Hi there!

 

So if you want to visit a teahouse in Kyoto and try out some matcha green tea when you’re in Japan, you can do so with a visit to the Nijo Castle!

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Backpacking Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

You’ll be able to make your own matcha tea straight from matcha powder.

You’ll want to highly consider a trip to Nijo Castle when you’re in Kyoto anyway, as this is one of the top UNESCO world heritage sites in Kyoto.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Moat near teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan





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So, with a visit to Nijo Castle, you can also conveniently tick off the checkbox of making your own matcha too!

 

For more convenient tea experiences, try the Ginkakuji tea room if you’ll be visiting the Ginkakuji Temple, or try theΒ Okochi Sanso teahouseΒ if you’ll be visiting the Arashiyama bamboo forest. You can get matcha green tea at both places.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Drinking matcha green tea at teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

 

Japanese language tip: CASTLE

You might also hear Nijo Castle being referred to as Nijo-jo Castle, or just Nijo-jo.

The attached jo means castle.

But you wouldn’t use jo on its own to talk about a castle in general. This is used when attached to the name of a castle.

On its own, you would call a castle shiro or oshiro.

 

 

The Nijo Castle teahouse as part of a one day Kyoto itinerary

I made a visit to the Nijo Castle teahouse with an unlimited one day Kyoto bus pass:

 

 

Now…

On the Nijo Castle grounds

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

 

Walking towards the teahouse

So after you’ve entered the Nijo Castle grounds and made it past the Kara-mon Gate…

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Kara-mon Gate. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

…and past the Ninomaru-goten Palace…

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Ninomaru-goten Palace. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

…and past the Ninomaru Garden…

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Ninomaru-goten Garden. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

You’ll start to come close to the teahouse!

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Sign to teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan



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You’ll likely see signs and you can make your way over as you walk along the castle moat.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Moat near teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Walking path along moat near teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

 

So you’ve made it to the Waraku-an teahouse!

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Teahouse entry. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Teahouse entry. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

Now you can be seated and order your matcha!

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Food and drink at teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Making matcha with matcha powder. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Mixing matcha with whisk. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Matcha powder mixed. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

 

How do you make matcha?!

It’ll come with instructions so you can give it a go.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Instructions for making matcha green tea. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

Or you can go for regular green tea too.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Instructions for making green tea. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

Good luck, and happy drinking matcha as you sit back and relax!

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Garden near teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

 

How much does the matcha cost at the teahouse?

So this matcha cost 600 yen (US$5). (Green tea is the same price.)

You also have the option of ordering the matcha as a set that comes with small snacks for 1,200 yen (US$11).

 

 

Teahouse menu

The Nijo Castle teahouse can also just be a good place to rest a bit after walking around the castle grounds.

There’s a little bit of a variety to choose from if you want more than just tea.

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Teahouse food menu. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

Nijo Castle Teahouse, Kyoto. Walking path near teahouse. Backpacking Kyoto Japan

 

HAPPY NIJO CASTLE TEAHOUSE VISIT!

 

See more of the top tourist spots to visit with one day Kyoto bus pass!

 

 

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