I went on a food and cafe hopping trip to Kyoto, including sightseeing! On the second day, the main focus was on visiting Uji. Before heading to Byodoin Temple, I took a little break here at "Nakamura Tokichi Honke Uji-ten." Located near JR Uji Station, the main store is said to be quite crowded (I didn't visit it on the day), so I visited this branch on the Omotesando Street of Byodoin Temple. The entrance with a lovely noren curtain made for a nice photo opportunity. The atmosphere of the building is great, and you can even see the Uji River right in front. Inside, you place your order at the counter on the first floor, pay, and then wait for your number to be called to pick up your items at the counter (it seems like reserving a seat in advance is not a problem). There are seats on the first floor, but I went up to the second floor. Luckily, a window seat was available. Let's enjoy some shaved ice while looking out at the Uji River! I ordered the "Maruto Koori TO GO" for 1,100 yen. It's like a simplified version of their signature shaved ice. Served in a plastic cup, it's quite substantial. The shaved ice is topped with matcha syrup, and underneath, there's matcha mousse, sweet red bean paste, green tea jelly, and shiratama (rice flour dumplings). The green color is so beautiful. The shaved ice is topped with matcha syrup, tea leaves, and yuzu peel. The matcha syrup isn't too sweet, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of the tea. The refreshing yuzu adds a nice touch. The matcha mousse has a light and fluffy texture. The green tea jelly has a nice tea flavor and is not too sweet. Eating the matcha mousse, sweet red bean paste, and green tea jelly together with the shaved ice gives you a delightful combination of tea, sweetness, and coldness. It's a happy experience finding the shiratama hidden at the bottom. Both my husband and I really enjoyed this shaved ice. It was a very hot day, so it tasted even better. The Uji branch has a self-service cafe-like atmosphere where you can enjoy tea and meals while overlooking the Uji River. There's also a cafe in Ginza, so if the opportunity arises, I might visit there as well.

On the way from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line to Byodoin Temple, you will find Nakamura Tokichi Honke Uji Store. If you head towards the main store of Nakamura Tokichi, you may encounter a wait of 180 minutes. So, it might be better to visit Byodoin Temple first and have lunch on the way. As you head towards Byodoin Temple, you may come across Nakamura Tokichi Honke Uji Store, which surprisingly has no wait. This cafe offers a self-service style where you order at the counter and take your food to your seat. The menu is almost the same as the main store, with mainly plastic containers. I decided to have the Matcha Soba "Kitsune" for lunch. The soba was flavorful on its own, and when paired with freshly ground matcha, it provided a refreshing taste. The large piece of fried tofu added a nice touch to the dish. The location of the cafe is excellent, with a view of the Uji River from inside. The best part is that it is not crowded, making it a pleasant dining experience. You can also enjoy the Maruto Parfait here.

In Uji, enjoy matcha instead of Uji matcha. Still feeling the awe of Byodoin Temple, I headed to a chic matcha sweets shop in Omotesando. Ordering was completely self-service, like messing around with a tablet at the counter. I ordered matcha soft serve, which came in a cup with matcha jelly at the bottom. The matcha soft serve was subtly sweet (personally, I think it could be even less sweet). The assertive taste of the tea was pleasant, and the sweetness of the red bean paste paired well with the ice cream, mochi, and jelly. The matcha jelly was a vibrant green color, but I couldn't taste much matcha flavor in it. Towards the end, there was no escaping the taste of the tea, so maybe that's why the jelly's flavor seemed a bit subdued.

After leaving Ryuo Outlet, we decided to take a short stroll to Uji Byodoin Temple. The roads were congested, likely due to summer vacation. We arrived at 4 pm. Many shops in Uji close at 5 pm, so we walked a bit before reaching a shop. My companion had a matcha parfait, while I had sparkling Nakamura tea. The view was great, and it's a nice place to relax and spend some time.

Around 1 pm on a regular day, I visited the Byodoin Temple branch that had been renovated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It seemed like the number of customers had calmed down, so I decided to visit with my younger child. Upon entering, we immediately went to the counter on the right to place our order using a tablet and automatic register. Just like a major fast food chain, our order number appeared on a large screen and we picked it up ourselves to take to our table. The Ujikintoki soft serve ice cream finally costs ¥900. It was delicious with green tea jelly, but it's definitely on the pricier side. Still, it was tasty. This time, we enjoyed our treat by the window on the first floor, but the second floor also looked nice.

