Nakamura Tokichi Honten (Main Store)

Nakamura Tokichi Honten, a prestigious tea shop recognized by the Urasenke tea school, operates a café inside a former tea factory, located in a Meiji period merchant’s residence designated as an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan. Here, you can savor their signature desserts, such as the Nama Cha Jelly (Matcha) and the Maruto Parfait (Matcha), a store-exclusive treat, paired with their renowned Uji tea. Another must-visit is Ito Kyuemon Uji Main Store, a historic tea shop founded in Tenpo 3 (1832).

Of course, the most-awaited part of our Uji Day Trip – the afternoon tea matcha dessert sweets at Nakamura Tokichi Honten!. After the 4-hour wait, I personally had to run from Tale of Genji Museum to Nakamura Tokichi Honten because suddenly the waiting time from 30 minutes became 5 minutes. After arriving at Nakamura Tokichi, I showed them the waiting number and had to wait for 10 minutes (because I got late for around 15 minutes after my number got called).

- Recommended stores: - Nakamura Tokichi Honten - Rich matcha flavor with optional concentration. - Itoh Kyuemon – The matcha + roasted green tea ice cream is super popular. 🍰 Matcha Parfait Uji's matcha parfait is rich in layers, usually including matcha jelly, red beans, shiratama dango, matcha ice cream, etc. - Recommended stores: - Nakamura Tokichi Main Store—— The signature "Matcha Parfait" is a must-order!.

Chatakumi Shimizu-Ippoen, a tea wholesaler directly managed cafe located in Higashiyama Shichijo. “Uji Matcha Ice Espuma” which is sure to look good on social media is a popular dessert especially for female customers with its beautiful green color and creamy smooth mousse. The thick green tea foamed in a special bottle and Wasanbon sugar (rare Japanese sugar) syrup has a foamy light taste.

There were also some good chocolates and desserts as souvenirs, Compared to the ones in front of the main branch of Tokichi Nakamura and the JR Wu area of Itochuemon, they were of a small kind. But here, there was a rough, orderly wooden box with tea leaves on the shelf. An old-looking wooden boxes were emitting the most distinctive scent in the space filled with tea scents.

Uji is a famous tea-producing area in Kyoto, where the scent of tea permeates the streets. Nakamura Tokichi first opened its doors at this very place as a tea merchant over 160 years ago. Past the shop’s traditional Japanese curtains, guests are greeted by a building rich in history and the warm aroma of tea — a perfect preview of the special experience that awaits.

Nakamura Tokichi Honten has been dishing out legendary matcha treats since 1854. While they’ve got a trio of stores in Kyoto Prefecture, the original (and best!) is the Nakamura Tokichi Uji’s head shop, a sweet tooth’s paradise. The store’s not just about sweets though; it’s a cultural gem with an ancient pine tree, the Horaifuna-Matsu, in its garden.

Japanese tea cultivation originated when Eisai brought seeds from China and planted them on Mt. Sefuri in Saga Prefecture. Eisai brought green tea seeds and the teachings of Rinzai Zen Buddhism to Japan from China. Myoe Shonin, a monk of the Kegon sect of Buddhism, received seeds from Eisai, planting them in Tsugao, Kyoto.

For something light, the matcha soba from Nakamura Tokichi (中村藤吉) – a well-known tea house founded in 1854 – is a refreshing fix. Slightly bitter and sweet due to the addition of matcha, the soba noodles are served either cold (¥820, ~USD5.74) or in a hot broth with aburaage (fried tofu pouches) for ¥870 (~USD6.09).

When in Uji, you have to get matcha since it’s known for it. Nakamura Tokichi began here in 1854 and has had several generations of owners. We made a reservation for their tea room, where we could sit on tatami mats, sip matcha and eat namacha, which is a dessert that comes in a bamboo cup.

Once you’ve explored the temple, it’s time to head on to Nakamura Tokichi, a cute and historic café that offers delicious traditional Japanese sweets. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind over a cup of hot matcha tea before planning out the remainder of your journey though Uji.

At their main Honten store and cafe, they also offer a tea ceremony experience. There are three time slots each day, starting at 10:30, 13:30, and 15:30. The teahouse in which classes are hosted stays true to the tea ceremony’s roots and is a rare example of a Genroku-style tea hut.

Nakamura Tokichi Honten is a long-established specialty Japanese tea shop founded in 1854. Nakamura Tokichi Honten Uji Main Store is located just a 2-minute walk from JR Uji Station. The store has renovated a charming building designated as a national Important Cultural Landscape.

He was born in 1832, and started training at a tea house at the age of ten and became an assistant manager at the age of 13. He opened his store at the age of 22 and lived to an age of 64. The tea house is popular because of its tea contribution to the Japanese royal family.

The main branch is in Uji, Kyoto, which is in the southern part of Kyoto. See how the innovate and apply their green tea into many kind of dessert: baumkuchen, ice cream, chocolate, and many more. They also have a cafe for you to dine in and enjoy their green tea products.

You can't forget Nakamura Tokichi when talking about dessert destinations in Uji, Kyoto. Nakamura Tokichi has a proud 150-year history of serving foods and desserts in Uji. Served in a bamboo container, the Namacha Jelly is a popular favorite.

This is one of the oldest and most popular teahouses in Uji. Tourists start lining up at 9:30 am to try matcha sweets and shop for matcha powder and tea tools. They have two cafes in Uji, which are equally busy throughout the day.

In Nakamura Tokichi’s main store in Kyoto Station, you can indulge in matcha desserts or a cup of classic green tea. Nakamura Tea is very famous, so you can snag a bag of matcha to brew at home on your way out!

This historic tea house, which also has locations outside Uji, is famous for its matcha sweets, including matcha jelly and parfait. It’s a great spot to relax after temple sightseeing.

Nakamura Toukichi Honten was established in 1854 in Uji, Kyoto. The cafe's open-air terrace is a serene, wood-accented space that blends traditional tea culture with modern sweets.

Founded in 1854, Nakamura Tokichi Honten is a famous spot for sweets. Try mochi, ice cream, shaved ice, and more. You can also experience a traditional tea ceremony.

The cafe was in the back and looked to have a nice view of the garden. The shop had free tea samples when we went and a good selection of things to buy.