Toraya Karyo - Kyoto Ichijo — Restaurant in Kyoto

I recently visited Toraya Karyo, a unique tea house in Kyoto, and was thoroughly impressed.

The ambiance is a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements, creating an inviting and serene atmosphere. The service was nothing short of wonderful – attentive and warm, adding to the overall experience.The highlight, of course, was the desserts. Each sweet treat was a delight, both in taste and presentation, embodying the meticulous art of Japanese dessert-making.

Of particular note is their signature Yokan, a gelled sweet bean paste with refined and elegant sweetness, featuring unique flavors like Powdered Black Soybeans and White Miso exclusive to Kyoto. Their specialty Uji Matcha “Kyo no Shirabe” was another standout, offering refreshing flavors with a slight bitterness that perfectly complemented the sweetness of their Wagashi.

What truly sets Toraya Karyo apart, though, is its beautiful garden and the architectural elegance of the tea house, renovated by Hiroshi Naitô. The contemporary architecture, in perfect resonance with classic Japanese aesthetics, offers extraordinary serenity and a captivating view of the traditional garden.

This setting, alongside the delightful sweets and matcha, provides an immersive cultural experience.A solid 90 out of 100 for me – Toraya Karyo is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the finer aspects of Japanese tea...

Went to have Japanese sweets on Wednesday afternoon on Oct 4.

So glad this place take Suica! So convenient!

We chose outdoor seating facing the shrine. Although there was a good amount of people eating there, we were still able to enjoy the tranquility of the shrine and garden, thanks to the way the seats were placed.

I ordered hot matcha and anmitsu, and I enjoyed both so much! The matcha was gentle and not bitter, I really liked it! The anmitsu had lot of different types of jelly in it, and I enjoyed savoring the different taste and texture.

My friend got a seasonal wagashi, the kuriko mochi and she enjoyed it a lot as well.

Great Japanese sweets and tea place with amazing garden view!!

The staffs there were so hospitable and friendly, really liked the vibe there. So...

It was one of the best experiences I have had in Kyoto, maybe in Japan, of all my 8 trips here and also living here. The atmosphere was very refined and calm, and the garden was beautiful and calming to look at.

I had a asuki rice to start with, and it had both a neutral rice flavor but also hints of sweetness from the beans and a slight touch of saltines from the sesame seeds After that, I had a mild and good Yokan Shimmidori: Verdure (Matcha) and a really delicious sencha that had plenty of umami, and it came with water for 4 servings. Thirdly, I had an unsweeten iced matcha. It had a nice rich matcha flavor that lingered for a while afterward. I paid 4070 yen for this.

I highly...