Kon’nichiwa from the gorgeous Kyoto!!! I think this might be my new favourite Japanese city. Don’t get me wrong, Tokyo is vibrant, but Kyoto? the epitome of serenity and vibes! Like everywhere is designed for you to take your time, be present and enjoy delicious beverages and the best savoury snacks ever! After spending my birthday at the breath taking momijaya-ryokan, we have been out in these Kyoto streets discovering the wonder of tea houses, cafes, and everything in between.
On our first visit to Tokyo, my love for matcha deepened however, allow me to introduce you to hojicha! Hojicha is an aromatic fully roasted yanagi, essentially a brown tea that taste fabulous! I am obsessed.
There really is something therapeutic about how the Japanese, well, the whole of the Asian continent drink tea. It is as much a spiritual as it is physical act. I feel like the act of just preparing a cup of tea, the ceremonial connotations of it, is a mind shift where you just get to be calm, and in the moment. Ippodo tea house is the VIBE! From the dark wood décor, and counter tops, to how the tea options are presented, how to prepare your tea and the snacks provided
You are encouraged to take your time and savour the down time. Ugh! I love it! If you are getting coffee in Japan and is not hand dripped? You are doing it WRONG! At Inoda’s coffee, I had a drink called the ice milk float. Past experiences of having beverages in Japan, I should have known that what I think a drink is going to be, is literally not going to be that! This was sweet coffee bean with a dollop of rich vanilla ice cream🧐?
The French toast here? Thick and delish as is the sandwiches!
These cats get brekkie right! Nana’s green tea have the best matcha cake period! A variety of
beverages including massive sundaes and big tables for you to read a book or just sit and listen to the lofi play list! The Okaffe roast park has an open air deck where you can sit with blankets and enjoy your cuppa! I really liked it, the wooden décor and of course the beverages and snacks!
The cute tea pot and ginormous cake at goodman roaster!
Literally every place we visited had its own unique vibe, décor, location, just something to give you maximum ZEN! Plus, do not sleep on the café’s in the train stations either. The train stations in Japan, is where things be happening! From sushi, sake tasting, shopping, udon noodles, like it is myriad of restaurants and bars that are serving up some bad ass food and drinks. Case point Hoshino hand dripped coffee located at Kyoto station. Be prepared to be in line on a queue but the coffee and brekkie, don’t play! The egg here? Umami on 1000!
Boujee coffee (check), boujee tea (check), bougee china (check), bougee snacks (check)… Ugh I love it here! Now off to have some yakitori for dindins
kanpai
Ndidi