On Sunday, with the expected high temperature of 37 degrees in Kyoto, I visited the World Heritage sites in Uji, including Byodoin Temple and Ujigami Shrine. Despite going early to avoid the heat, I ended up sweating profusely and sought refuge in this shop. Since I was in Uji, I decided to indulge in matcha, ordering a set of matcha, tea dumplings, and a mini parfait. Unsure of where to start, I opted for the cold parfait first. The matcha soft serve ice cream was truly something special. I had not anticipated finding white dumplings hidden inside, and after eating two rich tea dumplings, I realized the set was quite filling. However, I felt refreshed and satisfied after drinking the light tea at the end. The shop was filled with many foreign visitors, and even as I enjoyed my treats, tourists from both Japan and abroad kept arriving. There were about three groups of people eating soft serve ice cream outside while waiting. I couldn't linger too long, considering those waiting, but the shop was perfect for soothing the fatigue of sightseeing.

[Visit date: Late July 2023] I visited around 10 a.m. on a holiday and the rating at the time of visit was 3.53. It's easy to get to from Keihan Uji Station. If coming from JR, you'll have to walk. I visited while sightseeing in the area. The green tea soft serve ice cream is pretty common everywhere. It was hot, so I hesitated to eat inside, but ended up having it outside. Since I don't eat green tea soft serve often, it tasted fresh and delicious. It seems to be a popular shop facing the street with many tourists. Thank you for the meal.

Even in the heat of the day while exploring Uji, my body craved something "cool"! I was drawn to this teahouse as if by a magnet. I usually don't eat ice cream or drink green tea, but maybe things are different now? I thought about just sticking with hojicha since I like it, but since I came all the way to Uji, I decided to mix it with matcha. I still prefer the taste of hojicha though. I enjoyed it on the veranda outside the shop and finally felt revived. I learned that this teahouse is located at the foot of the historic Uji Bridge. Although there was no one sitting outside, the shop inside had a full house sign! It seems like those who know about the sweets here make it a point to visit.

I visited this shop in Uji to get some snacks to go. It is a long-established shop in Kyoto, dating back to 1160. The shop is famous and even depicted in ukiyo-e prints. I bought two packs of green tea rice cakes (3 pieces each). When I got home and tried them, I found the taste to be subtly sweet with a chewy texture, similar to three-color rice cakes. The cost performance was good, and the taste that has been beloved through the ages continues to be passed down at this shop. I am grateful for this. The green tea rice cakes were very delicious. I would like to buy them again when I visit Uji in the future.

I visited in the early afternoon on a rainy day. The weather was bad, so it was nice to be seated right away. I had the matcha and matcha ice cream monaka set. The sweet bean paste was not too sweet and very delicious. The view of Uji Bridge was also amazing. Thank you for the meal!

Three tea dumplings and a set of fresh tea for 900 yen. A small amount of the shop's recommended sugar confectionery is also included. The shop is located right next to Uji Bridge, with some seats offering a view of the Uji River. It is just a short walk from Keihan Uji Station. When you cross Uji Bridge, you will see the streets of Uji straight ahead, and if you turn left, you will find Byodoin Temple.

I had a soft serve ice cream that was a mix of matcha and hojicha flavors. It was a cute combination of green and beige colors, perfect for photos. It was priced in the 300 yen range with a waffle cone, so it was a good deal. The cream had a nice tea flavor and was delicious. I would love to have it again.

I enjoyed a matcha soft serve ice cream in Uji, a touristy behavior style. It was my first time in Uji, and I visited a shop in front of the Keihan station, which was established in 1160. It is the oldest shop I have reviewed so far. It seems to have been located at the base of Uji Bridge since the Heian period. The shop has a space for selling items and a cafe space along the river. I decided to have the matcha soft serve ice cream (¥400 including tax) at the cafe space, paying with d payment. I was seated at a table along the riverbank, and although the view of Uji Bridge was not as spectacular as I had hoped due to the season, the soft serve ice cream was served. The soft serve had a subtle milk flavor at first, followed by the aroma of matcha and a slight bitterness lingering at the end. Despite not being a tea expert, I could tell that it used a slightly sweet matcha. The sweetness and flavor were light, making it easy to enjoy without feeling too heavy. This matcha soft serve was my first treat in Uji, a classic dessert from a centuries-old shop. Thank you for the meal.

When I looked at the menu of the famous "matcha dumplings" at Uji, there were many delicious options like parfaits, zenzai, and matcha soft serve. So I ordered the "hanami set" where I could try everything. The sakura mini parfait had sakura-flavored soft serve, chestnuts, sweet red bean paste, matcha jelly, and whipped cream, all of which were very sweet but the matcha jelly added a nice touch to bring the flavors together. The matcha dumplings were chewy and had a light matcha fragrance. The matcha tea was also excellent, as expected from Uji, but it was quite pricey. The view of Uji Bridge over the Uji River was also fantastic.

The tea house called Tsuuen mentioned in the homepage is also featured in the novel "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa, but its founding dates back to the end of the Heian period in the first year of Eiryaku (1160 AD). The original founder was a samurai named Furukawa Uchinojo, a retainer of Minamoto no Yoritomo. In his later years, he retired and received the character "Masahisa" from Yoritomo, taking the name Taikyoan Tsuuen Masahisa, and established a hermitage at the east end of Uji Bridge. Subsequently, his descendants took on the surname Tsuuen and were entrusted with the role of bridge keeper at Uji Bridge, offering tea to passersby to pray for the longevity of the bridge and the good health of travelers. The current building is a remnant of an Edo period townhouse built in the 12th year of Kanbun (1672), with a deep eave and a wide entrance with few columns for the convenience of the bustling people passing by. Inside the shop, there are tea jars that have lasted for hundreds of years, and a wooden statue of the "First Tsuuen" bestowed by the monk Ikkyu is enshrined. Records show that various daimyo, including Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, enjoyed tea at this tea house. It is a tea house that evokes the image of people from the past who traveled between Kyoto and Yamato. I bought a pack of 10 small tea dumplings to go.

