Our Favorite Teahouses in Kyoto: An Immersion in the Art of Tea

Kyoto is not just a city to visit, it is a complete experience to feel. Every time I visit, I find this unique atmosphere, a mix of urban, serenity, effervescence and hidden. And beyond the incredible beauty of centuries of history, architecture, temples and gardens, what inspires me a lot in this city is the delicate art of tea, celebrated here like nowhere else. To the traditional, demanding ceremony, we can prefer more contemporary experiences, and it is this selection of tea rooms in Kyoto that I share here, for a unique and memorable experience.

Kyoto's Tea Heritage

Kyoto is the beating heart of Japan’s tea culture, a place where the art of tea has reached its ultimate refinement. The tea ceremony, or chanoyu, found its most refined form in this city with great masters who shaped a philosophy rooted in harmony and simplicity. This art of living, wabi-cha, celebrates the beauty of imperfections and the passage of time.

Not far from Kyoto, the world-renowned Uji plantations have been producing Japan's most prized green teas, including matcha, for centuries. The exceptional quality of Uji matcha, obtained thanks to a unique terroir and meticulous know-how, makes it one of the jewels of Japanese gastronomy. These leaves, carefully ground into an emerald powder, are served in the city's best tea rooms.

Teahouses in Kyoto are not just places to taste tea. They are sanctuaries where the art of tea celebrates the richness of Japanese culture and invites you to take a timeless break. Whether they are located in historic machiya or in contemporary spaces, these places offer a rare and soothing immersion.

These 7 tea rooms in Kyoto are my favorites, to which I take great pleasure in returning, for more or less long experiences (one lasts almost 2 hours!) and real moments of serenity.

Yugen

Yugen is an oasis of serenity in the heart of Kyoto’s urban area. This minimalist, highly contemporary and deeply Japanese teahouse emphasizes natural materials such as wood and stone, providing an incredibly calming setting. Matcha (or any other variant of green tea), precisely prepared by exciting experts in front of you, is accompanied by delicate wagashi that follows the rhythm of the seasons.

Address: 75 Motoyoshi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
URL : www.yugen-kyoto.com/en-nl​​​​
Practical information: Reservation recommended, especially at weekends.

Toraya Ichijo

Founded in 16th-century Kyoto, Toraya is a wagashi institution (with a fabulous Parisian branch!). Located near the Imperial Palace, this parlor offers an incredibly serene setting, with a subdued interior and views of an elegant garden. Here, you can enjoy delicate green teas and more unusual variations (like iced mugi cha, a barley tea that’s delicious when it’s hot), accompanied by the house’s famous sweets.

Address: 104 Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
URL : https://global.toraya-group.co.jp/pages/kyoto-ichijo-store​​​​​​​​
Practical information: Places are limited at peak times (especially if you want to be outside facing the garden), but no reservation is necessary.

Rust Sabi

Rust Sabi, located on the upper floor of an elegant machiya, offers a complete, very contemporary, and quite extraordinary experience around Japanese tea. For two hours, each tea is carefully matched with a Japanese sweetness, in a refined and intimate setting. The natural and soothing decor highlights the respect for traditions, while offering a contemporary touch that evolves according to the seasons. The gestures, the containers, the light, everything has been studied to create a perfect harmony, a codified but very accessible theater scene to discover Japanese tea in other facets.

Address: 32-1 Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
URL : https://rustsabi.com/en/menu/​​​
Practical information: Booking essential well in advance to participate in this unique experience.

Tea Room Toka

Tea Room Toka combines simplicity and refinement in a sleek, designer setting adjacent to a sublime art gallery housed in a wonderfully renovated machiya. This lounge offers a selection of rare teas from small Japanese plantations, accompanied by revisited wagashi with a contemporary touch. The atmosphere is calm and harmonious, ideal for a very contemplative moment.

Address: 45 Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
URL : https://tokaseisei.com/en/pages/tearoom​​​​
Practical information: No reservation required. The space is small and can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

Sabo Kyo Amahare

Sabo Kyo Amahare offers a contemporary approach to the art of Japanese tea. Located in the Sanjo-Karasuma district, installed at the back of a shop, in the former warehouse of this beautiful machiya, this salon (which opened in spring 2024) highlights high-quality organic teas in an atmosphere of dim light and calm gestures. Each service, neat and precise, is accompanied by delicate sweets, for a complete experience that requires taking your time.

Address: Sanjo Karasuma, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
URL : https://kyo.amahare.jp/sabo_kyo/index.html​​​​​
Practical information: Reservations strongly recommended. Site in Japanese, use Google Translate

Ippodo Tea

Founded in 1717, Ippodo is a historic tea house renowned for its selection of exceptional teas. The Teramachi Dori tea room offers a cozy and traditional atmosphere, ideal for discovering the subtleties of Japanese teas. Preparation demonstrations are also offered for curious tea lovers.

Address: Teramachi Dori, Kyoto
URL : www.ippodo-tea.co.jp​​​
Practical information: No reservation required, but avoid peak hours. Be careful, the place closes early.

Zen Cafe

Located in the historic Gion district, Zen Café is a peaceful space associated with the Kagizen Yoshifusa house, famous for its wagashi. This lounge offers a simple yet refined experience: high-quality matcha accompanied by perfect sweets. The minimalist interior, bathed in soft lighting, invites contemplation.

Address: 570-210 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
URL : https://www.kagizen.co.jp/en/kissa/​​​​​
Practical information: Open every day from 11am to 6pm. Reservations are not necessary, but places may be limited at weekends.

These teahouses in Kyoto are much more than places to taste: they are an immersion in the essence of the city, where respect for traditions is expressed through delicate and respectful interpretations. Whether you are a tea lover or curious to discover this facet of Japanese culture, these addresses promise a timeless experience. Take the time to explore, savor, and let yourself be carried away by the magic of Kyoto.