Nanaya Aoyama Store — Restaurant in Tokyo

Nanaya is one of the ice cream shops in Tokyo dishing out concentrated doses of matcha from level 1 to 7. Another store doing this is Suzukien in Asakusa, which I have yet to visit. Originally from Shizuoka Prefecture, which is known for producing green tea, they brought a store to Shibuya in Tokyo. They have a wide variety of ice cream flavours. As you can see, the several levels of matcha are their main selling point and displayed right at the front. But they also have other flavours like houjicha, strawberry, mango, and even matcha-lemon! All the matcha flavours are also available in small cup-sized packaging to take home and store for enjoying on another hot summers day. Or any day, really. For eating at the store, they provide a sleek black plastic cup which is thick enough that it seems like a waste for single-use. The pricing is also a bit strange as it seems like a single serving costs 400 yen (matcha level 7 costs more than other flavours), and a "double" is just two flavours in the same sized cup, but costs 650 yen. You'd think they give you two scoops based on how other ice cream shops work, but I guess not. Optionally, you could buy two single servings to get more ice cream for slightly more money. I got a double with matcha level 4 and 7. The former was decently strong in matcha flavour already, and the level 7 was a bit more bitter and rich in mellow tea flavour. But the levels don't go up as much as I'd hoped. Going along with this scale, I would've enjoyed something around the...

I went to Nanaya ice cream shops in Kyoto and Tokyo and honestly it's literally the best matcha ice cream you will get in Japan, not even exaggerating! In both cities the shops are a bit distant from the business and crowds of the city center, located in smaller more local streets, yet very easily accessible from the main roads and attractions. The shop isn't too busy too, depending on what time you come, but usually it will be 10-15 minutes maximum of waiting and the service is rapid. The matcha taste in the ice cream is beyong compare ; I tried levels 5,6, and 7 as well as the matcha sherbet and honestly 5:6 is the ideal level of rich, tasty yet not too bitter matcha of great quality. You can even purchase matcha powder and many other matcha as well as hojicha and other japanese teas flavored goods. The staff was nice but a bit hostile towards foreigners. You can sit outside and enjoy the calm street in the shade while enjoying a qualitative matcha ice cream for not much more expensive than an industrial green tea soft serve in the city...

If you're into matcha (or just curious), Nanaya Aoyama should definitely be on your list. They're known for offering 7 different grades of matcha ice cream, each with its own intensity. Whether you like a mild flavor or prefer something much bolder, there's something for everyone.

I went for Grade 7, which is their strongest. It’s seriously intense—rich, earthy, and with just the right amount of bitterness. The texture is super creamy, and the deep green color instantly tells you this is legit, high-quality matcha.

Aside from matcha, they also have hojicha ice cream, which has a roasted tea vibe that's really unique. Plus, their matcha chocolates are beautiful and make great gifts (or just something to treat yourself). If you're into tea, they've also got a selection of craft teas worth checking out.

Nanaya Aoyama isn’t just an ice cream shop—it's more like a mini paradise for tea lovers. If you're in Tokyo and want to dive deeper into the world of Japanese tea, this spot is totally...