On my recent visit to Japan, I had the chance to explore several tea spaces in Tokyo — places where you can slow down, reconnect, and experience tea in a calm and inspiring way. Whether you’re traveling through the city or simply need a peaceful break from the busy streets, these are some must-visit tea spots. Many offer seasonal tea courses inspired by Japanese tea culture, as well as tea-based cocktails, so you can enjoy them even in the late afternoon or evening.

Yamamotoyama Fujie Sabō, Nihonbashi

Located in Nihonbashi, Yamamotoyama Fujie Sabō is a serene tea house that celebrates Japanese tea culture through refined simplicity. The space centres around tea but also offers a light meal menu inspired by nori (seaweed), a staple ingredient in traditional Japanese cuisine.

The interior features both counter and table seating, each offering a calm and elegant atmosphere. While the full tea course was sold out that day, we ordered individual items: premium Uji Gyokuro, freshly roasted Hojicha, and a delicate Matcha Anmitsu dessert. The Hojicha is freshly roasted for each order, giving off a gentle toasty aroma that fills the space, while the Gyokuro is brewed in three stages: twice at a low temperature and once at a higher temperature, allowing you to experience its evolving sweetness and umami. It’s a perfect place to pause and enjoy a thoughtful cup of tea in the heart of Tokyo—calm, refined, and quietly memorable.

Higashiya Ginza, Ginza

Located in the stylish district of Ginza, Higashiya offers a refined tea experience in a calm, elegant setting, tucked among luxury buildings and designer boutiques. The front area showcases exquisite tea utensils and teas for sale, while beyond that lies the tea salon where guests can enjoy their drinks. Higashiya is especially known for its seasonal tea courses paired with traditional wagashi (Japanese confections), making it a destination for both tea and dessert lovers.

We chose the seasonal tea course, which lasted about an hour. It began with a single Gyokuro from Kagoshima, brewed at both low and high temperatures to bring out its delicate sweetness and umami. This was followed by Sencha from Kyoto infused with Chrysanthemum, then a Kyoho grape tea, and finally a fermented Ishizuchi Kurocha. The course concluded with freshly roasted Hojicha. Each tea was thoughtfully paired with a dessert to complement its unique flavour profile. Among them, the Ishizuchi Kurocha stood out the most — its fruity notes from fermentation paired beautifully with rich chocolate, leaving a lasting impression.

Photography inside the tea space is limited, so we focused on enjoying the experience rather than taking pictures. It’s a place where you can truly immerse yourself in the taste, aroma, and ritual of Japanese tea, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Ginza.

Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience, Minato City

Tucked away in the heart of the city, Sakurai offers a tranquil escape where guests can experience tea with deep respect and artistry. Upon entering, the sight of tea being carefully prepared at the counter immediately sets the tone. We ordered a tea course paired with desserts, with several price options available.

The course began with Gyokuro from Fukuoka, brewed three times — twice at a low temperature of 35°C to highlight its depth and umami, and once at a higher temperature. The fourth serving was chilled and blended with grape, offering a refreshing finish to the Gyokuro sequence. Next came Hojicha, where guests could choose from several varieties, each freshly roasted on the spot. I selected one with a smoky, oolong-like character, full of complexity and warmth. The course concluded with a creamy, hand-whisked Matcha, perfectly balancing the tasting journey.

From start to finish, every detail of Sakurai’s tea experience felt thoughtful, elegant, and complete.

Tea Bar Chokeikyo, Shibuya

Located in a quiet corner of Shibuya, Tea Bar Chokeikyo feels like a world apart from the bustling station. The small, dimly lit space has an intimate, private atmosphere — perhaps the smallest of all the tea spots we visited, yet also the most memorable.

They offer a seasonal tea course paired with desserts. The experience began with Gyokuro accompanied by wagashi, followed by an iced Gyokuro infused with shiso leaves. Guests can then choose from several Japanese teas, each with its own distinctive aroma and flavour, encouraging you to smell and observe before making a selection. The final course was truly unique: freshly ground spices were heated in a Turkish copper pot buried in hot sand, then combined with Matcha to create a spiced tea unlike any other. It was a creative and heartfelt experience, blending tradition with a novel approach in perfect harmony.

Kimono Tea Ceremony, Asakusa

In Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s most iconic districts, you can experience a traditional tea ceremony while wearing a kimono. Upon arrival, guests are dressed in their chosen kimono and have their hair styled to match. The session begins with an introduction to the tea room, its tatami flooring, shoji screens, and subtle aesthetics, followed by a lesson on Japanese tea etiquette. You’ll learn everything from how to bow and handle utensils to how to drink tea with grace. The experience also includes whisking your own Matcha. The one-hour session is beautifully organized and deeply cultural, a must for anyone interested in Japanese tea and tradition.

As I look back on my journey through Japan, one particular moment from Tea Bar Chokeikyo stays with me. While choosing a fermented tea, I narrowed my options down to two and found it surprisingly difficult to decide. As I finally made my choice and began tasting, the tea master smiled and said she would brew the other tea for herself to try. A few moments later, she poured me a small cup to share. It was such a simple gesture, yet it deeply moved me. Out of all the tea experiences I had in Japan, it was the only moment where I shared a cup directly with the person who brewed it. Tasting tea as a guest is always a beautiful experience, but sharing tea with the one who prepares it, exchanging unspoken impressions through a smile and a sip, felt profoundly special. It reminded me why I fell in love with tea in the first place and quietly hinted at the path I wish to continue on.