A specialty tea shop near Kyoto City Hall, established in 1875, that offers a wide range of teas including matcha favored by the tea ceremony schools (Urasenke, Omotesenke, Mushakojisenke). They sell teas by weight, a rare style nowadays. From everyday sencha to premium gyokuro, they have a variety of teas. They also sell Uji matcha soft serve ice cream for 200 yen, with a rich Uji matcha flavor. Customers who purchase tea also receive complimentary iced tea. If there are seats available, customers can also enjoy their tea inside the shop. The staff are friendly and welcoming, making it a great place for beginners and young people.

Established in the 8th year of the Meiji era (1875), this renowned tea shop located south of the Imperial Palace is favored by tea ceremony schools and the prestigious Daitoku-ji temple. It is a rare shop where you can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea while selecting your tea. Originally specializing in matcha, they grow and cultivate their tea in a partnered estate along the Uji River, grinding it with a stone mill just before shipment. You can hear the sound of the stone mill grinding matcha from the back of the shop. Matcha is sold by weight at the store. Recently, their popular item is the "karigane hojicha" featuring the playful animals from the Kozan-ji temple. They offer a wide range of tea, from everyday tea to luxurious high-quality leaves, making it a great choice for souvenirs from Kyoto. You can also purchase their products at Takashimaya in Shijo Kawaramachi.

Yanagi Sakuraen Chaho is a popular Japanese tea specialty store located a 5-7 minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station. It is a take-out only store where you can purchase a variety of Japanese teas. They offer a wide range of teas, from classic Japanese teas to new releases, making it a go-to spot for tea lovers. I purchased their popular new tea, which is vacuum-packed and has a shelf life of over six months if unopened. The tea has a lovely aroma when you open the package, and when brewed at 80 degrees Celsius, it releases a rich fragrance. The tea pairs well with traditional Japanese sweets, and you can even enjoy a second steeping. It's a great place to get high-quality Japanese tea that you can enjoy for a long time. Definitely worth a visit!

I stopped by when I went to Kyoto. This is a shop that you can only buy at department stores like Takashimaya in Kanto, and it is one of the shops that you can only buy at the famous product corner. In the actual store, you can also buy a convenient size of 90g, so I decided to stop by to buy the highly recommended hojicha as a souvenir. It was a Saturday, so there was also a limited "hand-roasted roasted hojicha" available, but at first I was planning to buy the normal Koe or Kin. However, due to the strong recommendation from the staff, I decided to try the "hand-roasted roasted hojicha" as well for home use, and chose "Kin" for the souvenir. While waiting, they served me Sencha Asahi... It was very delicious with a sweetness and a deep flavor. I realized that there is such a big difference in the price range of Sencha that I don't usually buy. Now, I enjoyed the hojicha that I purchased when I got home. First, I was surprised by the aroma. The fragrant smell spread even outside the can. I followed the small recipe that they gave me and brewed the hand-roasted roasted hojicha. Unlike regular hojicha, this Saturday limited edition includes a slightly green tea mixed in. Hojicha is attractive for its roasted aroma, and this blend with the flavor of Sencha adds a bitterness and sweetness to the taste. If you are looking for more roastiness, you may prefer the regular one, but this gentle tea, blending the roastiness and the goodness of Sencha, has a mild and gentle taste that is kind to both the heart and stomach. I gave the Kin as a gift to my relatives so I haven't tried it, but if I see it in the department store basement, I might buy it.

After enjoying the delicious sencha that was served at the Mori no Shokudo, I decided to visit again to purchase their Asahi tea. The Asahi tea served this time was also delicious. I asked for tips on how to brew it properly, as the brewing method greatly affects the taste. They recommended using 2g of tea leaves per cup, brewing at 80°C for 1 minute. They suggested using 3g per cup instead of 2g for a more consistent flavor. I brew 8g of tea leaves in 450ml of water each time, and it always tastes delicious, making me feel happy. I plan to try their houjicha, which is only available on Saturdays. Next, I am excited to visit the YAOICHI restaurant that I have been curious about for a while.

