Matcha, made from high-quality green tea leaves ground into powder, has been used in the Japanese traditional tea ceremonies for more than 800 years. Matcha is said to increase mental energy, support anti-aging, controls high blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and decrease physical and psychological stress. It has recently won hearts of many foreigners with lots of café and restaurants offering matcha opened in countries.

If you are in Tokyo, why don’t you try the green tea to enjoy its excellent flavours that are totally different from that served in your country? You have a lot of choices in Tokyo. Tea shops offer plain matcha while coffee shops provide different match-flavoured drinks such as matcha latte, matcha macchiato, and matcha soda. In order to help you have the best matcha experience, we list out some must-try cafés:

Nana’s Green Tea

Photo by Claudia Lee

For matcha lovers, a chain café is an ideal place for having a taste of drinks and desserts made from matcha green tea powder. The first coffee shop was opened more than 15 years ago in Jiyugaoka and then its branches are available in Tokyo Dom City LaQua and Tokyo Sky Tree Town. It serves amazing variants of matcha latte including matcha latte topped with whipped cream and brown sugar syrup, and matcha latte topped with serve ice cream at a price ranging from JPY430-680, depending on the size of glasses. It might be pricey but worth every penny.

The chain restaurant expands its presence in Japan with more than 60 branches throughout the country and opens its stores in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Opening time: 10.30 a.m. - 10.30 p.m.
Address: 1-29-18 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Jiyugaoka Station

Ippodo

Photo by 8tokyo

The tea company in Kyoto provides the high-quality Japanese green tea for nearly three centuries. It opened its first street-front store in Tokyo in 2010, offering customers to experience the allure of the green tea and drinking its wide variations in flavors. Here you can experience all kinds of traditional Japanese teas, and have a taste of its delicious dessert.

Photo by TokyoViews

You can try their teas before purchasing, and some of their teas are available for takeout. The tea shop also offers classes to let its customers learn how to prepare and fully enjoy Japanese green tea without making a reservation.

• Opening time: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Address: Kokusai Bldg. 1F 3-1-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
• Nearest Station: Yurakuchou Station

Ujicha Gion Tsujiri

Photo by Hidehiro Kigawa

You are looking for some great matcha green teas but unable to go to Gion Tusijiri, the famous tea shop established over 150 years ago, in Kyoto? Don’t worry. You can find its Tokyo branch with the same quality. They have three different types of green teas, consisting of plain green tea, roasted green tea, and brown rice tea. Do not forget to try their matcha ice cream, which is not too sweet. It is very nice to have various flavors to taste.

The place is spacious and relaxing, and you can have a great view of Tokyo from the sixth floor.

• Opening time: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Address: 6/F Tokyo Sky Tree Town Solamachi, Oshiage 1-1-2, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
• Nearest Station: Oshiage Station

Habutae Dango

Photo by KAI

Within a five-minute walk from Nippori Station's East Exit, you will find the lovely tea and dango shop founded in 1819. The main branch offers customers Sencha set or Matcha set, both of them include two skewers of dango (rice dumplings), one coated in sweet bean paste and one dipped in soy sauce and toasted. You may think the matcha tastes fairly bitter but if you drink it with dangos, it will make a very good combination and tastes astonishing.

While relaxing with your tea, you can enjoy traveling back to the Meiji era by looking at old decorations and enjoying the atmosphere of the shop. Besides, you may drink tea in its beautiful Japanese traditional garden where local well-known writers such as Shiki Masaoka and Soseki Natsume might write their popular books.

• Opening time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Address: Higashi Nippori 5-54-3, Arakawaku, Tokyo
• Nearest Station: Nippori Station

If you are a huge fan of matcha, Tokyo is the best place for you. Get away from Western-branded coffee shops and stick with local ones where you can find the authentic matcha drinks.