With over 200 years of history, this charming tea shop in the modern "Teramachi Kyogoku Shopping Street" recently underwent renovations and reopened in March 2020. While the layout and some pillars have been updated, the traditional furnishings and teapots have been preserved, maintaining the historic atmosphere. The shop is known for its unique tea blending, where the owner carefully combines tea leaves from different regions and farms to create distinctive flavors. One of their specialties is the "Horoindo" blend, which offers a variety of teas such as sencha, gyokuro, matcha, hojicha, and genmaicha. I purchased the "Horoindo" blend (100g for 850 yen), which has a balanced taste with a moderate astringency, making it a perfect accompaniment to meals. The shop owner and his wife are polite and knowledgeable, providing detailed explanations about their teas. Located in a prime spot in the bustling "Teramachi Kyogoku Shopping Street," this tea shop is frequented by both locals and tourists, including many Western visitors. Known for its popularity among renowned restaurants and temples, "Horoindo Tea Shop" is a beloved tea establishment in Kyoto. In addition to teas, they also sell tea utensils and accessories. The recent renovation has made the shop more accessible and welcoming for customers. While single-origin teas are trendy, experiencing the traditional Japanese tea blending at "Horoindo Tea Shop" is a must. Conveniently located just a few minutes' walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station.

I visited this tea shop in April after enjoying cherry blossom viewing. It is located on Teramachi Street in Kyoto. This tea shop is a long-established store that has been around for a long time. They offer a variety of teas such as matcha, hojicha, and green tea. This time, I purchased the essential cherry blossom tea for this season, priced at 430 yen. The staff were very kind and even taught me how to brew and store the tea. It is recommended to brew the cherry blossom tea together with green tea. It can also be used in cooking. I tried it at home right away by adding it to green tea, and it was a delicious tea with a spring-like taste. I highly recommend it.

In early December 2015, I purchased Gyokuro at Houraido in Teramachi Arcade in Kyoto. It was very useful for family and guests, so I was glad. They also helped me by researching other shops where the regional product vouchers that were popular at the time could be used, which was a relief. It was my first trip to Kyoto, and I wanted to keep the accommodation costs down. I found out about the Kyoto Shokusai Ken vouchers, so I bought them after finishing the tournament entry. At that time, there were so many regional product vouchers available, it was quite chaotic. Looking back now, it may have been a bit reckless... When it came time to go on the trip, I tried to do some research, but my service provider had stopped the internet service, so I went out without knowing where this voucher could be used. I thought I would figure it out along the way... During the trip, I couldn't research because I didn't bring my PC with me, so I ended up on the last day without knowing where to use the voucher. I walked around the arcade in a panic. Then, I found a shop with a sign saying "Can be used with Shokusai Ken vouchers." It was Houraido, a tea shop, and I purchased 100g of Gyokuro for guests at my parents' house. I paid with the voucher, and actually, it was a close call... When I explained the situation, they kindly researched other nearby shops where the voucher could be used. I was able to use it up at a pickle shop and a greengrocer's. Thank you so much. The Gyokuro is Uji tea, and although I still can't tell the difference, my family appreciated it, so it was worth buying. It's been a while, but I will go buy it again. Thank you for the meal. Houraido Tea Shop 075-221-1215 Kyoto City, Nakagyo Ward, Teramachi Street, west side of Shijo Street, Nishiooji Minamimachi 295 10:00-20:50, closed on days with the number 2

I purchased the original brown rice tea and it was a delicious tea with a pleasant aroma.

Polite customer service. They also sell high-quality Gyokuro tea.

This is a long-established Uji tea specialty store founded in 1803 on Teramachi Street. They offer a variety of Uji teas such as matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and hojicha, as well as tea utensils and teacups. The store has a traditional atmosphere with tea jars and tea boxes lining the walls. The teas range from affordable to high-end, and there are tea samples in the window for customers to choose from. The store is known for originating genmaicha, which was first sold as "Horai bancha" in the Taisho era. The owner is helpful in assisting customers in choosing the right tea based on their preferences. The reviewer purchased Horaien sencha and genmaicha, as well as a teacup. They enjoy drinking tea every day using the teacup they bought.

When it comes to Kyoto tea, I remember sencha, hojicha after meals, as well as genmaicha. I heard that Horaido Tea Shop is the origin of genmaicha, so I decided to visit. The shop is located near the intersection of Shijo Street and Teramachi Street, in the direction of Nishiki Market where Sukiyaki Kimura is also located. I entered the shop a little after 11 o'clock, but there was no response. When I called out, an elderly man with white hair came out from the back. I mentioned that I came to learn about genmaicha, and he kindly explained about it. Genmaicha was created in the Taisho era, but production was halted during wartime due to lack of ingredients. It was revived after the war in 1950. Currently, it is mainly used for commercial purposes, with only one type available for home use - a 200g pack of genmaicha for 1050 yen. Since my mother likes genmaicha, I bought it. It was definitely more flavorful and rich than the tea we usually drink. Thank you, I now have another shop to visit when I come to Kyoto.

