Uji (Kyoto) is the matcha green tea capital of the world, and having lived here for a year now, these are my top 5 matcha ice cream spots!
While Uji is indeed the matcha green tea capital of the world, you’ll find amazing green tea treats with high-level quality just about anywhere across Kyoto prefecture.
These 5 locations in Kyoto represent the places where I had my most memorable matcha green tea ice cream experiences which I simply had to share with the rest of the world!
5. Ninenzaka
First up on the list is a humble little shop on the famous Ninenzaka street which I highly recommend for beginners entering the world of matcha green tea.
The reason for that is, unlike other ice cream shops, this one simply does standard vanilla ice cream with a helping of matcha green tea powder topping that gives newcomers a gentle introduction to this traditional Japanese delicacy.
4. Arashiyama
For those who are proper fans of matcha green tea, you’d enjoy this more bitter ice cream cone sold at one of the stores in Arashiyama just outside the iconic bamboo forest.
Unlike the previous contender, this one uses actual green tea ice cream and is topped with an even more generous helping of matcha powder, giving it a more bitter taste that is not for the faint-hearted.
3. Byodoin Omotesando
Finally, we enter the land of Uji, known as the matcha green tea capital of the world because of the ideal farming conditions for producing green tea leaves throughout the region.
This ice cream sandwich was purchased from a vending machine at Byodoin Omotesando for 500 yen (3.35 USD), a famous street in Uji known globally as the “green tea village” for its abundance of matcha green tea shops, cafés, and restaurants.
It offers a deeper, richer flavor of green tea surpassing the previous items on this list, but you may want to wait a few minutes to melt a bit because it comes out frozen solid!
2. Uji Bridge
Naturally, you can’t rely on a vending machine to deliver the freshest-tasting ice cream, so be sure to try one of the many matcha green tea ice cream parlors around the Uji area for the real experience.
For 500 yen (just like the vending machine), you can get your hands on this amazing matcha green tea soft serve at the shop closest to the Starbucks near Byodoin Temple in Uji. Just be ready to queue up for a few minutes because it is popular.
In many ways, I found this one to be similar to the Arashiyama version, but I’ve given it a higher spot on the list because of that premium status and unbeatable richness of ingredients native to the matcha capital of Uji!
1. Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)
Don’t worry, I’m not completely biased toward Uji, despite its status symbol as the home of all things green tea.
In fact, you’d be surprised that my number one spot for the best matcha green tea ice cream goes to the shop at the entrance of Kyoto’s iconic Golden Pavilion, otherwise known as Kinkaku-ji by the Japanese.
Paying 700 yen (4.70 USD) may seem a little much for an ice cream cone, but I can say with utmost confidence that I would spend that money again and again for another bite of this incredibly high-quality dessert.
The ice cream, matcha powder, and wafer cone were all the highest quality, and to be quite frank, the highest quantity as well (compared to the rest of this list anyway).
The taste was rich, the texture was creamy and smooth, the temperature was ice-cold yet fluid not frozen, and there were even these fancy and luxurious bits of edible gold sprinkled on top of the ice cream for a majestic touch!
From my understanding, you’ll find shops selling this premium matcha ice cream in several locations across Kyoto, but admittedly, the shop at Golden Pavilion is the only one I’ve come across so far.
Start Your Own Journey!
So there you have it! My top 5 favorite spots for delicious matcha ice cream thus far after a year of living in Japan!
Wherever you are in Kyoto, it should be your mission to journey across the lands in search of the best matcha green tea ice cream shop (or vending machine) that best fits those taste buds of yours!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!