I stayed at Hiiragiya Ryokan and was told to go buy some matcha. They also mentioned that Yuyusakuraen is famous as well, which was a name I didn't know. I usually go to Ippodo, so I decided to check it out. When I arrived at the shop, it looked like something out of a period drama - a small storefront with a central tatami area for sales, where customers choose their items from a lower L-shaped platform. There were many types of matcha available, but the ones priced around 2000 yen for 20g, like what I usually buy, were scarce. I asked the staff for recommendations and ended up ordering the popular brand called Hatsuyume. It was only 2000 yen for 40g, about half the price of the super famous brands. I also bought some Asahi sencha, which was served outside the store and tasted delicious. Even though I only stayed at the shop for about 10 minutes, there was a constant stream of customers coming in. It's definitely a popular spot. It was interesting to see that everyone was buying different types of tea, like sencha, matcha, and hojicha. I couldn't wait to try the Hatsuyume at home. It was delicious, although I felt the aroma was slightly lighter compared to the super famous brands. Nevertheless, I've become a fan.

I visited a cafe I wanted to go to for the first time, to pass the time until its opening hours. It is located about a 4-5 minute walk north of Kyoto City Hall. In the neighborhood, there are famous shops like Ippodo (tea house), Stefan Pantel (Buddhist cuisine), and Carbadoor (bar) that you might not notice at first. I entered at 14:45 and there were 2 groups of 3 customers already there. I thought they would serve tea and sweets, but they only sold them. I tried a 100g bag of Sencha tea called "Asahi" for 2000 yen. It was really delicious, so I bought it along with another Sencha tea called "Komakage" for 1000 yen for my family. I will give a review after trying both teas. I left at 14:55 with one group of 2 customers still there. All the customers were very elegant.

Located in the bustling area of Gosho Minami, where many popular restaurants are scattered, is a long-established tea shop founded in the 8th year of the Meiji era, known as the official supplier to the Urasenke school of tea ceremony and the head temples such as Daikoku-ji and Myoshin-ji. In late April 2019, I visited this shop in search of their special ground matcha. Upon entering the small shop, I was greeted by a variety of roasted tea, sencha, and matcha, as well as a canister of roasted tea featuring a design inspired by the "Birds and Animals in the Flower Garden" painting. This time, I purchased a small can of matcha called "Kozakura" for myself and as a souvenir. The "Kozakura" matcha is a spring limited edition special ground matcha (20g for 1200 yen plus tax), available for sale from late February to the end of April. When I brewed and tasted it myself, I found that it had a mild bitterness and a rich umami flavor with a strong depth and creamy richness, characteristic of a special ground matcha. The shop is also known for its roasted tea, especially the canister featuring the "Birds and Animals in the Flower Garden" design. Additionally, during the summer, they offer a water-drawn gyokuro called "Takasegawa" for tasting, which ranges from light to strong tea. The matcha is ground fresh in small quantities and sold retail, and it is widely used in kaiseki and traditional Japanese restaurants. As a prestigious tea shop, it can also be enjoyed at many famous temples and historical sites such as Daikoku-ji's "Zuifuen" and Myoshin-ji's "Keishunin" and "Taizoin".

This is a famous long-established Japanese tea specialty shop in Kyoto. It has a high rating of 3.50 on Tabelog (as of 2019.02.08), which is rare for this type of establishment. You may be familiar with their packaging featuring the Tora no maki. In contrast to the crowded nearby Ippodo, this place had only one other group of customers besides myself (two people). I purchased the Kangetsu hojicha (2160 yen) and Kin (1620 yen). The Kangetsu hojicha has a very distinct hojicha aroma and flavor. It is a delicious hojicha, but the strong aroma and flavor may not be suitable for light Japanese dishes or ochazuke. When I brewed it too strong in the past, the intense aroma and flavor made it difficult to drink. It may be more suitable for hot pot dishes, Western cuisine, Chinese cuisine, or desserts. It is undeniably a high-quality hojicha, but the evaluation may vary depending on what you expect from hojicha. I would like to try it as a cold brew sometime.