On the way back from Byodoin Temple, it was hot so I decided to stop by a famous shop for something cold. The shop was located by the Uji River and had a great view inside. It was crowded because it's a tourist spot, so it took a bit of time for my shaved ice to come out. I chose the matcha shaved ice, which had a slight tartness and was incredibly delicious. At first, I couldn't tell what it was, but there was yuzu peel in it. Also, at the bottom, there was Uji Kinshicho ice cream and matcha warabi mochi, so just eating through it normally allowed for a variety of flavors. It was delicious.

This is a shop located along the river with a really nice atmosphere. I had a hojicha latte. It was delicious~ However, it's quite popular and gets really crowded, so be careful! I had to wait for nearly 30 minutes for just one hojicha latte to come out... Recommended for those who have time to spare!

We visited this cafe with my husband for a tea time date in Kyoto on a sunny day in May! After lunch in Fushimi, we moved from "Nakashima" to "Uji". We visited the World Heritage Site, Uji Shrine, and Ujigami Shrine from Keihan Uji Station, then crossed the Nakasu Bridge to head to Byodoin Temple. After touring the magnificent Phoenix Hall, we took a short break at this cafe along the approach. It was after 3 pm, but there were still some empty seats as it was a weekday. The cafe, run by the long-established tea shop Nakamura Tohkiten, has been renovated into a cafeteria-style. For dine-in customers, you first secure a seat, then place your order and make payment at the counter's tablet. Then, take a number tag and wait at your seat until your order is called on the monitor. My husband had a green tea float, and I had Ujikin soft serve with matcha milk jelly. We sat in a window seat on the second floor, enjoying the view of the Uji River with fresh greenery. The slight bitterness of the refined matcha, the sweetness of the soft serve, the perfect balance of red bean paste and white mochi, and the refreshing sweetness of the jelly all helped to soothe our tired bodies. It was also nice to have charging outlets and plugs under each seat. In addition to indoor seating on the first and second floors, the outdoor terrace was bustling with people taking photos. After recharging with sweet treats and our phones, we leisurely made our way to JR Uji Station. Thank you for a wonderful time. Bon appétit!

The store has an old-fashioned atmosphere, and you can enjoy the lush green scenery of Uji from inside the store. The hojicha jelly and ice cream on the menu both use hojicha, creating flavorful dishes. Of course, the new tea was delicious, and we also enjoyed the Nakamura tea latte.

Located in Uji City, this café has a terrace where you can overlook the Uji River, offering a fantastic location! They have a limited-time menu for Golden Week featuring a Matcha Parfait. As Uji is known for its high-quality matcha, this parfait is incredibly rich in matcha flavor! From matcha cream to matcha cake and matcha granola, it's matcha all the way from top to bottom! The matcha jelly at the bottom was also very much to my liking, with a bouncy and elastic texture. Enjoying delicious matcha sweets in such a lovely location was a great experience! I definitely want to visit again when I go to Uji next time.

I had always wanted to visit this café. Since it was during Golden Week, I lined up 30 minutes before opening. Of course, I was the first in line. By the time they opened, the line extended all the way to the neighboring shop. I secured a terrace seat right in front of the Uji River, with an amazing view. I tried the limited edition Maru and Parfait To Go for 1,100 yen, and it was truly delicious. It had a perfect balance of sweetness and was refreshing. The location was great, the matcha sweets were delicious, and it was a parfait that allowed me to fully enjoy Uji.

The main store was very crowded with a one-hour wait, so we visited after visiting Byodoin Temple. It was around 4:00 PM, so it wasn't too crowded, but still lively. The rich matcha jelly and ice cream were well balanced, and the view of the Uji River was wonderful and very soothing.

This is Nakamura Tohkyo Honpo in Uji with a parking lot. They have tenants at Kyoto Station Isetan and inside Kyoto Station as well. The top seller here is the rich chocolate hojicha. This time, I tried the matcha and hojicha financiers. Both have a moist texture with a tea flavor, and they are delicious. The matcha financier has a strong matcha taste, which I really liked. Also, the sencha cookies in the assorted tin are said to be incredibly delicious, so I will try them when I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

Enjoy Uji Tencha Soba for 1,200 yen. The tencha is hand-picked once a year, selecting the new buds for a crispy texture and rich flavor. The soba noodles are made from a blend of matcha and buckwheat flour, creating thin noodles. Served with bonito broth, citrus, and light tea oil. The tea oil is an original seasoning made from broth, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms. My companion had a parfait. The atmosphere was great, and it seemed to be a popular spot among women!

