Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store

Ippodo Tea Co. Kyoto Main Store is a Japanese tea specialty shop in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, offering "Kyoto premium teas" known for their gentle aroma, refined sweetness, and smooth, mellow flavor. The shop name was bestowed by the Yamashina-no-miya imperial family in Koka 3 (1846), meaning "to preserve a single tea." Access to Ippodo Tea Co. Kyoto Main Store is about a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Subway Station, or about a 10-minute walk from Marutamachi Station. The store faces Teramachi Street, which runs north–south along the Kyoto Imperial Palace area, and the neighborhood—lined with galleries and antique shops—together with the storefront itself creates a distinctly Kyoto atmosphere. In addition to in-store sales of a wide range of Japanese teas, the experiential services are also appealing: you can fully enjoy your favorite tea at the teahouse "Kaboku," where you can watch tea being prepared, or learn through the "Tea Brewing Workshop," where you can be taught how to brew and whisk tea. With a selection suited for both everyday use and gifts, it is an ideal place to choose a truly reliable Kyoto souvenir.