It had been six months since my last visit. It seems that many foreigners visit based on information from SNS and other sources, but I think it's a good hidden gem to relax and enjoy matcha. I started with cold sweets and cold green tea, but my body started to feel cold, so I switched to regular matcha. The refill matcha is just tea, so it's a bit more affordable. Also, you can have up to three servings of green tea.

It is located quite close to Marutamachi Station, and Kyoto is really easy to navigate, which is very helpful! Currently, they only serve dine-in and not takeout. I'm not sure if there is a second floor, as there were stairs but no one guiding us. Unfortunately, they were sold out of sakuramochi and ohagi, so I tried the walnut, mochi, and fig sweets instead. I had roasted green tea, but it didn't really impress me. They said the taste changes with each brewing, but I couldn't really tell. Maybe I just didn't choose the right tea leaves. Other customers seemed to love this place and praised the tea, so maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. I should have ordered matcha instead. The tea bowls lined up were for those who ordered matcha, and I wanted to choose one too. The prices are reasonable, so it seems welcoming for foreigners and students.

✔️The matcha here is delicious! The matcha and sweets set costs 1,400 yen and has a lovely atmosphere. It may be a bit pricey, but considering the quality, it's worth it. They offer various teas like hojicha and sencha. The sweets are made by someone from a certain shop (I forgot) and they are also very authentic. You can't just order tea alone, which might be a bit tough on the stomach, but they want you to enjoy both the tea and sweets. I happened to drop by, but it can get crowded at times, so making a reservation might be safer. The sesame and citrus yokan is a great match with the sesame giving a nice contrast to the refreshing citrus. You can choose from 2-3 types of sweets. For an additional 200 yen, you can upgrade to wagashi like hanabiramochi and another one (I forgot). The matcha is impressive with its fine foam. You can choose your own tea bowl, which is exciting. They sell matcha powder ranging from 0 (light tea for lattes and sweets) to 3 (strong tea). The matcha here is between 1 (light tea) and 2 (slightly strong tea). Other places usually use about 2 scoops of tea, but here they generously use about 4 scoops. Personally, I prefer stronger tea so I'm happy about that.

A specialty tea shop located near Marutamachi subway station. Recently, there has been an increase in shops in Kyoto offering sets of Japanese tea and traditional sweets, ranging from authentic to casual and accessible. While reservations are not necessarily required when visiting, it seems that the influence of social media has attracted many young people passing by the shop, particularly on weekends. The majority of customers appear to be foreigners, often visiting in small groups with someone who can translate. The shop offers tea only as a set with traditional sweets, and additional servings of tea can be ordered with a small sweet in a refillable matcha set. Customers can choose from a variety of tea options, including sencha and hojicha. Although it tends to get busy around lunchtime, I would like to visit during a quieter time to enjoy a leisurely experience.

I was told that the atmosphere inside the shop was wonderful, so I went there. It's about a 3-minute walk from Marutamachi Station. This time, I had the "Seasonal Fruit Water Jelly with Sweet Red Bean Paste and Tea" for ¥2,400, and the seasonal fruit was peach. It was my first time trying this water jelly with sweet red bean paste, and with just one bite, I felt so happy (laughs). The sweet red bean paste is made from a rare ingredient called white kidney beans, which is sensitive to climate and has limited production. It goes perfectly with the white rice balls and is incredibly delicious. The peach compote added a wine-like acidity that paired well with the water jelly, making it amazing. I also had freshly roasted Gyokuro tea, which was rich in flavor and had a great aroma, making it very delicious. In addition to the sweets and tea, you can also enjoy matcha and sencha in a calm atmosphere with a relaxed clientele. There are 6 seats on the second floor for groups, and the third floor sells tableware. Of course, I will definitely come back again.

Matcha, as well as green tea, are prepared in front of you with the best method for each leaf. Today's daily Japanese sweets are delicious, with flavors like poppy seeds, black beans, and a hint of roasted soybean flour. The sweets are excellent in terms of texture, taste, and presentation, and they go perfectly with the matcha. The tea is also fresh. This is a top-level modern hospitality experience. The popular restaurant is worth visiting every week, so it is recommended to make a reservation.

I used it for takeout drinks only. They prepare matcha in front of you. Not only stylish, but really delicious. I wanted to drink it quickly and forgot to take a picture (lol). If you like matcha and hojicha, you must visit. I also liked the calm atmosphere inside the store.

I usually only like strong matcha, but the matcha latte here is my favorite. You can fully taste the richness and aroma of matcha, and it feels like a waste when the ice melts. It's my first time trying it, so the sweetness is just right, but next time I'll try the zero sugar option! Another tea I love is "Gokou" kabuse sencha, where you can fully taste the sweetness of the tea, making it incredibly delicious. Be sure to try this one too! ☺️

I chose the set of roasted mochi with figs and walnuts, along with hojicha and gyokuro tea. The hojicha tea had a rich aroma and I was able to enjoy up to three infusions in the calm atmosphere of the counter-only shop. I look forward to trying sencha and matcha next time (lol).

I received a hojicha gyokuro. It was brewed for a solid 90 seconds. The most delicious one I've ever had!

The entrance with a large glass is impressive, giving the impression of a Western-style cafe, but it is actually a specialty Japanese tea shop. It's stylish. The tea comes with sweets, and I had white zenzai. It was like a smooth white sweet bean paste, with a gentle sweetness, and strawberries. The tea was also delicious.

Enjoying freshly brewed tea and traditional Japanese sweets in front of you, this cozy cafe offers a quiet and adult atmosphere with only counter seating. Located in a serene area in Kyoto, I had a seasonal sweet red bean soup and freshly roasted hojicha tea. Next time, I'll try their matcha set! ♡

This was a long-awaited shop that I had always wanted to visit. The interior and the staff were all sophisticated, and I was impressed throughout. The matcha was prepared right in front of me and served. It was the most delicious matcha I have ever had.