Marukyu-Koyamaen Nishinotoin Tea Shop & Tea House Motoan 2024

In November 2024, I made a return visit to Marukyu-Koyamaen's MOTOAN tea house and tea shop on Nishinotoin-dori in Kyoto.  This was something I had looked forward to since the previous visit that I wrote about in 2015.

I spent the early morning visiting nearby Nijojo Castle and arrived shortly after the tea house opened.  It was quite peaceful and I enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the garden.

My tea was CHOAN matcha usucha (thin tea) with a chestnut-filled wagashi (tea sweet).  The tea service was formal, as was the tea bowl, and the complimentary water served in cut glass was refilled regularly.  

The tea shop at the front was bustling by 11am with a line forming out the door.  Due to the worldwide popularity of matcha, many varieties were out of stock and the tea shop had to limit most matcha purchases to one tin per customer.  However, they did permit a second tin if it was one of their seasonal releases like their autumnal Tsubokiri matcha.

Address: 

〒604-8277京都府京都市中京区西洞院通御池下ル西側

〒604-8277 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Sanbonishitoincho, ５６１ 西側

Hours:
Nishinotoin Tea Shop: Thursday-Tuesday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Closed Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesdays

MOTOAN Tea House: Thursday-Tuesday 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Closed Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesdays