In December 2022, during my 3-night, 4-day trip to Kyoto, I was discouraged four years ago in November by the "150-minute wait" and left in disappointment. However, this time on a Saturday at 10:30 in the morning, I was able to be seated immediately without waiting in line. The welcome tea was gyokuro, with a unique aroma, sweetness, and richness. I ordered via smartphone: Maruto Parfait [Gyokuro] (1,750 yen), and the seasonal special Kyoto white miso chicken tea soba A set (rice, matcha jelly) for 2,100 yen, with an additional hand-picked tencha for 200 yen. I couldn't resist the "limited edition" items, so if there are multiple limited items, I have to order them all! The parfait was very filling, and I wish they offered a half size, but despite that, I enjoyed it to the last bite. There were allergy labels, but the calorie count was unknown. If I had known, I might not have been able to finish it, but the gyokuro was very elegant, and I savored various flavors, feeling full and satisfied. If I have the chance again, I would like to try the matcha parfait next time. Thank you for the meal. *The mistake of adding hand-picked tencha was because my companion misunderstood it as "drinking tea." Although the soba already came with tencha as a topping by default, we mistakenly added more. If it wasn't ordered via smartphone, we could have confirmed with the staff... what a shame.

On September 18, 2023, I had the limited edition seasonal Maruto Parfait [Autumn] at the Uji Main Store for ¥1,750 (tax included). This seasonal Maruto Parfait captures the rich aroma of hojicha tea and autumn flavors. It features original hojicha ice cream that condenses the richness and flavor of hojicha tea, Awapon Narutomaki sweet potato paste with a hint of saltiness made from Narutomaki sweet potatoes from Tokushima that enhances its rich sweetness, hojicha-flavored white rice flour jelly, and chestnut cream berry with a crispy texture of caramel chips. Enjoy the taste of autumn with these delightful treats.

Just a short walk from JR Uji Station, you'll find Nakamura Tokichi Honten Uji Main Store. This popular tea cafe is centered in Kyoto. Uji is known for the Byodo-in Temple, but another famous attraction is Uji tea, with Nakamura Tokichi Honten being a symbolic tea cafe in Uji. The system involves getting a ticket outside the store and waiting to be called. Expecting some popularity, I arrived on a weekend morning to find a steady 180-minute wait. As anticipated, I passed the time by visiting the Byodo-in Temple. Upon entering at my appointed time, they brought me a welcome tea, a strong cup of tea. I ordered the Matcha Parfait (¥1580), which I believe most people come for. This parfait, adorned with the emblematic "㊉," shines like a child of the current SNS era. While you can find this parfait at various Nakamura Tokichi stores, the bamboo tube version is exclusive to the Uji Main Store. It's a shame to destroy the "㊉," revealing layers of sponge cake, ice cream, shiratama, and matcha jelly underneath. This sweet treat packed with a strong Japanese atmosphere left me satisfied not only in appearance but also in taste. The Matcha Warabimochi (¥1180) also comes in a bamboo tube, offering a truly Japanese sweet experience. This is another sightseeing spot in Uji where not only inbound tourists but also Japanese visitors can fully enjoy the essence of Japan.

The restaurant opened at 10 o'clock, and when I arrived at 9:45, there were already more than 10 groups waiting in line. You can choose between indoor and terrace seating. We were seated in about 15 minutes. I couldn't resist the limited-time offer of a hojicha parfait, which was delicious and I devoured it quickly!

I sat at a terrace seat, but the staff were calling out the numbers of waiting customers quite loudly, so it was a bit unsettling. It would have been nice if there were some partitions to block the view from the customers standing in line.

