Nakamura Tokichi Byodoin Store

Nakamura Tokichi’s Byodoin branch sits on the approach to the temple, where the scent of green tea mingles with traditional shops and the steady flow of visitors heading towards the pond. The Uji-founded company combines tea retail with a self-service café here. After viewing the Phoenix Hall, it offers a practical contrast to a long formal tea ceremony: matcha drinks and sweets in a quick-service format, although a queue can make the stop longer.

The café menu centres on Uji tea, including matcha parfaits and desserts as well as hot and cold drinks. The shop also sells tea leaves and branded products, making it a useful stop for edible souvenirs. The address, 5-1 Uji Renge, is about a ten-minute walk from JR Uji Station and five minutes from Keihan Uji Station; there is no parking at the branch.

Customer feedback often praises the strong matcha flavour, the presentation of the parfaits and the riverside setting. Popularity has a downside: visitors mention queues, waiting times and an ordering process that can feel unclear when the café is busy. Arriving early or outside the main lunch period may help. There is no need to rely on Byodoin’s own tea room for this stop; that café is inside the temple grounds and follows a separate closing schedule.

The tea shop and café list hours of 10:00 to 17:00, with café last orders at 16:30 and irregular closing days. From Byodoin’s entrance, walk back towards the main shopping street; from Keihan Uji, cross the bridge and continue towards Omotesando. After the temple, it is an easy pause before a riverside walk or the train, provided you allow extra time for a queue.