Latest Kyoto café recommendations for 2023
Kyoto’s café scene is evolving even further.
As Kyoto attracts more and more tourists, visiting cafes is becoming more and more popular.
What are the criteria for selecting a recommended café?
Among the wide variety of cafes, it is important to consider the atmosphere, menu, and accessibility in order to find the perfect place for you.
In particular, identifying a recommended café is not a simple task.
Each café has its own unique characteristics, so it is important to experience it for yourself.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy visiting cafes in Kyoto.
Popular Sweets Cafes
Here are some popular sweets cafes that you should not miss on your Kyoto café tour in 2023!
Kissho Karyo
Founded in 2012, Kissho Karyo now has about 20 stores nationwide.
All of Kissho Karyo’s soybean flour is roasted in-house. The kinako has a rich aroma and a deep, rich flavor.
Kissho Karyo’s sweets include dumplings, warabimochi, and parfaits made with soybean flour. You can enjoy the aroma and taste of kinako to the fullest.
Saryo Hachisui
Opened in 2014, Saryo Hachisui is a Japanese-style cafe located in Arashiyama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, and is popular for its high-quality Japanese sweets and drinks while enjoying the atmosphere of Arashiyama.
Saryo Hachisui’s menu features mainly Japanese sweets such as green tea parfait and anmitsu.
The restaurant also offers matcha and hojicha (roasted green tea) drinks.
You can enjoy Kyoto’s traditional sweets and drinks.
The interior of Saryo Hachisui offers a relaxing and calm atmosphere.
There is also a terrace where you can enjoy your meal while admiring the view of Arashiyama.
Kyoto Saryo Gion
Opened in 2015, this café in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, offers matcha and hojicha drinks and Japanese sweets with a view of the Gion area.
The menu at Kyoto Saryo Gion mainly features drinks such as matcha and hojicha. There is also a wide selection of Japanese sweets, such as anmitsu (sweet bean paste), dango (sweet dumpling), and warabimochi (bracken rice cake).
The interior of the Kyoto Saryo Gion branch has a relaxed atmosphere where you can sit back and relax. There is also a terrace where you can enjoy your meal while admiring the scenery of Gion.
Let’s immediately invite your friends and go on a tour of Kyoto’s sweet cafes!
Traditional Japanese-style cafes
Yojiya Cafe
A long-established Japanese-style confectionery store with its main store in Kyoto, Yojiya was founded in 1980 and now has about 50 stores across Japan.
All of Yojiya Cafe’s sweets are made using traditional Kyoto methods.
Japanese sweets such as matcha parfait and anmitsu are famous, and seasonal sweets are also popular.
Yojiya Cafe also offers a variety of drinks, including matcha and hojicha. Drinks are available at a discount if ordered as a set with a sweet.
Itoken
Itoken is a Japanese confectionery located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It was founded in 1864 and is currently run by the 15th generation.
Itoken’s signature product is the Mitarashi dango. Mitarashi dango are dumplings dipped in homemade tarashi sauce and are popular for their sweet and spicy flavor. Itoken also sells Japanese sweets such as anmitsu and ohagi (rice cakes).
Itoken’s interior has a Japanese-style atmosphere. There is also a terrace where you can enjoy your meal while looking out.
Kyoto Saryo Saryo Torori
Founded in 1859, Charyo Tsujiri is a teahouse in Kyoto City, and now has seven branches in Kyoto.
Saryo Tsujiri’s signature menu is sweets using matcha green tea. You can enjoy a variety of matcha sweets such as anmitsu (sweet bean paste), parfaits, and drinks.
Gion Tsujiri Tea House
Located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Gion Tsujiri Chaya was founded in 1860 and now has 10 stores in Kyoto.
Gion Tsujiri Chaya’s signature menu is sweets using matcha green tea. You can enjoy a variety of matcha sweets such as anmitsu, parfaits, and drinks.
You can enjoy Kyoto’s traditional matcha sweets while relaxing and enjoying yourself.
Tsuji Rihei Honten
Founded in 1860, Tsujirihei Honten is a long-established teahouse with its main branch in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, and currently has about 40 stores nationwide.
Tsujirihei Honten’s matcha is produced in Uji, Kyoto, the birthplace of Uji tea.
Uji tea is known as one of the finest Japanese teas, and Rihei Tsuji’s matcha is made from the highest quality tea leaves available.
Tsujirihei Honten’s matcha sweets include matcha parfait, matcha soft serve ice cream, and matcha ice cream. You can enjoy the aroma and taste of matcha to the fullest.
Ichijyoji Nakatani
Ichijoji Nakatani is a Japanese confectionary store located in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, founded in 1850 and currently run by the fourth generation.
Ichijoji Nakatani’s signature product is anmitsu. Anmitsu is made with homemade white bean paste and an abundance of seasonal fruits. The smooth texture of anmitsu and the sweet and sour taste of the fruit are exquisite.
In addition to anmitsu, Ichijoji Nakaya also sells other Japanese sweets such as dango and zenzai.
Drinks such as green tea and hojicha (roasted green tea) are also offered.
Visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets and drinks of Kyoto.
The interior of Ichijoji Nakaya has a bright and open atmosphere. There is also a terrace where you can enjoy your meal while looking out.
Oimatsu
Founded in 1668, Oimatsu is a Japanese confectionary store located in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City.
Oimatsu’s signature product is mizumazuki. Mizumazuki is a Japanese confectionery made of azuki bean paste and agar. The mizumazuki of Old Pine is packed with azuki beans and has a refined sweetness.
In addition to mizunazuki, Old Pine also sells other wagashi such as anmitsu (bean jam) and o-dango (dumpling). It also offers drinks such as green tea and hojicha (roasted green tea).
Visitors can enjoy Kyoto’s traditional Japanese sweets and drinks.
The interior of Laomatsu has a Japanese-style atmosphere. There is also a terrace where you can enjoy your meal while looking out.
Japanese-style cafes are often quiet and allow you to spend time in a nonchalant atmosphere.
Many Japanese-style cafes in Kyoto have temples and shrines nearby, allowing you to enjoy tea and sweets in a relaxed atmosphere.
They are also popular with visitors from overseas, making them valuable spots where visitors can experience traditional Japanese culture.
Japanese-style cafes are familiar to both tourists and locals, and may attract many visitors.
However, they are recommended for those who want to enjoy Japanese sweets and tea in a quiet and tranquil setting.
Stylish cafes
Umekoji Cafe BOSSCHE
Located in Umekoji Park in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, this cafe opened in 2016 and is popular for its pancakes made with Kyoto tofu.
Umekoji Cafe BOSSCHE’s pancakes are made with tofu from Kyoto’s tofu shop, Grandma Tofu Co.
The tofu is fluffy, smooth, and sweet. The pancakes are served with butter, maple syrup, and fruit.
Umekoji Cuff
