Yamamotoyama Fujie sabo

I stumbled upon this shop by chance — and it became the most memorable part of my entire trip. As a long-established tea shop, its reputation for quality is well-deserved. The moment I walked in, I could feel the care and tradition behind everything they offer. There was such a wide variety of tea to choose from, and even though we spoke different languages, the staff were kind, patient, and genuinely welcoming. I brought home some gyokuro leaves, tea bags and matcha powder, and the flavor when I brewed it was just incredible — smooth, rich, and authentic. One regret I had was not being able to dine at the shop — it was fully booked at the time. Next time, I won’t miss the chance to make a reservation and enjoy a full experience there. If I ever return to Japan, this will be the very first place I visit again. Truly a hidden gem that touched my heart.

This traditional tea house is a perfect blend of minimalist beauty and authentic craftsmanship. Sitting at the counter, I got a close-up view of the intricate tea-brewing process, which made the experience even more special. They offer a variety of Japanese teas, each prepared with great care using unique methods. I had a sakura-infused tea paired with a delicious, authentic dessert—one of the things I love about Japanese sweets: they’re both healthy and satisfying. A truly gorgeous and calming experience.

OVERALL: fantastic, exceptional experience, from food to drink to service and atmosphere - 10 out of 10. FOOD: good variety of Japanese treats mixed with some more Western-inspired treats, a very nice mix. Not too sweet or overpowering. DRINK: excellent, wide selection of fantastic Japanese green teas, also with some modern twists, such as tea cocktails (which, however, were not so good, overly acidic). Big downside: you only get to choose 1 (!) tea for this afternoon TEA..since it's green tea, you can get up to 3 servings, however, you cannot try more than one variety, which is very disappointing. ATMOSPHERE: beautiful, modern Japanese tea room. There are also people working with laptops, so it feels less stiff and a bit more relaxed than usual subdued tea rooms.

Lovely tea house, in a sophisticated and pleasant setting. Friendly and professional staff.