Matcha Republic — Restaurant in Uji

I came to Uji on a pilgrimage. Not for temples. Not for history. But for matcha. Pure, green, frothy matcha glory. And like any good matcha hungry tourist, I was lured into Matcha Republic by its siren call of pastel aesthetics and social media clout. This café isn’t just a shop, it’s an influencer trap with whipped cream on top.

Picture it: a sleek little storefront glowing like a matcha beacon, everything inside looking like it was curated by the ghost of a minimalist graphic designer. Even the drinks come in those cute little ink-bottle containers that scream, “TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE I MELT.”

Naturally, I got the Sakura Matcha Latte because I was in Japan for sakura season and therefore contractually obligated to order anything with a cherry blossom in it. 🌸

Was it cute? Yes. Was it photogenic? 100%. Was it tasty? …eh.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad. It was a solid drink, slightly sweet with a whisper of floral, matcha doing its grassy thing in the background. But spectacular, mind-blowing, or life-changing? Let’s just say if this were a dating app match, I’d probably ghost after one polite coffee. It’s the kind of drink you sip and go, “Okay, that was nice,” and then immediately forget about as you sprint toward your real lunch.

⭐️ Vibe: 10/10 ⭐️ Aesthetic: 12/10 ⭐️ Actual matcha flavor: 5/10 ⭐️ Overall experience: 7.5/10 (because I felt cute and that's half the battle)

Would I come back? Maybe. Would I bring a friend just to take a cute pic with matching bottles? Absolutely. Would I write home about the drink itself? Probably not unless the letter included a Polaroid and a wink.

Final thought: Come for the 'Gram, stay for the vibe, and accept the matcha for what it is: a well-dressed background actor in your sakura season...

I visited this shop to try their iced matcha (without milk), but unfortunately, I found the matcha flavor quite weak. It felt more about the aesthetics—the pretty bottle, the packaging, and the bag—than the actual quality or taste of the drink.

I also tried the Cremia ice cream, which is vanilla-based and topped half with powdered hojicha and half with powdered matcha. Do note that all their ice creams are vanilla-based regardless of topping. That said, the ice cream itself was excellent—super creamy and rich, just like the ones I’ve enjoyed in Tokyo and Kyoto. The powdered toppings were a nice extra touch.

The store environment is lovely. I came in right when they opened, so it was quiet and pleasant. However, the day before, I dropped by in the late afternoon but decided not to buy anything due to the overwhelming crowd. I also saw a tourist mishandling a matcha powder container meant for customer use—he sniffed it without permission, which visibly upset the staff. That experience left a bit of a negative impression, but returning early the next day made for a much better...

Matcha Republic is our go-to spot for matcha. Even with how popular it’s gotten, the quality hasn’t changed at all. The matcha always tastes comforting and smooth. It’s really well balanced and never too bitter. The milk is mellow and doesn’t have that weird sour aftertaste you sometimes get.

I also love that you can choose your sugar level. It makes a big difference depending on your mood or how sweet you like your drinks. The shop itself is super small, so seating inside is pretty limited. But there’s a bench outside where you can sit and enjoy your drink in the sun, which honestly makes it even better on a nice day.

If you’re picky about your matcha or just want something that tastes reliably good, this place is definitely...