One of the first places I visited upon arriving in Japan was the Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store. I was a frequent visitor to their shop in NYC, but unfortunately, it closed in 2022. This company has a history dating back to 1717 and is known for its premium Japanese teas. I had heard that they can get crowded, especially with the recent matcha craze, so I made sure to get there right when they opened. I was quickly able to secure a seat in their cafe area, The Kaboku Tearoom.
Details
Address: Japan, 〒604-0915 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Tokiwagicho, 52 寺町通二条上ル
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily
Website: https://global.ippodo-tea.co.jp/pages/store-kyoto
Specialty: premium Japanese teas
Food: The Kaboku Tearoom serves small seasonal sweets
The staff were friendly and efficient, giving me time to decide on my order while also getting everything out very quickly. All of the teas on the menu come with a small confection. I was given a choice of one of three different wagashi. The server also made sure to ask if I had any food allergies. I was provided with an oshibori, a moist towel for cleaning hands before a meal.
I selected the Gyokuro Tenka-ichi as well as a pink and white confection made to resemble a chrysanthemum. It was served in blue and white porcelain kyusu and accompanied by two empty cups and a flask of hot water. The tea was so aromatic that I could smell it even before it arrived at my table. Before leaving, the server provided thorough instructions for how to make the next two infusions on my own.
The water in the flask was too hot for gyokuro, so she let me know that I should pour the water into the empty cups first to allow it to cool. Thankfully, I had plenty of practice with doing this for the Japanese Tea Foundation and Intermediate Courses I took with the Global Japanese Tea Association.
The wagashi was almost too beautiful to eat, but it was delicious. My gyokuro was just what I needed to recharge after a lengthy few days of travel. I did not feel rushed at all. The total was ¥2,750 (about $18.69 in USD). I thought that was very reasonable, especially considering that I was able to make several infusions of tea. It was a nice touch that the charge for the wagashi was built into the menu price, so there were no surprise charges. After finishing everything, it was time to explore their retail shop.
My eyes were immediately drawn to a wall full of chigusa, large clay jars used to store tea. There was also a glass display case showing the teas for sale. Interestingly, there was no matcha in sight. When a woman in the shop inquired about it, the counter staff brought out a list of what was available. I settled on the Premium Gyokuro as well as a green tea leaf-patterned glass.
I’m so glad that I was able to visit the Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store. This is a tea place that has been on my bucket list for a long time. What a perfect welcome to Japan! I will definitely be going back again to visit on future trips.
Have you ever visited the Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store? What kind of tea did you enjoy there? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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