Top Kyoto tea house — 8 Kyoto tea shop & best tea houses in Kyoto

November 2, 2022

Enjoying a cup of tea in traditional teahouses is Japan’s most famous traditional culture because tea is essential to the daily life of Japanese people. No matter whether at home or in a restaurant, everyone will have a cup of tea after eating to ease digestion. This is something that every visitor should experience when coming to Kyoto. Whether relaxing with a soothing cup of tea or participating in a traditional tea ceremony, you can find it all in the beautiful city of Kyoto. So, where to drink tea in Kyoto? Let’s check out our suggested best tea houses in Kyoto, Kyoto tea house, Kyoto tea shop which you should experience once when visiting the ancient capital of Japan!

L2F-Sep-16-pic-Japan-Kyoto-Kiyomizu-dera-temple-cherry-blossoms-thipjang-shutterstock_403209976 — Cherry blossoms at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the must visit place in Kyoto.

Walking to Kasagiya, Kyoto | best tea houses in kyoto

Kyoto teahouse | best tea houses in kyoto

The “Way of Tea” is one of Japan’s best-known traditional cultural practices, and something everyone should experience in Kyoto. The tea of Kyoto has been getting famous overseas too, so now many tourists go to these tea shops to taste their wares and compare the tastes of the teas. Here are the teahouses loved by many locals and visitors alike when you visit Kyoto.

Why should you enter a teahouse in Kyoto?

In Japan in general and Kyoto in particular, there are many famous cafes and bakeries. But why do you go to a coffee shop to enjoy while traveling in the country of tea? Japanese teahouses serve green tea in a variety of styles, from cool cups to hot teapots. They also serve traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) with a cup of hot Matcha. The combination of slightly bitter tea and fresh wagashi is hard for visitors to forget.

Some matcha green tea with delicate and beautiful Wagashi is the perfect option | best tea houses in kyoto

A quintessential summer drink in most of East Asia, Mugicha, which is cool from another making of tea | best tea houses in kyoto

A type of shaved ice matcha syrup | best tea houses in kyoto

The color, taste, and fragrance from natural ingredients create the rich aroma and natural sweetness of Uji Kintoki spreading throughout your mouth | best tea houses in kyoto

During the summer, many teahouses also serve cooling treats like Uji Kintoki, a mountain of shaved ice saturated with sweet matcha syrup, often with a few delicacies hidden inside, like sweet adzuki beans. There is no reason that you should miss the opportunity to enjoy the food and drinks at the tea shops during your trip to Kyoto.

Kagizen Yoshifusa (#kyoto tea house)

Kagizen Yoshifusa tearoom, kyoto, japan — | kyoto tea house

Address: 264 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +81 75-561-1818

Situated on Shijo-Dori, in the heart of Gion, the Kagizen Yoshifusa sweet shop in Kyoto has a beautiful hidden tearoom, where you can enjoy traditional sweets with cups of thick matcha tea.

Red Noren curtain entrance and lacquered timber screens of Kagizen Yoshifusa teahouse, Kyoto | kyoto tea house

The tea room overlooks a small garden and is always quiet. Kagizen Yoshifusa offers a slower-paced atmosphere. The serene but luxurious space, decorated with beautiful displays of art will immerse you in the rich culture of the ancient capital city.

A combination of a glass of matcha, the translucent noodles called Kuzukiri, that you dip into brown syrup to the most amazing Warabimochi | kyoto tea house

Kikujyuto is enjoyed with a cup of Houjicha | kyoto tea house

Here, there is an English menu and they are quite comfortable with foreign tourists. You can choose from a variety of classic Japanese sweets to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Kasagiya Tea House

This lovely little tea shop is located near the top of Sannen-Zaka, a short walk from Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, almost no exaggeration. Kasagiya is a bit cramped but full of old Japanese flavors. In particular, there is also an English menu with a variety of teas, and sweets, and their shaved ice (in the summer) is delicious.

Shaved ice covered with green tea | kyoto tea shop

The warm inside of Kasagiya | kyoto tea shop

Address: 349 Masuyacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto 605-0826, Japan
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +81 75-561-9562

Sweet dessert and matcha tea of Kasagiya | kyoto tea shop

Ippodo Tea House (#kyoto tea house)

Located on Teramachi-Dori street, a short walk from the city center, this is a favorite tea shop for many Kyoto locals. It is the ideal place where you can enjoy the best taste of Japanese tea. And next to the shop, there is a small cafe where you can sample some great matcha and leaf tea shops like Gyokuro and Sencha.