The sencha here really leaves a rich taste on the palate - the umami, sweetness, and a hint of bitterness ("this bitterness is what makes it delicious"). And after drinking, it feels refreshing and invigorating. This is truly a wonderful sencha. Thank you so much, Mr. Kanto! I will enjoy this sencha at home. I purchased the 100g of Hōrai-dō sencha for 2000 yen. It's really an excellent tea. I've tried many high-quality teas, but this one is at the top. In summary, Hōrai-dō's sencha is exceptionally superb. I will definitely come back here. I won't cheat on this tea. They are also famous for their genmaicha, which is comforting and just as expected, but their 100g of Hōjicha and Kyoto bancha are exceptional. The Kyoto bancha is simply outstanding without any unpleasant aftertaste. I will review the sencha later. This time, I tried their Kyoto bancha, and it really stands out. It's truly remarkable. Now, about Hōrai-dō. Although I didn't visit their physical store this time, I always make sure to visit this long-established tea shop during my trip to Kyoto in early March. During my visit to Kanto Coffee on a Sunday to have coffee, they served me Hōrai-dō's genmaicha along with zenzai. It is said that this is where genmaicha was invented. Their genmaicha is very delicious. It has a comforting taste, not overly sticky like some genmaicha, and it goes down smoothly, providing a sense of relief. In conclusion, the original genmaicha from Hōrai-dō, the inventor of genmaicha, is so good that it makes you feel like there is no need to try any other genmaicha.

I had been wanting to visit this shop after reading a review by Mairebi-sama that mentioned the "brown rice tea" originated in the Taisho era, which was created by this shop as "Hourai Bancha". Located right near the Kintenman-gu Shrine, the historical sign caught my eye. There was a foreign couple as the previous customers, receiving very polite service and trying out various teas before purchasing many. I bought a 200g pack of Hourai Bancha (premium) and some Torige-juga design paper that I love. When I opened the bag at home, I found dark green tea leaves and dark brown rice. When hot water was poured, the green of the tea leaves became even more vibrant. First, I could smell the fragrant brown rice, followed by the strong aroma of bancha. The color of the tea may look light, but the taste is rich. Although we usually just drink bottled cold tea at home, brewing tea like this is definitely much more delicious. The tea has a strong flavor, so even when poured over lots of ice in a glass, it was still enjoyable. It paired well with dried sweets and cream-filled daifuku. Thank you for the meal~ ^^

I came to buy genmaicha again~♬ This genmaicha has a special taste~(^O^) It's delicious, so delicious~hehehe~♬☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆(March 2015) I love genmaicha~♬ That fragrant smell is irresistible~(^O^) This is the original genmaicha, called "Genmai-iri Houraicha"~♬ I found out about it from Arbors' review and when I visited Kyoto, I thought I had to go if I love genmaicha~♡ I'm happy that I got the second review~♬ When I got home, I immediately tried it~ When I opened it, it had a delicious aroma like "okaki"~♬ I poured hot water at around 90℃ as recommended on the leaflet~♡ Oh!! This has a wonderful aroma like the tea I had at Miza's house~(^O^) The color of the tea is also very beautiful~♬ When I took a sip, wow!! It's clearly different from the genmaicha I had at home~♬ The base tea leaves have a rich flavor~♡ Even with just the genmaicha, there's an elegant taste of the old capital~(^O^) This place is conveniently located and has a variety of teas, so I'll definitely come back again~hehehe~delicious~(^O^)

Located in the crowded Teramachi Kyogoku shopping arcade in Kyoto, this specialty tea shop was established in 1803 during the Edo period. They sell a variety of Uji teas (a general term for green teas produced in Kyoto) and tea utensils, but there is no seating for dining inside the shop. The shop has a traditional atmosphere reminiscent of the Edo period. The owners are kind and knowledgeable, and they are happy to share information about their teas. The shop is famous for being the birthplace of Genmaicha, a type of green tea blended with roasted brown rice. The owners are fluent in English and often cater to visitors from overseas. The shop offers a unique tea blend called "Horai-cha" which is a delicious and balanced tea with a subtle flavor. The shop also sells Kyoto-style pottery and original tea utensils. It is a popular choice among locals and is favored by famous restaurants and temples in Kyoto. Overall, it is a well-established tea shop in the historic Teramachi shopping arcade, offering high-quality teas and a taste of Kyoto's rich history.

I purchased this brown rice tea when I visited Kyoto last August, but I only opened it recently, so I am writing this review now. Many of my followers had recommended this tea, so I was really curious to try it. When I visited Kyoto in May last year, I didn't have time to get it, so I made sure to make time during my visit last summer. I stopped by on the last day and bought it from a traditional-looking shop on Teramachi Street. They had a variety of teas, but I stuck to my original plan and bought the brown rice tea. The flavor of the brown rice in the tea was really delicious. Some brown rice teas can end up tasting too much like rice, giving a coarse flavor, but this one balanced the tea leaves and brown rice perfectly, maintaining a high quality. This is definitely the best brown rice tea I've ever had. Kyoto never fails to impress. I will definitely buy it again next time.

The birthplace of Genmaicha! Recommended by a senior in the tea ceremony world in Kansai, the owner of this Japanese tea shop kindly teaches you various things such as how to brew tea and how to store it.