SaryoTsujiri Tea House, Kyoto

You can easily forget the conbini snacks whilst in Kyoto, known for its matcha and hojicha parfaits. For a real Kyoto dessert, do as the locals do and head straight to SaryoTsujiri, one of the best stops in Gion for matcha tea and desserts well-worth having at least once!

Sitting on the south side of the lively Shijo-dori, between Hanami-koji and Yamato-oji streets, this shop is so famous in Japan that everyone knows about it. The place combines a shop and a cafe, both named Tsujiri, which is actually written in different kanji characters, but the difference is only in the concept and they are both run by the same proprietor. Surrounded with many souvenir shops, SaryoTsujiri is a bit hidden but really hard to miss, given the long line of people, mostly Japanese girls and women, queuing up on top of the stairs of the store and half-way down the street, even on weekdays, in order to grab a seat inside. But the wait is all worth it, and they have more seating space than you may expect.

The first floor carries ice cream, tea samplers, and delicious sweets made of Japanese tea – ideal for souvenirs – in case you want to occupy yourself and pregame for desserts. On the second floor, you can sit and enjoy matcha tea-flavored parfaits or cakes with a large variety of toppings and fillings in a casual and homey atmosphere.

Some of the local delights include Tokusen Tsujiri and Green Tea Parfait with little Mochi balls inside along with Hojicha jelly topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream! From the whipped cream on top to the jelly to castellas (sponge cake), all these items use generous amounts of matcha. In summer (from April to September) you can enjoy Matcha Kakigori shaved ice. They also have other types of cold and warm desserts, so you can visit in any weather.

Tip:
The available English menu comes with pictures, so you can simply point and order.
If taken with ice cream, make sure to eat the Mochi balls quickly or they may freeze up next to the ice cream and get hard.
For ¥500+, you will get delicious Matcha flavors along with a condensed milk drizzle on top.
Alternatively, you may simply get an ice cream from the first floor and walk back to Kawabata Street to enjoy it by the river.