An adjoining tea room offers samples of the shop’s best teas, including sencha, matcha and Gyokuro | kyoto tea shop

The powder is whisked with hot water to make matcha tea, a grassy and subtly sweet bright green suspension

Since sencha is made from young spring leaves, it has an inherent sweetness as well as high in vitamin C, leading to a balanced brew that shows everything that’s great about Japanese green tea | kyoto tea shop

The high theanine content also gives Gyokuro more umami – a smooth, slightly sweet character that is common to fine Japanese cuisine | kyoto tea shop

Address: 52 Tokiwagi-Cho, Teramachi-Dori, Nijo Agaru, Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday to Saturday), to 6:00 pm (Sunday and public holidays)
Phone: +81 75-211-3421

Saka Maruyama (#kyoto tea shop)

Being a small tea house, Saka Maruyama in Maruyama-Koen park is a hidden gem. Here, they mainly serve Japanese sweets and cups of green tea in a beautiful traditional Japanese tea room. This is one of the most beautiful tea rooms in the city. However, you will have to wait in line to order, but the tea shop is always worth the wait. However, the menu is not in English, but the staff will be able to help you choose the best dishes here.

The “Fukanmushi” sencha is a special blend only available in this shop | kyoto tea shop

Address: 620 Maruyamacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto 605-0071, Japan
Opening hours: 11:00 am to 6:30 pm (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Phone: +81 75-551-3707

Motoan Teahouse

The entrance to the shop is understated and discreet, marked by short Noren curtains hanging in the doorway | kyoto tea shop

Motoan Teahouse is a great place to enjoy Japanese tea and sweets. The shop is in the Marukyu Koyamaen Nishinotoin Tea Shop, located west of the city center. The shop is light and discreetly decorated, with short Noren curtains hanging from the doorway.

Marukyu Koyamaen stocks an extensive variety of matcha and loose-leaf teas | kyoto tea shop

The seating area is quite intimate in the tea room | kyoto tea house

Sweet dessert with matcha tea at Motoan, Kyoto | kyoto tea house

The seating area at the back overlooks a small Japanese garden which, on rainy afternoons, is especially green and lush. In the shop where you enter you can hear the jingle of piano music in the background. This is a beautiful space where you can lose yourself in a hazy mindset.

The small Japanese garden beyond the windows of Motoan

Address: Nishigawa, Oikeagaru, Nishidouin-Dori, Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Teahouse: 10:30 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Wednesdays)
Phone: +81 75-223-0909

Somushi Kochaya (#kyoto tea shop)

Somushi Kochaya tea shop is a little different from other teahouses when it comes to Korean style. However, you should try stopping by to explore Korean teas and vegetarian cuisine. The shop is located on the west side of the city center. The decoration of the tea shop is cool and aimed at relaxation for customers. In addition, the restaurant serves delicious vegetarian dishes. Moreover, the tea shop also has an English menu so you can easily choose seasonal dishes and drinks.

Matcha, a popular tea type of Kochaya, Kyoto | kyoto tea house

Simple design of Somushi Kochaya interior, Kyoto

Address: 73 Mikura-Cho, Sanjo-Dori Karasuma-Nishiiru, Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto.
Opening hours: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Phone: +81-75-253-1456

Toraya Ichijoji (#best tea houses in kyoto)

Not far west of Kyoto Imperial Park, this quiet tea shop is a great place to sample some traditional Kyoto sweets and great green tea. If you want to enjoy the world of traditional Japanese tea and sweets, you should come here. Sweets that change with the seasons, for example, in the summer are Shiratama Kurogoma (sweet mocha berries with a sweet black sesame sauce), which goes great with the accompanying iced green tea. This is truly a perfect place to relax with a book after exploring the park.

Kashiwa Mochi, sweet bean paste enfolded by a gelatinous rice cake and wrapped in an oak leaf, should accompany tea drinks at Toraya Ichijoji, Kyoto

Matcha and shaved ice drink set at Toraya Ichijoji, Kyoto

Address: 400 Hirohashidono-Cho, Ichijo-Dori Karasuma-Nishiiru, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Phone: +81-75-441-3113

Zenkashoin (#best tea houses in kyoto)

Zenkashoin is a lovely little cafe overlooking a beautiful garden courtyard, with quiet surroundings. The shop is located northwest of downtown Kyoto. In addition, the shop has a full English menu that makes it easy for you to order. The sweets are a fusion of Japanese and Western pastries. All of them go very well with Japanese tea. In addition to hot or cold matcha treats, the shop also has many dishes for you to choose from.

Sweet cakes for sale at Zenkashoin, Kyoto

Pastries and matcha at Zenkashoin, Kyoto

Address: 271-1 Takoyakushi-Cho, Muromachi-Dori Nijo-Sagaru, Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto
Opening hours: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (closed Mondays and Wednesdays)
Phone: +81-75-241-3300

Traveling in the beautiful country of Japan, especially the city of Kyoto, has a lot of experiences you should try, including enjoying Japanese tea. Choose for yourself at least one bar to drink, you will certainly never be disappointed. Hopefully, with the list of the best tea shops in Kyoto, you will have wonderful relaxing moments with a cup of tea during your trip.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Kyoto you can refer to

Arashiyama Bamboo momiji bridge. Credit: Kyoto travel blog.

Are you finding more top things to do in Kyoto: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out at here. And read more: Kyoto blog (Kyoto travel blog) — The fullest Kyoto travel guide blog for a budget trip to Kyoto, Japan for the first-timers. And Kyoto 3 day itinerary — How to visit Kyoto in 3 days & what to do in Kyoto in 3 days perfectly?