Nakamura Tokichi Main Store Uji Main Store Address: Uji Ichiban 10, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture Nearest Station: 2 minutes walk from JR Nara Line Uji Station (South Exit) Business Hours: 10:00-17:00 (Last Order 16:30) Open on Sundays Closed on: None ☎️ 0774-22-7800 Website: https://tokichi.jp/...Visited Uji after the Bon Festival☺️ The restaurant where you can dine inside had a line with a one-hour wait! Besides the dining area, there is a place where you can buy souvenirs, so I bought Matcha Jelly to take home☺️ The matcha had a subtle bitterness and a perfect balance with the sweetness of red beans☺️ The transparent jelly enveloping the two was innovative and delicious! There was also a roasted green tea version which I regret not buying... #Kyoto #Uji #MatchaSweets #Matcha #KyotoSweets #UjiCafe #Dessert Instagram→@ri.n.gohan

This time, I visited the restaurant for the parfait. Despite visiting on a weekday, there was a wait of about 30 groups. Truly a popular spot. After receiving a waiting number ticket, I spent time wandering around (there is a system to check when called if you register with a QR code). It was surprising. The wait was worth it. It was so delicious. I thought I might get tired of the taste after a bite, but there were various thoughtful layers, and I enjoyed it until the end. The cold-brewed tea had a nice bitterness and umami. The cozy atmosphere inside the restaurant added to the pleasant experience. I will definitely come back.

It was around 3 o'clock on a weekday, and I hesitated when I heard the wait time was almost an hour, but I decided to wait. During the wait, I enjoyed tasting tea and shopping. I like matcha, but I'm not a fan of matcha desserts. I wanted to challenge my thoughts by trying Uji matcha at Uji Kintoki in my local area, so I ordered matcha and hojicha. It was very delicious, but it didn't change my mind about not liking matcha desserts. I still prefer to enjoy matcha on its own.

Established in the 6th year of the Ansei era, this tea merchant has been in business for over 140 years. In the courtyard, there is a magnificent 200-year-old pine tree, which is designated as one of Uji City's famous trees. From the modern open terrace with a height of about 8 meters, you can enjoy tea while admiring its splendid appearance. Due to the season, wind chimes decorate the garden, which might be a bit noisy. The courtyard is so beautiful that you can enjoy it even without using the tea house, as you can also experience it at the shop. The building and garden are truly wonderful. At the shop, you can also sample tea. I compared and enjoyed both sencha and cold-brewed tea, and both were delicious. Ito Kyuemon also offers similar products, but they have a relatively larger selection of teas and alcoholic beverages. However, overall, the prices seem to be on the higher side. The matcha yokan I received was rich in matcha flavor and delicious. I would like to visit the tea house on another occasion. Thank you for the meal.

Despite visiting in the intense heat, the wait time was about 3 hours... There were benches set up outdoors, and many wind chimes were hung, creating a soothing sound while waiting. They offer matcha and roasted green tea shaved ice, and I chose matcha. The shaved ice had a scoop of soft serve on top. The matcha flavor was sweet, rich, and delicious. The texture of the ice was also very enjoyable. Thank you for the meal.

I ate on the terrace. The moderate wind and mist made the cold sweetness delicious. The slight bitterness of matcha goes well with the sweetness. The hojicha shaved ice had a good richness and aroma. I also drank a lot of water-drawn gyokuro. Gyokuro is sweet, isn't it?

Made a reservation at the reception machine and waited for about 30 minutes for a terrace seat⭐️ There was a wait of over an hour for indoor seating⭐️ The terrace seat was cool with a breeze⭐️ They had a welcome tea⭐️ The parfait was incredibly luxurious⭐️ The matcha shaved ice was even bigger than expected⭐️ (Forgot the official name⭐️) Enjoyed the matcha and the luxurious parfait⭐️

I went to Nakamura Tokichi in Uji because I had some business near Uji Station. I had wanted to go there for a while, but even though I passed through the curtain, it was so crowded that I gave up. Finally, on my third attempt, I was able to enter. Still, I had to wait for about 1.5 hours this time. I arrived around 11:30 and received number 62. About 80% of the people waiting were foreigners, mostly from Asia. With the internet now, they probably looked up and added this place to their list of must-visit spots in Japan. Just from the outside appearance of the shop, it's easy to see why people would want to visit. As soon as you take a step inside, the fragrance of tea fills the air. I sat on a bench in front of the merchandise area, and as my number got closer, I gradually moved to a seat in the courtyard. There were many wind chimes hanging, and it was beautiful. Finally, around 13:00, I was called and seated. I ordered the matcha jelly using the mobile order system. The dishware had a nice touch, and eating with a wooden spoon made it even more delicious. Before that, they brought me tea in a teapot and kindly explained the best time to drink it. After that, customers kept coming in one after another, and there may have been some who didn't make it in time for the last order.

