Hyperlocal Tokyo

It's located on the 5th floor of the Kabuki-za Tower. You can get there by elevator. I think it's a bit of a hidden gem. There's a shop where you can buy matcha and other teas, and a cafe beyond that. They had a lot of cute souvenirs too. I went there for dessert after a meal, so I'm not sure if they serve lunch or other meals, but the sweets and matcha were delicious. I think it cost around ¥2,000 per person. It was at a counter, so I could see them making the matcha right in front of me. They were very meticulous in their preparation. Even though it was thin tea, they used a lot of matcha.

I visited for a snack. The cafe is located on the 5th floor of the Kabuki-za Tower, right next to the East Ginza Station. It's situated next to a garden. This garden, surprisingly, is quite spacious and has a lot of greenery, making you feel like you're in a traditional temple garden, even though it's inside a building. There are seats with a view of this beautiful garden, so the location is definitely top-notch. If you like "Japanese" aesthetics, you'll absolutely love it. I ordered the Rich Mont Blanc Set for ¥1,580 and chose the "Matsuri Matcha 80" for my tea. First, the matcha Mont Blanc. It's made with matcha from a tea shop started by "Maruyama Noriten," a long-established nori (seaweed) shop in Tsukiji that has been around for over 160 years and is used by famous sushi restaurants. The matcha is simply rich and strong! It's incredibly concentrated. The matcha cream itself has a distinct bitterness, which prevents it from being overly sweet and allows you to enjoy it smoothly. I love the balance of flavors, it's not too overwhelming. Next, the Matsuri Matcha tea that comes with it. It's definitely flavorful and delicious, but it also has a refreshing, clean taste that makes it easy to drink. So, this cafe is a bit pricey, but it's located right in the heart of Ginza, offers a relaxing atmosphere with a garden view, and makes you feel like you've escaped the city. It's a very comfortable and atmospheric cafe, perfect for a date. However, when I was there, I noticed people discussing business, like web marketing and consulting, and a slightly suspicious-looking older man giving a lecture on how to go viral on Instagram to young people. So, even though the atmosphere is fantastic, it's a reminder that it's a Tokyo cafe where temptations lurk. It was a bit disappointing to see so many people using it like a Renoir, a chain coffee shop known for its long hours and comfortable seating.

I heard there was a Japanese sweets cafe on the rooftop of the building next to the Kabuki-za Theatre, so I went to check it out! I love matcha, so I ordered: - A rich matcha set for around ¥2,300 (with Japanese sweets) - Azuki (red bean) zenzai (sweet soup) The matcha was thick and bitter, but the Japanese sweets were sweet, so it was a good balance. There was also a garden, and the weather was beautiful, so it was very relaxing. It seems you can make reservations some days, but on busy days, reservations are not available.

I went there specifically for the onigiri, but was disappointed to find out they only start serving them at 11:30. When I asked if the soba noodles contained wheat, the staff member said they would check but never came back. I ended up ordering a Mont Blanc from a different staff member. It was a slightly small matcha Mont Blanc, but the matcha flavor was strong and delicious. They also had souvenirs and tea utensils near the register, which was fun to browse. However, I left feeling a bit uneasy for some reason.

I recently visited Jugetsu-do, located on the 5th floor of the Kabuki-za Tower, after about a year. It's a Japanese tea specialty store run by Maruyamanori, a long-established nori (seaweed) shop founded in 1854. The interior offers window seats overlooking the rooftop garden, stylish counter seats, and table seats, but I personally recommend the window seats! It's rare to find a place in Ginza where you can enjoy tea while gazing at such a beautiful garden. It's also conveniently connected to the East Ginza Station C3 exit. This time, I ordered the "Spring Tower Parfait with Sakura and Matcha" with a side of hojicha (roasted green tea). I had planned to get a matcha parfait, but they had just launched a new spring parfait, so I decided to try that instead. It's a lovely parfait that evokes the arrival of spring! From top to bottom, it features: - Sakura ice cream - Sakura jelly - Mixed berries - Whipped cream - Oiri (crispy rice crackers) - Matcha jelly The sakura ice cream and jelly have a delicate, fragrant sakura flavor that's simply delicious! Mixing the whipped cream, crunchy oiri, and rich matcha jelly together elevates the flavor even further. The staff are consistently kind and helpful. It was a weekday and there was no Kabuki performance, so it wasn't crowded. I'll definitely be back!