12 best Japanese tea rooms and green tea cafés in Tokyo

An elegant white space accentuated by clean lines, warm wood and natural stones, Yamamotoyama Fujie Sabo is a modern, elegant take on a traditional Japanese tea house. The good looks also come with a great pedigree, as the brand has existed for nearly 330 years.

Opt for a sencha set with wagashi (Japanese confectionery) and you can choose from a variety of single-origin teas. We recommend the kawane-cha from Shizuoka (¥1,600), famed for its refreshing aroma and mild flavour; the rich and aromatic yame-cha from Fukuoka (¥1,600); and the organic kirishima-cha from Kagoshima (¥1,600). Otherwise, splurge on the premium Uji gyokuro (¥2,300), a bold green tea with a sweet aroma.

It’s possible to upgrade your tea time with a full meal at Yamamotoyama Fujie Sabo. The menu offers classic Japanese set meals with dishes such as nori noodles (¥3,000) and sushi (from ¥3,200), both made with premium nori (roasted seaweed).

Sakurai is a cool and modern interpretation of a Japanese teahouse, where you’ll experience an almost meditative tea session, complete with some dainty Japanese sweets known as wagashi. You can choose a tea course (from ¥5,200) to sample the different types of Japanese tea, or pick from a selection of green tea grown across the country to have it freshly roasted into hojicha (from ¥1,900).

But if you really want to fully appreciate the creativity of the tea masters here, ask for the house-infused tea liquor: sencha-infused gin, hojicha-infused rum or beer with matcha.

This tea salon puts a fresh twist on traditional Japanese confectionery. As well as the typical combination of green tea and sweets like cold kuzu noodles, the salon also serves alcohol – ask the staff which beer, shochu or wine goes best with your sweets. They also offer a limited food menu, including a sumptuous lunch tray (from ¥5,500) with five small dishes, miso soup, rice, green tea and wagashi. It's a spot relaxing enough for hours of lingering in busy Ginza.

The revered Jugetsudo tea brand, launched in 1980, has two stores in Tokyo and one in Paris. The brand is inspired by the concept of chazen ichimi, which believes that Zen and traditional tea ceremony are essentially the same thing.

Jugetsudo’s stunning flagship store in Tsukiji is designed by Japan’s star architect Kengo Kuma. The interior takes design references from nodategasa, the traditional parasols used at outdoor tea ceremonies. The warm and Zen atmosphere is achieved through curved bamboo lattices resembling the shape of the aforementioned parasol.

Here you can shop for a variety of premium tea. There’s also a café where you can sit down for tea and matcha-based sweets while taking in the soothing vibe of the store.

A peaceful haven close to the frenetic Cat Street in Harajuku, this pared-down tea house specialises in organic matcha but will appeal most to those looking for trendy new drinks featuring Japanese tea. The Matcha Tokyo Omotesando has all the trimmings of a traditional tea salon but none of the stuffiness: one of its walls is adorned with a calligraphic artwork translating to ‘I love matcha’, there’s a small irori (Japanese hearth) by the window featuring classic tea utensils, and even the benches are clad in tatami mat.

We enjoyed the matcha coffee latte (¥760), which boasts three colourful layers of matcha, milk and coffee. The shop also sells soy and almond milk versions (¥760 respectively) of its popular matcha latte (¥750). You can shop for matcha powder and tea equipment here, but make sure you also sign up for the Matcha Experience to learn how to whisk the powder into tea.

A household name in Japan, this Kyoto-based family business has been dealing in Japanese green tea for over three centuries, focusing on tea leaves cultivated in Uji near Kyoto, a region synonymous with top-notch matcha. Uji’s stellar reputation is credited to its conducive soil and climate, which help produce consistently high-quality tea every harvest.

At this Tokyo shop and tearoom, Ippodo has a unique approach to serving matcha in two ways: first as a thick, almost syrupy, tea known as koicha (from ¥1,650), and then as a ‘thin tea’ called usucha (from ¥1,210). Of course, there are other options too, from gyokuro and sencha to hojicha (roasted green tea) and genmaicha (roasted rice green tea). It will be a hands-on experience as the staff will guide you to prepare your own pot of tea.

