This is a tea specialty shop in Pontocho, Gion, Kyoto. I love their herbal tea "Land of Tranquility" and always stop by whenever I visit Kyoto. The handmade tarts, which vary depending on the season, are also amazing. The calm atmosphere inside the shop allows you to relax and unwind. They sell tea bags and loose leaf tea of their popular teas, so you can enjoy them at home too.

In December, I visited a tea specialty shop in Kyoto with a friend who loves coffee. After lunch, we decided to take a break and visit this tea shop. It turns out that my friend has recently become interested in not only coffee but also tea. Quite a wide range of interests. The nearest station is Sanjo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway. We walked around the area for a stroll and arrived at the shop around 2:30 pm. As we climbed the stairs and opened the door, we were smoothly guided to a table for two. The interior of the shop is not very spacious, with not many seats, but it has a calm atmosphere. The other customers were mostly couples, both men and women, and some foreigners, typical of Kyoto. Everyone had good manners. I naturally blended into the atmosphere of the shop. After being seated, we were served a welcome drink, which was mint tea. As soon as I took a sip, the strong mint flavor reminded me of toothpaste, but it left a refreshing feeling in my mouth. We then checked the menu. The shop had a wide variety of teas, so I only took a few photos of the menu. After some contemplation, I ordered the "Origin Tea" for myself, and my friend ordered the "Assam Royal Milk Tea." I'm not very knowledgeable about tea, so I thought the basic "Origin" would be good. However, the price was quite high. About 10 minutes after ordering, my friend's "Assam Royal Milk Tea" was served, followed shortly by my "Origin Tea." My tea was served in a special transparent pot and poured into a cup each time, enough for about two cups. It was a hot tea, so I sipped it slowly. It had a nice aroma and a somewhat mellow taste. Combined with the atmosphere of the shop, it was a soothing and gentle flavor. It made me feel like a British gentleman. I finished my tea. Personally, I don't drink tea at home very often, so it was a nice change. The shop was cozy and welcoming. Although it's best enjoyed in the shop, they also sell tea leaves for takeout, so it might be nice to stop by for some souvenirs.

I climbed the stairs and entered the second floor of the dark bar with a bar counter and a back bar, completely focused on gin. There was a mini barrel. I thought there was a gin specialty store at C&D before? There was a C&D sign. It seemed like the location was different. I asked and they said they are only sublet during the day. There were many tea samples on the table and in the back. I was welcomed with Japanese black tea, which was refreshing. I ordered Darjeeling tea and cheesecake. When I asked about Autumn Karre, they said Darjeeling is divided into three seasons. I was surprised because Japanese tea is usually only one season. There are also old tea leaves, but I don't think there are three seasons. The cream of the cake seemed to be made after ordering, making a rustling sound. While waiting, I smelled the tea leaves on the table. The Kyoho grape scent was strong, as well as the chai. The black tea came in a transparent pot and cup. I have seen the pot occasionally, but it was my first time seeing the cup. It was interesting to see the bottom of the cup while drinking. The Darjeeling tea was delicious. I remember the cheesecake had a hard tart part that was difficult to eat. I forgot the taste. I was able to drink two and a half cups of black tea. It was worth the 1000 yen. The service was friendly, and they kindly answered my questions. It's a bit inconvenient to get to in Pontocho, but I will come back again.

I had three kinds of tea. I used to only drink coffee, but since going to a sanatorium in February and learning about the benefits of black tea, I have been drinking black tea more often. I used to drink black tea in the mornings before, so I already liked black tea. The Earl Grey is from Sri Lanka, the Peach Rooibos is from South Africa, and the Apricot is from India. I especially like the Photion Earl Grey, so I often drink that. I also tried Kusmi Troika from Russia and visited the flagship store in Paris. All three teas come in tea bags, so they are convenient. Oh, I see, they are tea bags. I saw a young girl with fresh tea bags at the hot spring a few days ago, so I made a mistake. I started with the Apricot tea first, drinking it on a cold morning. It had a nice sweet and sour aroma, and it was sweet even without adding anything. The color of the tea was also very nice. Thank you for the meal!

I passed by Pontocho and discovered this place while returning from having lunch. I decided to stop by the second floor of the Furukokaikan. They only serve lunch during the day, and it seems to turn into a bar at night. I entered and was seated at a table. The menu had a wide variety of teas, and I chose the recommended tea of the day, which was a natural strawberry and honey tea. There was also a cake that paired well with the tea, but I was too full to try it. The tea that was brought to me had a wonderful aroma, typical of black tea. It had a refreshing taste, contrary to its rich aroma. I asked the owner and found out that the place opened in January of this year. I enjoyed my tea until the last drop! On my way out, I bought a tea lucky bag (containing 6 types of tea bags) as a souvenir. It was a lovely tea specialty shop with delightful background music.

The black tea was very easy to drink and delicious. I was happy with the many services provided, such as tasting of baked goods and black tea.