This shop is located right next to Uji River Bridge, a symbol of Uji. It is a trendy and easy-to-visit shop for young people. I enjoyed the mini parfait and the specialty "Hanami Set" with dango (rice dumplings) little by little while looking at the beautiful Uji River outside, even though the cherry blossoms were starting to fall. It was a perfect cherry blossom viewing experience with delicious treats. The staff, a friendly young man, made the experience even better. I will definitely visit again, thank you, young man.

I stopped by for a break and found a relaxing tea house. I had a mini matcha parfait and it was delicious, especially the matcha soft serve. It was so good that I hesitated to share a bite with my friend. I didn't realize it was an old-established shop, but I should have tried the tea dumplings. They also served warm tea, which was tasty. My friend had matcha tea. I wasn't sure what the sugar candy was, but it came with the tea. I was torn between getting a sundae or a parfait, but next time I visit Uji, I'll definitely try the tea dumplings. Thank you for the delicious meal!

If you have come all the way to Uji, why not enjoy some tea? I found a tea shop called Tsuen located near Uji Bridge and just across from Keihan Uji Station. It was established in 1160, making it the oldest tea house in Japan. I originally wanted to try matcha, but ended up choosing sencha instead. The sencha called "Aoi" started off light and refreshing, gradually developing a deeper flavor with a hint of bitterness. It was a delightful experience savoring the taste of tea. The tea dumplings were small and easy to eat, and with three pieces, surprisingly filling. They also had a delicious tea aroma. While enjoying my tea, I wondered what significant events took place in the year 1160. After looking it up, I learned that it was the year when Minamoto no Yoritomo was captured and exiled to Izu by Taira no Kiyomori after the defeat of his father, Minamoto no Yoshitomo. Yoritomo quietly waited for 20 years in Izu before rising up and eventually leading the campaign to overthrow the Taira clan. It was a luxurious moment to reflect on history while enjoying tea at a shop that has been around for centuries.

I finished exploring various tea houses in Uji around 2:30 pm and entered the restaurant without waiting. The restaurant has been in business for 862 years! I was grateful for the long history of the place. Upon entering, I was told to sit wherever I liked, so I chose a seat by the window overlooking the Uji River. The historic exterior got me excited, and although the interior had a nice atmosphere, the charm was slightly diminished by the acrylic barriers for COVID-19 precautions. Since I was dining alone and there were few other customers, they kindly moved the acrylic barriers for me. I ordered a set of sencha tea and sweets, with gyokuro tea and tea dumplings (traditional menu items) chosen. The sun was shining into the restaurant that day, and I enjoyed a relaxing time looking out at the Uji River. The gyokuro tea had a fragrant aroma and a hint of sweetness, and paired well with the traditional tea dumplings, making for a delicious experience.

We ordered a set of matcha and cute rice cakes with three friends and had tea. The view of the large bridge in Uji was beautiful, and we were able to talk leisurely. The elegant size of the rice cakes, typical of Kyoto, went very well with the matcha, and the sweetness seeped into our chilled bodies.

Tsuyoshi-san's tea shop is located near Uji Bridge and has been a tea merchant since the Heian period. It is mentioned in Yoshikawa Eiji's novel "Musashi". This area around the Uji River seems to have been enjoyed by the nobles for its beautiful scenery and clear water, as seen in the "Uji Jujo" from The Tale of Genji. I had a mix of matcha and hojicha soft serve ice cream here. The Uji River was shining in the sunlight, and the view was amazing.

Today, I went to the Uji area in Kyoto. I took a break at a tea shop in front of Keihan Uji Station. Tsuen, established in 1160, has a lovely atmosphere facing the Uji River. There are two entrances, one for the sales corner and one for the tea house, which are connected inside. In the tea house, you can order tea soba and sweets using matcha. There was also a menu for matcha shaved ice (^-^). This time, I tried the Uji Kinjiso soft serve ice cream. It was served with a warning that it is prone to falling over. The soft serve ice cream had toppings of chestnuts, sweet bean paste, and matcha dango, making it a unique treat. The matcha dango had a chewy texture and a rich tea aroma. It was delicious even when eaten on its own. The soft serve ice cream itself had a rich matcha flavor. I enjoyed it with chestnuts and sweet bean paste (^-^). The cone was slightly larger than usual, so there was plenty of soft serve ice cream. I was able to enjoy matcha sweets at this long-established tea shop (^-^).

I remembered stopping by here when I visited Uji before. This tea house is a perfect place to take a break after sightseeing in Uji. I was about to head back when I found this tea house in a convenient location. I tried the matcha and hojicha mixed soft serve, and it instantly cooled me down in this hot and humid weather. The refreshing taste of the tea without being too sweet was really nice. They offer a discount for JAF members, so it's a good deal too. I ordered the matcha mix and enjoyed it while looking at Uji Bridge, taking a moment to relax. The weather was forecasted to rain today, but the four of us, under the sun, didn't need to use an umbrella at all. After a taxi ride and lunch, by the time we walked to Byodoin Temple, the rain had completely stopped, making it a great day for sightseeing in Uji.

I went to Tsuuen Uji Main Store in Uji, so I ordered matcha and tea dumplings. Matcha and tea dumplings cost 700 yen. The tea dumplings were small but delicious. I enjoyed the matcha, which I haven't had in a long time. The slight bitterness was pleasant, and the tea dumplings had a nice aroma. It was a great way to relax after exploring. It was a lovely holiday.