*アルテミス*
On December 22, 2022, Gong Cha Kyoto Ninenzaka Store, a Taiwanese tea brand, opened on Ninenzaka, the approach to Kiyomizu Temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Kiyomizu Temple underwent a major renovation from 2008 to 2023, and the repair was finally completed, so we visited the temple before heading to the tea shop. Unfortunately, Jishu Shrine was under repair and we couldn't visit it. The streets of Ichinenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka were filled with crowds of people, especially in the evening when the area was beautifully lit up. The majority of the visitors were foreigners from various countries, speaking different languages as we walked through the bustling streets.
After navigating through the crowded streets, we finally arrived at Gong Cha for a tea break. Gong Cha Kyoto Ninenzaka Store is located in a renovated traditional Japanese house from the Taisho era, making it the first shop to open in such an old Japanese building in Japan. The store operates on a prepayment system, where customers can choose their drink, size, sweetness level, ice preference, and toppings from the menu. While takeaway is available, customers can also choose to enjoy their drinks inside the cozy store.
During our visit, the store was full, but we were fortunate to secure a seat at the counter overlooking the garden while waiting for our order. I opted for the limited Uji Matcha Milk Tea in medium size with normal sweetness, ice, and no toppings. The tea had a light sweetness, which was refreshing after a long day of walking under the hot sun. In hindsight, I thought adding tapioca pearls might have been a good choice for some extra flavor.
After visiting Yasaka Shrine from Shijo Kawaramachi, admiring the cherry blossoms in Maruyama Park, passing by Kodai-ji Temple, and strolling through Ichinenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka to Kiyomizu Temple, the cold and sweet milk tea was a much-needed energy boost. If you would like to see more photos that are not available on Tabelog, please visit my blog, Eternal Rose. Thank you for reading!
