Kosoan — Restaurant in Tokyo

Writing this long review to save some of you time. I was so excited to go here but it's honestly overhyped with how crowded it gets would not go back. If you're going to Kyoto then no need to go here, there's many less expensive places that look exactly the same with no line and are way more relaxing. If you're in Tokyo and want a traditional place and there's no line, then yes go it's a beautiful place but there's no music all you hear is loud people talking so it's not peaceful relaxing or zen at all, which I assume is why you would want to be at a traditional Japanese cafe. It was so loud and annoying with people talking couldn't wait to get out of there. Matcha is 1000 yen that tastes like chalk. I love traditional matcha but this was not good, save your money. The anmitsu was fine but basic. The garden was very beautiful but ruined by the massive line of people waiting in the garden. I could see people frustrated that they wanted to take a picture of their food with the garden but the line of people ruined it. The nice environment was ruined by the noise of chatter with no Japanese music and line. Go on a weekday when it opens and you'll have the best...

A Serene Tea Break at Kosoan, Jiyugaoka

Just a few steps from Jiyugaoka Station, we found ourselves transported to a completely different world. My wife led the way, saying, “Just follow me—you’re going to like this.” She wasn’t wrong.

Kosoan (古桑庵) is a 90-year-old traditional Japanese home that has been lovingly preserved and transformed into a peaceful teahouse. Hidden down a quiet lane, it’s the kind of place you wouldn’t stumble upon unless you were looking for it. The entrance itself feels like stepping through a time portal.

We were lucky to get a window seat overlooking the Zen garden. With warm sunlight filtering in and the quiet rustle of leaves outside, the atmosphere was both calming and grounding. It’s hard to describe just how soothing it was to sip on matcha and enjoy traditional sweets while surrounded by such timeless beauty.

This isn’t your average Tokyo café. Kosoan offers something deeper—a reminder of old Tokyo, still thriving quietly amid the bustle of modern Jiyugaoka. Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or simply looking for a quiet moment to recharge, this spot is absolutely worth visiting. A hidden gem that leaves a...

Located in a traditional, japanese house, Kosoan brings you back to different times, where life was slower and you could enjoy time with your friends, sipping tea without pressure... or it's what I'd like to say. Actually every time I go there there's always so many people queueing outside the cafe that it's physically impossible to enjoy your food and drinks properly as you know that you have to leave the place asap to let other people in.

It would be very nice if there were less people honestly :(

Food wise everything is very delicious, as you can see from the pic me and my friends ordered quite some stuff and I can personally say that the Matcha Float is quite good, even if the ice cream melts extremely slowly so it's a bit hard to mix it with the drink. That said, they will give you a small traditional Japanese snack together with the drink you order, which is very thoughtful of them.

Overall it's a nice place but I would reccomend to visit during week days, maybe it's...