Closed for comments. Main store limited on Saturdays: Karigane roasted tea for 1600 yen. You can purchase it for 200 yen less inside. Even when busy, the service is not very friendly. They offer the tea to you with a chair. The limited Saturday item has a limited quantity, so it's recommended to visit early.

I purchased Karigane Hojicha "Koetsu" at Yurakuen Tea Shop for the first time. It was my first visit. The prices were 1,080 yen for 85g and 2,160 yen for 200g. Since I visited on a Saturday, they were also selling a Saturday-only hojicha. The female staff member kindly explained everything to me. I felt that this was a trustworthy shop. I wanted hojicha in a can, so I chose "Koetsu" from the three types of stem tea. (Saturday-only -> Koetsu -> one more level) I chose Koetsu, which can be bought anytime, to avoid the limited edition, but I realized that Yurakuen Tea Shop is closed on Sundays, so I can only visit on Saturdays. I thought maybe I should have bought the Saturday-only hojicha, but I'll save that for next time.

I purchased the highly recommended 'Kaetsu', the weekend limited 'Roasted Hojicha', and the spring limited 'Kosakura' at the Teramachi store. They all have a gentle flavor with a strong umami taste, and they are all delicious! The shop and service are also wonderful.

If my memory serves me right, this was the first shop where I purchased Kyoto green tea. It was a culture shock! I also bought some sencha afterwards. It was delicious.

I always buy brown rice tea. The tea they serve at the store when I buy it is just delicious!

Karigane Houjicha Genmaicha: This restaurant serves a delicious blend of roasted green tea and brown rice tea.

Yanagi Sakuraen is a well-known tea shop that has become popular among famous temples and other establishments. Unlike other tea shops that have a wide range of products, they seem to focus more on local business. While they have a small sales space at Takashimaya department store, their main store offers a better selection. I often look for the tin of roasted green tea with bird and animal designs as a souvenir (including for myself), which I think is enjoyed by people of all ages. I am also hoping to get my hands on the Saturday limited edition roasted green tea for its rarity value, but the opportunity hasn't come yet. Perhaps next time? This will be my next challenge. I won't include photos of the products this time as it's too much trouble.

Founded in the 8th year of the Meiji era, this long-established tea shop is renowned nationwide as the official supplier to 3,000 schools of tea ceremony and prestigious temples such as Daikaku-ji and Myoshin-ji. On a sunny afternoon in mid-April 2018, I visited this small shop where a variety of tea brands such as sencha, matcha, and canned roasted tea with bird and animal motifs were lined up. I bought the water-drawn gyokuro "Takase River" as a souvenir and the matcha "Kosakura" in a small can for myself. The seasonal limited edition "Kosakura" (20g for 1200 yen + tax) is only available from late February to around Golden Week. When I brewed and tasted it, I found it to be pleasantly light in bitterness with a refreshing aftertaste, rich in umami, and creamy. It truly embodies the value of the special spring blend. They also offer high-quality sencha "Asahi," water-drawn gyokuro "Takase River" for the summer, canned roasted tea with bird and animal motifs, and the popular green tea teabags "Horo." Their matcha range from light to strong is also highly praised. Many restaurants, including traditional Japanese ones, use their teas, and you can also enjoy them at historic sites like Daikaku-ji's "Zuifukui" and Myoshin-ji's "Keishun-in" and "Taizoin." Located in the prominent dining area of Gosho Minami in Kyoto, the shop may seem a bit intimidating at first glance, but the staff is friendly and welcoming. Whether for personal use or as a gift, you can feel comfortable shopping here.