Get the elaborate tasting set (¥8,800) if you’re interested in savouring five different types of Japanese tea in one seating. Loose-leaf teas are available to purchase, too, and you can always ask for a tasting before making a decision.

This restaurant in Ochanomizu takes Japan’s obsession with green tea to the next level. Here you can not only drink but also eat green tea in desserts and even savoury dishes. Since green tea’s signature bittersweet umami flavour makes it a versatile ingredient suited to both the sweet and the savoury, it’s surprising that so few restaurants have taken this route.

Try the matcha caesar salad topped with smoked salmon & prosciutto (¥980), the hojicha-flavoured roasted pork filet (¥1,100), or the green tea-infused sausage platter (¥1,800 for three types). If that's a little too leftfield, stick with the afternoon tea plate (¥2,800), which features more familiar items including matcha ice cream and tea tart. Don’t miss the tea beers (¥790); there’s one version made with matcha and another made with toasty hojicha (roasted green tea).

Note that the menu changes regularly.

Located near Gotokuji Temple (aka the 'cat temple'), this small Japanese confectionery shop serves pretty seasonal sweets. Its signature offering, the ao-mame-daifuku (a chewy rice cake filled with sweet beans) is the most popular item on the menu – try it at the in-store café along with a cup of plain green tea, matcha or hojicha. Mahorodo makes for the perfect stop after a visit to Gotokuji.

Sangenjaya's austere Tokyo Saryo offers single-origin green tea in hand drip form. The folks behind the minimalist shop have even developed their own tea dripper, which is supposed to help bring out the full flavours of the leaves. If you're looking to further your tea education, order the tasting set and enjoy a wide variety of aromas and tastes – and don't forget to also explore the sweet selection, which includes a tasty hojicha blancmange, dried fruit and ohagi (mochi balls with anko). 

Note that Tokyo Saryo is only open on Saturdays. We recommend making a reservation in advance.

Matcha café Saryo Tsujiri, originally from Kyoto, is conveniently located on the tenth floor of the Daimaru Tokyo department store adjoining Tokyo Station. Ask for a counter seat facing the large window with views of the surrounding high-rise buildings and even Tokyo Skytree in the distance on clear days.

Besides its variety of drinks, such as iced green tea (¥924) and hojicha au lait (¥1,100), there’s a range of tea-based desserts – think matcha warabi-mochi dumplings (¥1,694) or a matcha castella cake parfait (¥1,760), which is a layered combination of all things matcha, including cream, castella, ice cream and sauce.

If you prefer a traditional tea tasting instead, then order a brew of the karigane genmaicha, popular for its fragrant roasted aroma. The tea is served as a set with a sweet treat of your choice. Don’t leave without browsing the café’s little retail section, which sells matcha, hojicha and genmaicha for your tea collection back home.  

Note that the menu changes regularly.

Tea, garden landscaping and a calm space within a massive busy city are all enjoyable at Kosoan. It's the kind of immaculate old Japanese house that you would most likely walk straight past if you didn’t know there was a teahouse inside. They have both Japanese and English menus (the latter with pictures for easier ordering) with set choices basically consisting of a hot or cold drink and a sweet treat. Other than the regular matcha with sweet (¥1,000), which includes bitter, creamy green tea served in a large deep bowl, we’d also recommend trying the anmitsu (¥1,000), a bowl of sliced fresh fruit with a dollop of ice cream, sweet syrup and a small serving of tea.

Tea lovers looking for a fine brew will be very excited by this Nishi-Ogikubo shop, which carries over 100 leafy varieties. From domestic sencha to Chinese and Taiwanese black teas, pu'er and jasmine tea, all varieties are presented in simple bags alongside equally simple vessels, but that simplicity also means that the store manages to strike an overall calm balance.

There's a separate space where you can sit down and enjoy a freshly-brewed cup of sencha, but there's no proper menu: orders consist of your answer to the question 'what kind of drink would you like?' The owner's knowledge of tea is impeccable, and if you end up getting into the finer details, hours will have passed in the blink of an eye.