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Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culture. Just 20 minutes south of Kyoto City lies Uji City.
When you think of Uji, you think of matcha. When you think of matcha, you think of Uji.
In “Uji,” particularly along the Byodoin Temple Omotesando, tea masters have gathered since ancient times to create the finest matcha. This tradition continues today, enchanting countless visitors as Kyoto’s premier matcha destination.
Located on Byodoin Temple Omotesando, Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu is a tea master’s house dating back to the Muromachi period. This prestigious establishment was favored by historical figures such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sen no Rikyu, and Kasuga no Tsubone.
Stepping inside, you’re greeted by tea boxes and pottery that tell a 500-year story, making the weight of tradition palpable. This tradition has evolved into a living “experience” in the modern era, welcoming visitors with warm hospitality.
Let me introduce you to this special place where you can savor a supreme cup of tea steeped in Uji’s history and tradition.
Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store is a 500-year-old historic tea shop located on Byodoin Temple Omotesando in Uji, Kyoto. Known as one of Japan’s most prestigious tea establishments, they offer high-quality Uji matcha, sencha, gyokuro made using traditional methods, and matcha desserts. Their matcha-making experience using Uji matcha worth 60,000 yen per kilogram has gained significant attention.
At Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store, you can enjoy high-quality tea, matcha, and matcha desserts made with Uji matcha.
They offer a perfect pairing of Japanese sweets such as zenzai (sweet red bean soup), dango (rice dumplings), and warabi mochi with matcha.
For those wanting to casually try matcha and sweets, the “Matcha Warabi Mochi Matcha Set” is recommended.
Take a sip of matcha to savor its flavor, then try a bite of warabi mochi. The gentle sweetness of the warabi mochi enhances the matcha’s taste. The warabi mochi itself is dusted with matcha powder, maintaining the matcha flavor while offering the sweetness of Japanese confections. The balance between the two is perfect, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy both matcha and sweetness in moderate amounts.
For those wanting to indulge in Japanese sweets, the “Mitsuboshien Premium Parfait” is recommended. This luxurious dessert combines Japanese sweet all-stars including ice cream, matcha jelly, zenzai, and shiratama dango, topped with special thick matcha sauce – a truly satisfying treat.
In summer, their seasonal “Original Uji Kintoki” is particularly popular. The Uji Kintoki, generously topped with matcha, creates an exquisite taste through the synergy of sweetness and bitterness. Its popularity is well-deserved.
One of the main attractions at Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store is their matcha-making experience.
During this experience, you can carefully grind high-grade Uji matcha using a stone mill to create your own matcha. This luxurious experience using matcha worth 60,000 yen per kilogram is a special activity unavailable anywhere else.
After making the matcha, you can perform the tea ceremony yourself and taste your freshly ground matcha, enjoying its fresh flavor and aroma. This is a perfect experience for those wanting to understand the spirit of Japanese tea ceremony and the depth of matcha.
It’s important to note that grinding matcha isn’t about forcefully turning the stone mill quickly; rather, it requires maintaining a steady speed while grinding slowly. Turning too quickly results in coarsely ground matcha that leaves a bitter taste. This delicate balance determines the quality of the matcha. This is the artisan’s skill. Through this hands-on experience, you can understand the difficulty of pursuing and maintaining high quality. It’s thanks to the tea masters’ craftsmanship and rigorous processes that we can easily enjoy delicious matcha. Realizing this, one can’t help but feel deep respect.
The interior preserves the charm of traditional machiya architecture while creating a serene Japanese atmosphere. The combination of black pillars and white walls evokes a sense of Taisho-era romance. This is Japanese modern style. The store displays ancient tea pots and tea boxes, showcasing the dignity of this historic tea establishment throughout.
The back of the store serves as a tea room, where you can enjoy tea and matcha desserts in seats with an irori (traditional hearth) style. There’s also a small Japanese garden-like courtyard that creates a relaxing atmosphere.
The second floor of Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store houses the “Uji Tea Reference Room,” where you can learn about the history and production methods of Uji tea.
Here, precious documents about Uji tea history and tea utensils passed down through the Kanbayashi family are displayed, allowing you to delve deep into Uji tea’s long history. Particularly noteworthy are letters from Kasuga no Tsubone, items related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and photographs of historical work scenes – all of which can be viewed free of charge, making it a rare opportunity.
The Kanbayashi family, dating back to the Muromachi period, is a historic tea master family that has contributed to the development of Uji tea. They are said to have served as “Uji Tea Master” to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, making them a highly prestigious tea establishment.
Over their 500-year history, the name “Sannyu” has been passed down through generations of owners, now in its 16th generation.
The first Kanbayashi Sannyu was a tea master who managed everything from tea cultivation to matcha production. It’s said that even Sen no Rikyu used matcha made by Sannyu.
Mitsuboshien still preserves ancient documents from 1587 that record tea ceremonies hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at Osaka Castle and mention Hideyoshi drinking Sannyu’s tea.
Sanseien warmly welcomes international visitors. Some staff members speak Chinese and English, and the owner’s son is highly proficient in English, German, and Japanese.
Despite being a tea house with a 500-year history, their dedication to providing excellent service to visitors from around the world is truly admirable.
Interestingly, the owner’s son was previously featured on a popular Japanese TV show, making him a widely recognized figure in Japan. (A Swiss groom joins Japan’s oldest tea house!)
Reviews indicate that his sincere hospitality is highly appreciated.
When I visited, I was attended to by the proprietress. She was cheerful and delightful.
While longevity in business depends on product quality, craftsmanship, and dedication, in the end, it’s all about “people.” Because I had such a pleasant experience, I could fully enjoy the matcha without any distractions.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone at Sanseien. Thank you for the delicious tea, sweets, and the wonderful time and space.
While Kyoto’s Uji has many tea houses, Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store holds a special charm. It’s where tradition and innovation coexist in perfect balance.
The authentic taste of Uji matcha passed down from the Muromachi period, the traditional skills and wisdom loved even by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and new forms of tea culture transmission such as matcha-making experiences and the reference room opening – all aimed at conveying these values to modern times.
Particularly special is the matcha-making experience using premium Uji matcha worth 60,000 yen per kilogram, an exclusive experience available nowhere else in the world. The time spent grinding and tasting your own matcha will surely become a precious memory.
The 500 years of history that permeates the store, the ultimate flavors created by artisan skills, and the unique hospitality of an established shop. When visiting Uji, be sure to enjoy a supreme cup of tea at Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Store, an elegant establishment on Byodoin Temple Omotesando.
