A Japanese tea cafe located south of Toji Temple. I made a reservation by phone on the day of my visit. It is a large old house with a serene and quiet atmosphere adorned with art pieces of tea utensils. - Gyokuro: 1100 yen (tax included) The staff prepares it in front of you. The first brew is rich and flavorful, almost like a Japanese sweet. The second and third brews are also strong. Two types of sweets are served: a square citrus-filled crispy one and a disc-shaped one with a very smooth texture. - Chamyu (tea-soaked sweets): 1430 yen (tax included) You pour tea over the sweets. I chose the Yukihira from three types of traditional sweets. The skin is very soft mochi with walnuts inside. The sweet bean paste has a brown sugar aroma. It pairs well with the matcha. The sweets melt easily, designed for tea soaking. It was very delicious. The atmosphere in the old house is amazing. I had a chat with the staff. Lunch is a 5500 yen course meal starting at 11 am for up to 8 people now. Tea that is extracted for 48 hours is also available, with reservations required 2 days in advance. From 2 pm, there is a tea and sweets pairing course for 3300 yen. Cafe use is available in between. The traditional sweets are specially ordered from Ito Tatsu near Ninna-ji Temple, which only offers takeout. I was able to discover a wonderful restaurant. I definitely want to try the lunch and tea courses in the future. I also want to visit Ito Tatsu.

Located near Toji Temple in Kyoto, this renovated traditional townhouse, which is about 100 years old, offers a unique tea experience. With a theme of "enjoying time with Japanese tea," the shop features around 200 types of tea, including matcha, sencha, gyokuro, and more. One interesting menu item is "chamyo," which is a type of tea-soaked confectionery. I tried the "Yukihira" which consisted of a matcha confectionery with roasted walnuts and clove black sugar paste. The staff also shared detailed information about tea and the history of the building, which used to be a charcoal warehouse. The high ceilings and traditional elements combined with modern touches make this place truly special. In addition to the tea, the building itself is also a highlight of the experience.

Tea is a familiar presence for Japanese people, yet for many, it remains an unknown world. Mr. ○ma introduces us to the world of tea in a deep and immersive way. When dining out, what do you seek? For me, it's not just about deliciousness, but also about satisfying unknown desires. I want to taste the flavors of ingredients I've never experienced before and try cooking methods I've never heard of. While this place may not offer food, it is one of the few establishments that allows you to experience the unknown world of tea.

I felt a truly luxurious space with elegance and sophistication. The interior design is very refined, making it a beautiful place loved by people of all ages, whether with friends or with a partner. The staff are knowledgeable and passionate about tea, and their expertise is impressive. The prices may seem high, but the quality of the tea justifies it. It's clear that they have a deep love and dedication to tea, almost like artisans. The tea was delicious.

The Japanese tea shop has an amazing atmosphere. You can choose your favorite tea for a tasting. I liked the aroma and taste of Gyokuro the best. The water somehow tasted fluffy and delicious. There was a solo exhibition by a writer with lots of cute cups. --- Order: - Tea tasting set: ¥2,500 - Matcha, Usucha, Gyokuro, Saemidori, Gyokuro

I visited a tea and traditional Japanese sweets pairing shop after seeing it in a women's magazine. These types of shops are hard to find on food review websites like Tabelog, but they often appear in lifestyle magazines. This particular shop is located in a traditional townhouse just a 5-minute walk from Toji Station, one stop away from Kyoto Station on the Kintetsu Line. They offer a pairing of 3 items for 3,300 yen, with reservations required for the 2 pm session. The lineup includes an ice cream with shichimi togarashi (seven-spice blend), a three-layered pudding with red bean paste, and a low-sugar kuzu manju to be enjoyed with tea. It's a great way to experience a taste of Kyoto. The experience takes a little over an hour, so it's recommended to set aside about 1.5 hours. For travelers, it might be a bit tricky to fit into the itinerary, but since it's only about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station, you could arrive in Kyoto around 1:30 pm, enjoy the pairing, and then have a slightly late dinner around 7 pm before heading back to Kyoto Station. This kind of schedule seems ideal.

