Where to experience green tea culture in Tokyo

This matcha café is located at Haneda Airport’s International Terminal, within the area designed after an Edo-period (1603-1868) townscape. Its adjoining seating area has a charming traditional atmosphere, complete with red parasols and Japanese-style floor lamps.

At Saryo Itoen you can enjoy a diverse selection of drinks and desserts made from high-quality green tea sourced from Itoen. You can’t go wrong with a matcha parfait topped with red beans and mochi (¥650), a bowl of matcha with wagashi (traditional Japanese tea-time sweets; ¥800), or the matcha soft-serve (¥540). Easily the most popular item on the menu, the ice cream features a slightly bitter yet mellow sweet taste. All of Saryo Itoen’s matcha desserts and drinks are made from premium matcha powder, which is often reserved for tea ceremonies.

Keep an eye out for the seasonal specials as well, such as sakura soft-serve in spring, refreshing kakigori (shaved ice with syrup) in summer, or shiruko (red bean soup with mochi) in winter.

If you’re looking to purchase single-origin loose-leaf green tea, head over to Wa no Cha Itoen in Nihonbashi. Here you’ll find some of the finest and rarest pure green tea sourced directly from plantations all over Japan.

Common ryokucha is usually a blend of different types of green tea, but this shop lets you choose from more than 50 varieties of single-origin loose-leaf green tea. By touching, smelling and looking at the sample leaves, you’ll see that they are all slightly different in shape and colour.

After you’ve shortlisted a few of your favourite teas, Wa no Cha’s knowledgeable staff will brew them for you to sample – for free – so you can decide which suits your preference the most. Despite the green tea’s signature gentle aroma and taste, you’ll be surprised how noticeably different they each are.