This is not a café. This is not a tourist shop. This is a working matcha factory and that distinction matters before you go. A 5-minute walk from the station and easy to find look for the small corner window shop that guides you in. The space is understated, almost deliberately so. You are here for the matcha, and the matcha is serious. Do your research before visiting. Factory tours are available but require a reservation at least 7 days in advance.  If you’re just coming to purchase, you can walk in but come early. The 40g tins sell out first, 20g tins last longer but also go fast.  Note the purchase limit: 5 cans per group or 2 cans per person. Demand has sharply exceeded production capacity, so stock is limited.  This is ceremonial-grade matcha sourced by serious tea practitioners treat it accordingly. The matcha and hojicha soft serve is also available on site but it wasn’t offered during our visit, so check ahead before making it part of your plan. If you love matcha, truly love it this is a pilgrimage worth making from Kyoto. Uji is the heartland of Japanese tea, and Marukyu Koyamaen is as close to the source as you can get. Go early. Know your limit. Buy the 40g tin before it sells out.

+3

Only waited for a bit and got there around 1pm on a Friday. Half of the matcha tin selections were sold out by then but I wasn’t super picky. You walk in and get a number, you can read the matcha menu while you’re waiting and the soft serve was yummy!

+2

We went there on a Monday afternoon, and there was no line and it wasn’t crowded at all, which was perfect—no queue number needed. We also tried their iced matcha drink, and it didn’t disappoint; it was exactly what I expected. The staff were so nice and approachable. I’ll definitely go back. Plus, the place was so serene.

Got there on a Tuesday at 8:55am and there was already a line forming. If you’re wondering about tickets, they only give you a number when you reach the front, so just join the queue. We got number 14 and waited about 30 minutes before it was our turn. The lady managing the line was kind and polite, and everything was well organized. You can’t buy 100g packs, only 20g or 40g. Luckily everything was still in stock, and we managed to grab the popular Isuzu and Wako. Can’t wait to try!

+3

They sell 20/40g cans here, two per person and matcha ice cream. We didn’t have to wait long arriving at around 9:30AM on a Monday, they go by a ticketing queue system with seats available for those waiting. They also do matcha lattes and hojicha lattes when it’s not peak hour, and there’s a delicious aroma of fresh matcha that surrounds the entire factory.