In 2022, I couldn't go immediately and there was a bit of a gap, but I visit regularly. I go so often that I can't keep up with posting, and I haven't been keeping a record. I wish I had recorded all the delicious teas I drank (^^;) So, I'll write about it now. However, I forgot what I drank on this day. I enjoyed ■ tea and wagashi, pouring tea over it and eating it like ochazuke, while enjoying tea like a marriage. Then, I try various teas that are being brought in while talking with the owner. Only high-quality, delicious teas. There are always new teas coming in, and with different changes in water and temperature, there are countless ways to enjoy them. I have been visiting since the opening and never get tired of it. Recently, I heard that reservations are full due to someone's post going viral on Twitter, but for those who visit, I would like you to experience tea quietly in that space. * This time, the total bill includes the teas purchased for home consumption. Looking forward to the next visit. Thank you for the meal.

Tea Salon Proposal: A dream-like healing space where you can enjoy 150 types of Japanese tea, along with matching sweets, dishes, and even Japanese sake. I discovered this place through the Instagram posts of a user I always enjoy seeing. When I visited, there were almost no reviews on Tabelog, but after checking out ◯間's website, I knew it was a shop filled with elements I love and I just had to go! I invited a friend, made a reservation, and visited. Location: Just 300m south of the World Heritage Site "To-ji," with a lovely view of To-ji's five-story pagoda from the road in front of the shop. Atmosphere: The shop, originally built as a charcoal dealer at the end of the Taisho era, has a charming exterior. The interior has been renovated with great attention to detail, and it's not just a cafe housed in an old folk house - it's a space that surprises with its high level of artistry. The concept of "continuation" was designed by designer Toshiaki Sakai, and everywhere you look, you can feel the beauty. The retro glass reflecting the greenery in front of the spacious counter seats, the stunning ceiling beams when you turn around, the deep earth walls, and the display of high-placed sliding doors all contribute to a delightful space. Additionally, the heartwarming items such as the famous works of current popular artists, aromas, and more, steal your heart. Customer Service: The wonderful staff perfectly match the atmosphere of the shop. They talk about ingredients, tableware, Japanese tea, and sake with great care. Their way of speaking and behavior, everything is beautiful and you can also be healed by their service... I actually visited to have a light lunch, but before I knew it, I had spent about 4 hours (*'▽'*). I had a blissful time. Order: - Tea Dashi Ochazuke Set (1500 yen): Ochazuke with tea broth, served with various side dishes. The tea-flavored ochazuke, enjoyed with tea leaves and bonito dashi, was absolutely delicious. ◯間's attention to rice and dashi makes everything you eat full of kindness, healing both mind and body. - Chamyu (1200 yen): A sweet treat where tea is poured over the confection. Not a dessert created for Instagrammable aesthetics, but a work of art created to enjoy tea and sweets in a fun and delicious way. There are three types: "Yukihira," "Usukawa Manju," and "Seasonal." By combining traditional Japanese ingredients with herbs and butter, the flavors become even more enjoyable. - Sake: On this day, I was treated to a rare and expensive sake in a tin vessel and a cup by a famous artist. Note: Currently, only a 5000 yen course lunch is available. Various events are also held at ◯間. Every time I go to Kyoto, I always want to visit this shop, but the reality is that I haven't been able to make time. If it were nearby, I would want to visit every week. It's a hidden healing space.

Behind the dream-like counter, through the corridor, there is a tea room. Sitting down, I looked up and was surprised to see a battlefield scene. The explanations were detailed and made me feel both hesitant and excited. I tried a tea-infused sweet inspired by Mori Ogai's habits, then poured thick tea over a steamed bun. Delicious! Especially when finishing off the tea and crumbs left in the bowl. It's a luxurious experience where you can see, hear, taste, and even smell, making you want to stay longer.

