アルボス
On this day, I decided to explore the scenery and streets after a long time, heading to the town of Uji in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, known for Uji tea, Uji River, and the World Heritage site, Byodoin Temple. Along the approach to Byodoin Temple, a representative landmark of Uji, there are big names in Uji tea such as "Sansuien Kamibayashi," "Ito Kyuemon," "Suien Meicha Honpo," "Terashimaya Yahyoe Shoten," "Nakamura Tohkiti Byodoin Store," and several other eateries and Japanese confectionery shops. Among them, I stopped by "Yamadaen Chaho," a traditional tea shop established in 1919. The shop offers a wide variety of teas including hojicha, sencha, gyokuro, matcha, and Kanon, despite being less known compared to the big names nearby. The shop is run by two elderly ladies who provide customer service without strong sales pitches. Inside the shop, you can see six stone mills grinding tea leaves, showing their dedication to matcha. I started with a cup of "Iced Green Tea (50 yen)" in a corner of the shop, enjoying its refreshing sweetness and subtle matcha flavor. Then, I was offered another tea, which had a deep richness reminiscent of gyokuro, without much explanation. It turned out to be a tasting service of new tea, which I found satisfying. I also purchased a take-out of "Sencha," which, for its price, had a decent quality and a pleasant flavor suitable for daily consumption. Amidst the many tourists passing by the approach to Byodoin Temple, Yamadaen Chaho stands out with its 50 yen green tea and the sight of stone mills inside the shop. Thanks to the friendly service of the elderly ladies, everyone can enjoy a pleasant experience here.