Japan is one of the largest producers of matcha in the world, known not only for its quality but also for the variety of cultivars and tea grades, which give it a wide range of aromas and flavors. So if you get the chance to visit Japan, don't miss trying authentic matcha dishes and picking up matcha or matcha products to bring home as gifts. This article introduces the best places to buy matcha — a must-read for any green tea lover.
The Matcha Craze: Why Matcha Is Selling Out
In recent years, matcha has become a huge trend, not just among health-conscious people but among the general public too, who are enjoying it more and more in both drinks and snacks. Wherever you go, or whenever you check social media, you're bound to see green matcha menus everywhere.
This popularity isn't limited to one country — it has spread to many countries around the world, making matcha powder hard to find. The tea leaves used for matcha can only be harvested during a limited season, and falling yields caused by global warming have made the shortage worse. Several well-known Japanese tea brands have had to limit orders, and some shops have had to stop selling matcha menu items temporarily or limit purchases as well. Some people have even been hoarding matcha to resell it at two to three times the original price.
But once you get to Japan, you can relax, because there are plenty of places to buy it — from tea shops and cafés using genuine matcha straight from the source, to all kinds of souvenir shops. Let's take a look at where to find each one.
Byodoin Omotesando Street
Byodoin Omotesando Street is located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Uji Station (about 25 minutes), then walk about 500 meters to reach this street, which leads to Byodoin Temple, the famous temple pictured on Japan's 10-yen coin. Along both sides of the street are many shops, cafés, restaurants, and souvenir stores, nearly all featuring Uji green tea as the star ingredient, earning it the nickname "Green Tea Street."
There are many green tea menu items to try here, from silky smooth matcha ice cream, green tea gyoza, green tea udon, and green tea soba, to even green tea takoyaki. There are also several long-standing tea shops selling the famous Uji matcha powder, fragrant roasted hojicha, and classic sencha. Most shops offer samples, with staff on hand to recommend different types of tea. However, most shops close in the evening, around 5 to 6pm, so come early to have plenty of time to look around.
Ippodo
Ippodo is a famous tea shop with a history of more than 300 years. It first opened in 1717 under the name "Omiya," before being given the new name "Ippodo" by Prince Yamashina-no-miya, meaning to hold firmly to one thing. Ippodo has always focused solely on selling high-quality tea — there are no bottled ready-to-drink teas and no matcha-flavored food or dessert menu at all. Today Ippodo has more than 150 branches across Japan, but its main store is in Kyoto, on Teramachi Street near Kyoto Imperial Palace. Take the Tozai Line to Kyoto City Hall Station, exit 11, then walk about 5 minutes to reach it.
Besides selling matcha powder, this branch also has a tearoom with three distinct zones, Oku no Ma, Counter, and Teramachi no Ma, serving green tea with small sweets. There are also tea-brewing classes that teach everything from brewing techniques to tips for making green tea part of your daily life.
Nakamura Tokichi Honten
Another famous tea shop that matcha lovers shouldn't miss is Nakamura Tokichi Honten, founded in 1854. Its main branch is just 1 minute from Uji Station, and it also has several other branches in Kyoto, such as the Byodoin branch, the Kyoto Station branch, and the Daimaru Kyoto branch, as well as a Hankyu Umeda branch in Osaka and Ginza Six and Azabudai Hills branches in Tokyo. Some branches also have cafés serving matcha-flavored menu items, such as green tea soba, green tea udon, green tea soft serve, or green tea jelly served with mochi and sweet red bean paste.
The shop also sells a wide variety of teas, more than 10 types of matcha powder alone, plus other teas such as sencha, gyokuro, hojicha, genmaicha, and Nakamura-cha, a blend the shop makes itself.
Uogashi Meicha
If you're not going to Kyoto, don't worry — Tokyo also has several matcha shops for souvenirs, such as Uogashi Meicha, which has 5 branches, including Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, and Isetan Shinjuku. Its best-selling highlight is ChaGinza Matcha, with a distinctive sweet, roasted aroma, delicious whether brewed as pure matcha or as a matcha latte.
There are also many other teas, such as sencha, kamairicha, bancha, kukicha, mecha, gyokuro, hojicha, genmaicha, and konacha. The shop wants customers to find the tea that best matches their taste, so it offers a wide variety in both aroma and flavor, even among teas in the same price range.
Nakamise-dori Street
If you're planning to visit Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Temple, you can shop for matcha powder as a souvenir at Nakamise-dori. Take the train to Asakusa Station, then walk about 3 minutes to get there. This 250-meter street leads to the temple entrance and is lined with more than 89 shops, many of which sell matcha menu items, matcha powder, and tea-brewing equipment.
For example, Kaminari Issa offers not only high-quality matcha powder from Kyoto but also many other teas, plus drinks and matcha-based sweets such as matcha warabimochi, matcha cream puffs, matcha gelato, and matcha bingsu. And Sawawa Asakusa is another shop known for its rich, intense matcha ice cream and matcha macarons, along with several other matcha sweets neatly packaged in boxes, perfect for bringing home as souvenirs.
Don Quijote
Anyone visiting Japan shouldn't miss stopping by Don Quijote, since it has such a wide range of products, including cosmetics, supplements, stationery, cleaning supplies, everyday items, food, snacks, and yes, matcha powder too! There are several types to choose from: pure matcha powder, sweetened matcha, or matcha latte mix, all at affordable prices. There are also many other green tea flavored snacks.
Don Quijote also has great discount coupons for travelers. Don't forget to grab one and use it.
Don Quijote Discount Coupon https://www.talonjapan.com/coupon/don-quijote-coupon/
Ameyoko Market
Last but not least is Ameyoko Market, an old market running alongside the JR Yamanote Line between Okachimachi and Ueno stations. It's lively both day and night, with countless shops selling everything from clothes, bags, and cosmetics to fresh and dried food, including matcha powder. One such shop is Tea Garden, located near the statue. This shop has been open for more than 90 years and sells ready-to-drink green tea, powdered and bagged tea, matcha ice cream, tea-brewing equipment, and beautiful tea canisters. Another shop is Sankō-en, which sells seaweed and tea, with many types and brands of tea to choose from, as well as teacups, teapots, and Japanese bamboo tea whisks.
Whichever area you visit, be sure to stop by and pick some up. If you're not sure what to choose, just ask the staff, they'll recommend teas based on flavor and aroma so you can find the perfect one to take home.