After visiting Toji Temple, we came to a shop that had caught our attention before. As you head down Omiya Street from the Kujo-Omiya intersection, an old building appears on the east side. It feels like stepping into a different space, almost like a time slip, with the preserved old townhouse blending in. The seating is limited and not spacious, so it's better to make a reservation. There are a couple of counter seats for two people and two four-person table seats. We were lucky to get a table seat in the middle. Virus prevention measures: - The staff will sanitize your hands when you sit down. - The seating is arranged so that customers do not face each other. This is a Japanese tea specialty shop where you can enjoy unique teas and small tea snacks. They provide detailed explanations about the various types of tea. When we asked if they had any sweets, they offered us a unique sweet called "Japanese sweets tea pickles" that they usually serve to reserved customers. I had a thin-skinned manju with gyokuro tea, and my daughter had a jyo-yo manju with sencha. Both were priced at 1200 yen including tax. First, I enjoyed the gyokuro tea in a small, unusual-shaped teacup. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. The high-quality tea brewed carefully at a warm temperature was truly delicious! It would be a waste not to drink it as it is (*^^*) For the second brew, I poured it over the thin-skinned manju. When I cut it with chopsticks, the anko inside melted into the gyokuro, creating a light sweet soup-like texture. The third brew was a bit longer, resulting in a light gyokuro tea. My daughter's jyo-yo manju and sencha had mugwort anko inside. Since the manju's dough was thick, the anko did not melt out, and it was eaten as a filling in the sencha. I had a taste, and the bitterness of the sencha and the mugwort anko complemented each other well, and it was delicious (*^^*) After that, we were guided through the backyard to a secondhand bookstore inside a warehouse on the premises! The shop's interior, as well as the bookstore's atmosphere, felt like something out of a novel by Edogawa Rampo or Yokomizo Seishi! The bill is settled at the entrance register where the secondhand bookstore and the cafe are combined. Here, another surprise! They use an old, large safe like the "Unopened Safe" to handle money (^^; I really had a great time (*^^*) This is why Kyoto is so interesting! I'm curious about their lunch menu, so I'll make a reservation and come back again! Thank you for the wonderful experience~

This is a Japanese tea specialty store that opened near Toji Temple. Housed in a traditional Japanese-style building, upon entering you are asked, "Are you here for a meal or just tea?" The left room is for dining with counter seats, while the right room is a café where you can enjoy Japanese tea. The interior is adorned with tea bowls and antique ornaments, providing a feast for the eyes. They source unique teas directly from producers that are not commonly available, offering a selection of 50 different types. The tea selectors include a Belgian, a German, and a Japanese from Kanazawa, who curate teas from all over Japan. The Belgian selector was explaining Japanese tea to foreign customers on the day of my visit. When seated, you are shown a tea selection chart to help you choose. The staff is very friendly and guide you through the tea selection process, making it an enjoyable experience. I selected two teas: 1) Sencha from Dosenbo in Kyoto, a tea with a balance of aroma and astringency. It was a pleasure to choose something from Kyoto while in Kyoto. 2) Gyokuro Hoshun from Fukuchiyama, a tea with natural sweetness and smoothness. The transformation in taste and aroma with each steeping was truly fascinating. The beauty of the tea bowls, particularly one by Shin'ya Taniguchi, was also remarkable. The restaurant next door serves a one soup, three side dish lunch at a reasonable price. Overall, the experience at this Japanese tea specialty store in Kyoto was unique and unforgettable.

I was introduced to an interesting shop just a 5-minute walk from Toji Temple in Kyoto. It's like an adult theme park where you can enjoy various things like tea, kaiseki cuisine, and books. It's a place where you can truly understand the meaning of deep knowledge. This time, I tried a tea tasting session. I can't explain it well, but the owner kindly taught me about it. Please enjoy the quiet flow of time and space in Kyoto.

I visited during the unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday spanning from the Heisei to Reiwa era. The location is just a 3-minute walk from Tofukuji Temple, famous for Kukai. While downtown Kyoto around Kawaramachi and Karasuma was bustling with tourists, the area around Tofukuji Temple was calm and relaxing. The building is a renovated traditional house divided into three parts: a restaurant, a tea and miscellaneous goods shop, and a secondhand bookstore. When you enter, the restaurant is on the left, the tea space on the right, and if you go through the courtyard to the back, you'll find the bookstore. Each part is housed in a room of the traditional house. In the tea space, you can order various types of tea, from matcha and sencha to Japanese oolong tea and Japanese black tea. Noteworthy is the variety of pottery available for drinking tea. The neatly lined pottery on the wall seems to be brought in by the staff and used to serve tea. When I visited, there was a tea ceremony being held, and foreign guests were actively participating. On the way back, I walked to Kyoto Station. This shop is easily accessible from the center of Kyoto, allowing you to enjoy a quiet Kyoto away from the hustle and bustle.

