Tsujiri Matcha Cafe

Tsujiri is a Kyoto tea company founded in 1860 in Uji — the city south of Kyoto that produces Japan's most celebrated ceremonial-grade matcha — and the brand's modern cafe chain brings that 160-year heritage to a contemporary dessert and beverage format. The Tsujiri matcha cafe operation spans multiple locations including the Kyoto Station Isetan basement, which is the most visited, as well as branches in Shinsaibashi, Tokyo, and internationally. The matcha used in all Tsujiri products is sourced from Uji, where the brand controls part of its own tea cultivation, and the quality differential between Tsujiri's matcha and standard-grade powder is immediately apparent: the colour is a deep, almost phosphorescent green, the flavour is sharp and grassy with pronounced umami, and the finish is clean rather than bitter. The flagship dessert is the Tsujiri parfait — a tall glass layered with matcha ice cream, sweet red bean paste, shiratama mochi dumplings, matcha jelly, matcha sponge, and soft-serve matcha ice cream at the summit, priced at approximately ¥1,200. The presentation is elaborate and photographically striking. The matcha latte (hot or iced) at ¥650 is the most ordered beverage and performs as a direct quality indicator for the Uji tea programme. Seasonal variations of the parfait appear in spring, summer, and winter, incorporating strawberry, hojicha (roasted tea), and other complementary flavours. Queues form at the Kyoto Station branch during peak tourist months; the Shinsaibashi and international locations are considerably calmer. Tsujiri represents the most accessible high-quality entry point into Uji matcha culture for the majority of Japan visitors.