Let's go to Teramachi to buy tea for the New Year. Tea always goes well with Japanese sweets. Let's buy some delicious tea. "Hatsugama Matcha" and "Hand-roasted Hojicha limited to Saturdays" Made in JAPAN. The richness of matcha may be related to vitamin supplementation and longevity. It is good for the skin and may also have anti-cancer effects. When you go to Nagoya, you often hear the phrase "Azuki, matcha, yuzu, sakura." In Kyoto, there is Ito's "Sakura Yanagien" tea shop. They have various teas such as sencha, matcha, gyokuro, and hojicha. Locals may bring their own tea containers when purchasing matcha. The shop first serves sencha to customers in a seated selling style. They wear a hanten with the shop's name on it. Karigane Hojicha "Koe" in a bag of 90g for 864 yen can also be used for ochazuke. The "Hojicha" hand-roasted hojicha limited to Saturdays is priced at 1600 yen, a rare hojicha. The "Matcha" Hatsugama Matcha is a limited-time offer. 20g for 2000 yen. It is a great gift for those who practice the tea ceremony. It may be a bit expensive, but it can be enjoyed as usucha or used to make tempura matcha salt, providing vitamins and a sophisticated taste. Those who are particular about Kyoto matcha should visit this place. They carefully grind matcha with a stone mill at the back of the shop. During the New Year season, the Hatsugama Matcha is recommended here. It is also the official tea supplier for the three tea ceremony schools in Kyoto. It is also the official supplier for famous shrines and temples. For tourists, it is recommended to go to Ichinodo for tea containers. For a tea gathering, Yuzakuraen's tea containers are preferred. I follow this practice. The main sweets are, the dry sweets are, the sugar-coated sweets are, and the miso pine wind is from Kyoto's traditional sweet shop. Matching them with Kyoto's traditional confectionery is a sure bet. Choosing sweets according to the season will make the experience even more enjoyable. Recently, people from overseas have been buying Japanese-made tea whisks in bulk, so please bear with us. For those who are particular, please dress up and act cool. The buyers are the ones who are important. Kyoto citizens welcome those with good manners. Thank you for your understanding. I remember that this place is related to Ichiryoku-san. Kyoto's long-established businesses are connected through family ties. Just like in the Warring States period, they are still connected by blood. The bond is a blood bond. It is an unbreakable bond. That is the depth of Kyoto...Listening to the Pure Land, being in hell, hiding the rice porridge behind the long noren curtain. The counting song of the apprentice at a textile wholesaler in Muromachi, Kyoto. In Nishijin and Muromachi in Kyoto, there used to be a story of "three meals of ochazuke?" Barley rice with white tea is served warm, and for customers, there are rice cakes.

Recently, I have been enjoying tea at home more than going out. I like all kinds of tea - coffee, black tea, Japanese tea, Chinese tea - but lately I have been hooked on the tea from Yagisakuraen. This tea can only be purchased at the main store and Takashimaya in Kyoto (I heard that some products are also available at Isetan). Among their teas, I highly recommend the "Kyoto-style premium Kari-gane hand-roasted roasted tea" that is only sold on Saturdays at the main store. It is made from carefully selected tea leaves and has a smooth and light taste, with a rich aroma and a refreshing aftertaste with a hint of roasted flavor. Another recommended tea is the "Kyoto flavor Kari-gane hojicha fragrance" which also has a sophisticated taste. It is a bit of a hassle to go to the main store on Saturdays, but it is definitely worth it. Additionally, I recommend the "premium sencha Asahi" which can be purchased at both the main store and Takashimaya. Yagisakuraen's teas have an elegant and light taste, and the Asahi sencha is the epitome of that. It has a soft, expansive flavor and a noble aroma. Although I used to enjoy their "Komakage" sencha, I have now shifted to "Asahi". Despite being twice the price of "Komakage", I find it hard to go back. I have become completely captivated by Japanese tea, particularly from Yagisakuraen. I am afraid I won't be able to drink tea from other tea shops anymore. And I am also afraid of continuously indulging in more expensive teas from Yagisakuraen. Thank you for the meal. I will go buy more tea when my tea leaves run out.