Shortly after opening, I visited the high-quality Japanese tea and received kind service from the male owner at the charming and modern space of the "MA" complex store. Located just a few minutes from the World Heritage site "To-ji Temple," the store offers a tea room serving Japanese tea from 11 am, a lunch menu with one soup and three dishes, and in the evening, a kaiseki course or à la carte dishes, as well as a bar. The store features different atmospheres on each side of the open hearth in the double-height space, with a warehouse housing the "Tsurukame Shobo" in the back of the main building. On my second visit in mid-April 2019, I was delighted with the 5000 yen course prepared by a veteran chef from "Kicho Honten" in a different counter space, and the attentive service from the male owner. The seven-course meal included appetizers, sashimi, soup, a main dish of Miyazaki beef and bamboo shoots, rice cooked in a pot with green tea and bamboo shoots, and sakura mochi for dessert. The dishes, which showcased the chef's skill and creativity, were well-balanced with side dishes such as mountain vegetables with coconut oil and soy sauce, and fresh fish with mugwort and organic olive oil from Jordan. Although there were no particularly surprising dishes at this price range, the craftsmanship and ingenuity were evident in each dish. The combination of Miyazaki beef and bamboo shoots for 5000 yen was truly a bargain. The chef in front of the counter seemed reserved but was willing to engage in conversation, sharing insights about the ingredients and sweet bean paste for Japanese confectionery. The friendly service and conversations with the male owner added to the welcoming atmosphere. After the course, I added an additional dish and enjoyed it with the sake shown in the picture, enhancing the nostalgic atmosphere of the evening in mid-April 2019. The conversation with a Belgian man who was training for a limited time and his cooking skills left a lasting impression. The store is conveniently located about a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu To-ji Station. From 11 am, you can enjoy a Japanese tea cafe, a lunch menu with one soup and three dishes, à la carte dishes, and a Japanese sake bar. The store also offers special events organized by tea master and instructor Tiassu Sosetsu and fragrance experts, adding to the allure of "MA." I highly recommend visiting this new store in its first year of opening for a taste of Kyoto's tea and cuisine, enveloped in the beauty of Japan and contemporary sensibilities, enriching the palates and senses of its visitors.

Just south of the World Heritage Site Toji in Kyoto, a new facility opened in March 2019 that is sure to attract attention in the future. A magnificent machiya house along a main road catches the eye, and upon opening the door and stepping inside, the high ceiling and beautiful antique colors and shadows of the space are truly captivating. Stepping into the tea room space, I ordered a tea tasting set of three varieties (¥1500 including tax). I selected the desired tea leaves from the shelf, and each tea was carefully brewed for about five infusions, allowing me to fully savor the aromas and flavors of Gyokuro, Shiga Asamiya's Japanese-style oolong tea, and Japanese black tea. The layout of the space includes a counter for enjoying shojin and kaiseki cuisine, as well as a mini counter for tea and a bar, along with a large table space. In the main house, there is also the Kyoto branch of the popular Osaka Minoh secondhand bookstore, Hinata Book's "Tsurukame Shobo." During my visit, I was fortunate to have the facility to myself, allowing me to be guided through the various spaces and learn about the owner's thoughts and future plans, feeling the creativity of "MA" that breathes new life into traditional machiya houses. The operating hours vary: from 11:00 to 17:00, it operates as a Japanese tea cafe and shop; from 11:00 to 14:00, it serves tea meals with matcha and gluten-free sweets; from 17:00 to 23:00, it transforms into a bar where you can enjoy not only tea but also sake and Western liquor; from 18:00, it offers kaiseki cuisine based on shojin cuisine. The meals are based on ichijusansai (one soup and three side dishes) with course options and a la carte dishes. The chef is a skilled cook who has also worked at "Kicho Honke" in Takarabune, specializing in shojin cuisine and vegan options, with the possibility of also offering meat and fish dishes upon request. The tea selection is done by a Belgian tea ceremony master of the Enshu school, Mr. Teas Soze, and another person who operates "Chasho Kanju" in Kanazawa. In addition, events such as aroma therapy blending by experts incorporating the scents of tea are planned, and the many ceramic pieces displayed in each space are available for purchase. Overall, the facility exudes a deep and cultural charm while offering warm and welcoming customer service that is impressive and suitable for a wide range of clientele. Although my impression may change when I return to try the food, the owner, Mr. Sakai, who brewed the tea for me that day, and all the staff were gentle and hospitable. It is truly fitting for the tea culture of Kyoto and the hospitality of Kyoto. I highly recommend visiting the astonishing individual complex facility "MA," which has renovated such a large machiya house almost entirely on their own. The scale, nuances of the space, and the way tea and food enrich the sensibilities of each visitor may not be conveyed in the images, so I believe experiencing it firsthand will be truly enriching.

I was able to spend a relaxing time with Gyokuro and rich Matcha ice cream.

I enjoyed delicious tea in a renovated traditional Japanese house. I was always struggling to find a cafe near Kyoto Station, so I am very happy.

Discovered the deliciousness of Gyokuro tea while enjoying a cup.