I visited on a Sunday holiday at 10 am and there was already a long line. We were able to get a seat around 11:10 am. Be careful of heatstroke on hot days. The limited edition Maruto parfait was summer-themed with a refreshing taste of lemon jam, and it was delicious! I accidentally captured the interior of the shop on my spoon... Inside, it was cool, and the modern interior was lovely.

On a weekday afternoon, I had to wait for 45 minutes, and the restaurant was full of foreign tourists. I decided to explore the nearby area to pass the time. Surprisingly, the turnover was fast, so I didn't mind waiting too much. I ordered a parfait and green tea. Wow! The parfait was bigger than I had imagined, with various textures and a satisfying taste. The green tea was delicious as well.

I stopped by when I went to Uji. On Saturday at 2 p.m., I had to wait for 2 hours. First, I got a waiting number inside the store, looked around the shop, visited Byodoin Temple, strolled back, tried some tea and did some shopping at the shop, and my number was called just in time. In reality, I was called in about 1 hour 30 to 40 minutes. There are quite a few cancellations in the evening. The matcha parfait I was looking for was very satisfying with plenty of ingenuity so that it didn't get boring until the end.

The first tea that always comes out is delicious! I end up buying some to take home (laughs) This time, I challenged the soba noodles and sweets! It was quite filling, so I thought I might struggle with the sweets, but they were refreshing and surprisingly I finished them all! Even though I'm not a fan of sweets, it was fine for me! It was delicious!

The building had a very atmospheric and lovely feel. The pine tree in the courtyard was impressive, and the souvenir corner and cafe area were also very nice. I tried some tea at the souvenir corner. The fresh tea jelly was served in a bamboo container with shiratama, matcha ice cream, and red beans on top, and it was not too sweet and very delicious.

I went to see the hydrangeas at Mitsuromonji Temple and thought I could get in if I went in the morning. I was wrong f^_^; I was told there was a 115-minute wait... Since they serve sweets and tea, I can kind of understand if it's in the afternoon, but to have a 2-hour wait around 10:30 in the morning... Surprising. I gave up and just did some shopping. I bought tea, candy, and tea dumplings. I will enjoy the tea dumplings at home♪ The matcha was rich and delicious. Thank you for the meal!

If you're seeking strong matcha, be prepared to wait patiently. On a weekday at 11 o'clock, I had to wait for an hour with number 60. Because I love strong matcha, when in Uji, I definitely recommend Nakamura Tokichi! It's so strong that it might cause heartburn, so not recommended for those who don't like it, lol. If you wander around nearby, you can easily kill an hour (^ ^) It's like being number 5 at Nanaya in Shizuoka.

As I was walking along the shopping street in Uji, I noticed a large crowd lined up for something. Curious, I took a closer look and saw it was Nakamura Tokichi Honten. My friend and I decided to peek inside, and we saw a long line extending all the way inside. We thought we might as well get a numbered ticket while we're here. Wow, a 75-minute wait! Since we were planning to have lunch elsewhere, it seemed perfect timing to return after eating. When we returned to the restaurant after our meal, the line had shortened a bit. By scanning the QR code on the ticket, we could check the remaining wait time. While waiting, we browsed the souvenir area near the entrance. The tea and tea sweets were enticing, and it was crowded there too. Finally, our number was called. We were informed that we could be seated immediately if we chose the terrace seating. Despite the overcast sky, we opted for the terrace. It didn't rain, it wasn't too hot, and facing the garden, it turned out to be just right. Now, onto the order - I got the Matcha Jelly (¥1,180) and my friend got the parfait! The Matcha Jelly featured rich jelly, matcha ice cream, sweet red bean paste, and lots of shiratama (rice flour dumplings). What was delightful was that we could enjoy tea poured from a teapot. They also provided a pot of hot water, so we could have as many cups as we wanted. By the way, the tea we had this time was new tea. It's nice that you can purchase it at the shop if you like it. Thank you for the meal. After a break while gazing at the garden's pine trees, we headed to Byodoin Temple. Since we had some time that day, we were also able to visit Ujigami Shrine! I'll share some photos. *Used Kyoto Support Coupon*