Matcha sweets are one of Japan’s most representative Japanese sweets. It is extremely popular among tourists from overseas, and “Matcha” is always a trending word on social media. In recent years, the number of stores specializing in matcha sweets has increased rapidly, and the variety of products is evolving year by year. Although it is a culture that originated in Kyoto, you can now enjoy the finest matcha sweets in Tokyo and Osaka.
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[Kyoto: A sacred place for matcha sweets] Uji is a famous matcha-producing region, and is an area you should visit in conjunction with sightseeing in Kyoto. “Nakamura Tokichi Honten” in Uji is a long-established shop founded in 1854, and its signature menu item “Matcha Parfait” (1,400 yen) is a luxurious dish with layers of rich matcha ice cream, matcha jelly, shiratama balls, and red bean paste. The main store is a 5-minute walk from Uji Station, but the wait time is always over an hour, so we recommend visiting right after the store opens (10 a.m.). “Saryo Tsujiri” inside Kyoto Station is also an excellent restaurant, and the “Special Tsujiri Parfait” (1,650 yen) with matcha terrine and matcha ice cream is popular.🍰 Sweets information
[Tokyo: Mecca for evolving matcha sweets] In Tokyo, new forms of matcha sweets are being created one after another, mainly among the younger generation. At MACHI cafe in Harajuku, the matcha latte (from 550 yen), where you can choose from three levels of matcha strength, is popular and has long lines. Sayo in Shibuya is a matcha take-out sweets specialty store that offers matcha tiramisu and matcha scones on a weekly basis. Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo, a cafe inside Tsutaya Shoten in Ginza, offers a premium matcha latte that cannot be found at regular stores. [Types of matcha sweets] In addition to the standard matcha ice cream, matcha latte, and matcha parfait, sweets that are fused with Western sweets such as “matcha terrine,” “matcha mont blanc,” and “matcha basque cheesecake” are recently gaining attention. Convenience stores also have a wide range of easy matcha sweets, and Family Mart’s Matcha Mochitto Phu (150 yen) is said to be the best in terms of cost performance. For the most exquisite experience, try the authentic matcha and seasonal fresh sweets set (starting at 1,200 yen) at Kyoto’s Saryo Ito Kyuemon.