KANEKOEN

The Green Tea Specialists of Koenji Junjo

Kanekoen is an old tea shop that deals in traditional Japanese green tea right near the entrance of Koenji Junjo Shopping Street (you can see the arch on the north side of Koenji Station). There are 35 branches around Tokyo and Kanagawa, and the one in Koenji is the main store. The shop manager helps you find your favorite tea, and offers many samples. He is very knowledgeable about tea, and says that mildly hot water makes the best green tea. He also says that tea tastes the best when the tea is deep green in color and tastes bitter and mildly sweet. The secret of the deliciousness is the amino acid in the tea leaves– the more amino acid they have the better the tea is. Additionally green tea is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that have overwhelming health benefits, including fighting cancer, helping your heart and improving brain function.

Their recommended tea is Makinohara Tea grown in Shizuoka (2 packs of 100 grams for 1,600 yen). This one is quite popular and sells out every week, so hopefully it will be available when you go! For a gift, the most well-selling product is a choice of three packs (100 grams each, 3,402 yen) and you can have them pack it nicely for a gift.

ACCESS

[updated December 2018]