked if I could pass through (since the group had luggage). It was a mixed experience with the owner, so at least for me, it might take some courage to revisit this place alone.

A shop where the owner, a tea expert, has poured their passion into. It's a unique place without a specific genre, where you can truly appreciate the charm of tea. As a dessert shop, it stays open late, making it a great spot to enjoy tea and sweets after a night out. The atmosphere is tranquil, with the owner's anecdotes adding to the ambiance. I recommend trying the matcha parfait and tea set.

In November 2019, I arrived in Kyoto to have dinner. I arrived at Keihan Sanjo Station around 6:00 PM and had about an hour before dinner, so I decided to visit Pontocho after a long time. I took a stroll through the narrow alleyways and took a break at Chaka-bo Nagatake. I entered the restaurant around 6:15 PM and was seated at a table. The cozy atmosphere inside was very nice. This time, I ordered the "Matcha and Matcha Warabi Mochi" set for 1300 yen. After a short wait, the matcha and warabi mochi arrived. The matcha had a wonderful flavor, very delicious. Matcha is a must-have in Kyoto. The warabi mochi was smooth and bouncy, and the flavor of the kinako (soybean flour) was outstanding. The kinako was very finely ground, with a great texture and a fragrant taste. It was made from Tamba black soybeans. I wanted to take the leftover kinako home, but I was worried it might look suspicious if I got stopped by the police (the taste was dangerously good). I've tried various warabi mochi in Kyoto, but I think this one (with kinako) and the one from Charyo Hosei (with kuromitsu) are the best. I look forward to visiting again for more warabi mochi (and maybe the matcha parfait). Thank you for the delicious meal!

The first visit to this cafe might be a bit strict in terms of coffee evaluation, so I'm thinking of mainly exploring Japanese tea in Kyoto. This shop is located a 2-3 minute walk north from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station. It is situated in a narrow alleyway in a row of old houses. Upon entering at 16:55, there was one other group of two customers, an elderly couple perhaps, working there. They serve meals, sweets, and tea. I ordered the Warabi Mochi and Sencha set for 1500 yen. The food was served in 2-3 minutes. The Warabi Mochi came with plenty of kinako powder. It was delicious. The Sencha was served without a teapot, maybe it's an Indonesian coffee style? You are supposed to enjoy the tea leaves while drinking. It didn't have a strong color, but the flavor was good enough. I bought some tea leaves at this long-established tea house, so I will use them at the office. I was able to enjoy 4-5 cups with the additional hot water in the sturdy iron pot. I left at 17:45, with 2 groups of 3 customers still remaining.