Not far from the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, this superb and tranquil tearoom is a great place to sample some traditional Kyoto sweets and excellent green tea.
Toraya teahouse in Kyoto – image © Chris Rowthorn
If you want to sample the world of traditional Japanese tea and sweets, this is an elegant and rarified place to do it. The sweets change with the season, and you can get your tea iced in summer. One summer set is shiratama kurogoma (sweet mocha balls with a sweet black sesame sauce), which goes great with the accompanying iced green tea. Just be warned, these sweets are nothing like the Western-style sweets you may be used to. A sense of adventure is needed here.
Toraya garden view – image © Chris Rowthorn
As you might guess, this is NOT the kind of place you can comfortably enter in shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts. You don’t need to dress formally, but you’ll feel more comfortable in pants and a clean shirt or top.
Toraya garden view – image © Chris Rowthorn
For more Kyoto Japanese Tea and sweet shop choices, see our Best Japanese Tea and Sweet Shops in Kyoto page.
English name
Toraya Karyo Kyoto Ichijo
Japanese name
虎屋菓寮 京都一条店
English address:
400 Hirohashidono-cho, Ichijo-dori Karasuma-nishiiru, Kamigyo-ku
Japanese address:
上京区一条通烏丸西入る広橋殿町400
Opening hours:
10am-6pm
Closed last Monday of the month
Price:
Cheap
Non-smoking area: Yes
Nearest Transport:
7-minute walk from Imadegawa Station Exit 6, Karasuma subway line
Telephone: 81-75-441-3113
Website:
Official Website (English)
Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Toraya Ichijoji on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Toraya Ichijoji is located in Central Kyoto. See our complete list of things to do in Central Kyoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Is This Place Located?
See these places on our Kyoto Google map:- Open the Kyoto map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