After visiting Byodoin Temple, on the way back, I stopped by this cafe located in the middle of Byodoin Omotesando: Nakamura Tokichi Byodoin Store. Address: 5-1 Ujirenge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. Opening hours: 10:00-17:00. As you enter through the curtain and pass through the gate, you'll find a charming building that has been designated as an "Important Cultural Landscape." With large windows overlooking the Uji River, you can enjoy a dynamic view of the flowing river. The cafe was renovated last September, so it doesn't feel too old. The order is self-service on the first floor, and it may take a bit of time due to the crowds. I chose a special parfait called "Haru no Sekai" only available at the Byodoin store. It came with a complimentary cup of Nakamura tea. The parfait was generous in size and filled with various ingredients like sakura cream, matcha chiffon, sakura soft serve ice cream, shiratama, strawberry, chestnut, matcha paste, matcha jelly, matcha ice cream, and green tea. The design of the parfait with a circle and cross (maru to ju) was also drawn with matcha. The combination of matcha's slight bitterness and sakura cream was delightful, and I enjoyed it until the last bite. There is also a souvenir shop in a separate building.

Located in Kyoto and Uji, the renowned sweet shop Nakamura Tokichi offers exquisite parfaits. When you visit Uji, make sure to try the limited edition "Maruto Parfait" at the Nakamura Tokichi Byodoin Temple branch. The view by the Uji River is stunning, and the taste of the parfait is exceptional. The seasonal Sakura Parfait is particularly impressive, with sakura cream, sakura soft serve ice cream, matcha bean paste, green tea jelly, matcha ice cream, matcha chiffon cake, shiratama (rice flour dumplings), okoshi (rice crisps), strawberries, and chestnuts. The combination of the sweet and salty sakura cream with the bittersweet matcha flavor is delightful. The texture and hint of saltiness make it enjoyable from top to bottom. I wish this would become a regular item on the menu because it was so delicious. The matcha parfait includes matcha chiffon cake, matcha soft serve ice cream, matcha bean paste, green tea, matcha cream, green tea jelly, matcha ice cream, hanaho shiso (perilla flowers), shiratama, okoshi, berries, and chestnuts. This parfait has a perfect balance of matcha bitterness and umami flavor. The addition of shiso may surprise you at first, but it adds a refreshing touch to the parfait. The Sakura Parfait is available until April 28th, so if you're interested, make sure to try it soon.

I went on a Sunday during cherry blossom season. The system was to secure a seat first and then place an order, so it was very crowded. Luckily, I was able to secure a seat and order, and after waiting for about 30-40 minutes, I finally got to eat. I enjoyed the matcha soba and Maruto parfait [Haru no Sekai]. The soba was delicious with the option to change the flavor, and the parfait had various ingredients that were tasty. It was a nice location with a view of the Uji River.

The cafe at the main store near Uji Station sometimes has a long wait, so I decided to relax here and enjoy the self-service. The design of the interior and exterior blends well with the atmosphere of Kyoto, but also has a sense of novelty. I shared a parfait with matcha soba and hojicha warabi mochi. The parfait, in particular, was visually stunning with a surprising attention to detail. It almost seemed too beautiful to eat, but the taste was also excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed the matcha flavor, and the scent of tencha was strong in the soba. I finished it quickly and wished I had more. I would definitely like to visit again. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Overlooking the Uji River, this charming and popular café offers the seasonal limited edition "Haru no Sekai" parfait. Not only is it visually stunning and surprisingly large, but the pleasant bitterness of the matcha makes it enjoyable without being too sweet. It tends to get crowded, so it's best to visit with some extra time. Also, be cautious of the Uji River specialty, the flying squirrels, from spring to summer.

"Nakamura Tokichi Honke Byodoin Store" is located on the approach to Byodoin Temple in Uji. Since I came all the way to Uji, I decided to stop by to try some matcha sweets! The shop has a lovely atmosphere with a mix of traditional and modern Japanese styles. While the main store had long lines, I was able to enter this one without any trouble. The menu includes Japanese tea, matcha sweets, and also soba noodles with tea for lunch. Orders are placed using a self-service tablet. I ordered the "Maruto Parfait (Green World) @1,800 yen" which is a limited edition item only available at Byodoin Temple. The parfait was served in a tall glass with the Maruto logo on top. It included matcha jelly, matcha ice cream, shiratama (mochi balls), sweet red bean paste, and matcha pound cake. The matcha ice cream was perfectly balanced in bitterness and richness, and the other components were not too sweet, making it easy to enjoy. I don't usually eat sweets, but the hojicha tea was also comforting and delicious. The weather was nice, so I enjoyed a relaxing time looking out at the Uji River through the window. I don't usually go to cafes, but sometimes it's nice to relax at one! The meal was delicious, thank you!"

I knew about Fujikichi's tea beforehand, so I stopped by. As a long-established tea shop, they serve a rich and flavorful tea. The shop has a nice atmosphere and ordering from the menu using a mobile phone is an interesting touch. It's nice to leisurely enjoy tea time while elegantly watching the flow of the river.