Irresistible authentic Japanese flavors – the cakes are springy, and the matcha has a rich bitterness that’s simply enticing.

Photos & Text /Right-Up at a 45-Degree Angle

Taiwanese people’s love for Japanese cuisine is well-known, and matcha dessert shops are popping up everywhere. My friend Little G, who’s in the top-right corner of the photo, couldn’t stop raving about the cake rolls from this shop. Without delay, the next day I headed over to see how these matcha desserts, made with the original flavor of 100-year-old Uji tea brand Marukyu Koyamaen’s matcha, managed to win over my friend’s heart (and mine after the meal).


Walk straight out of Exit 5 of Taipei Metro’s Taipower Building Station, and you’ll see this quaint teahouse with a courtyard in just two minutes. The shop’s matcha-green curtain hints at the traditional Japanese vibe inside.




Lifting the curtain, a red umbrella stands in the garden, adding a splash of Japanese flair.


The stone lantern beside the steps even stirred up some nostalgic (??) feelings in me – I really want to go back to Japan~...


The shop entrance displays a dense list of dining guidelines. Key points to note: weekday minimum spend is NT$300 + 10%; weekend minimum spend is NT$450 + 10%; weekday dining time limit is 1.5 hours; weekend is 2 hours. This is a bit unusual—usually weekend limits are shorter, but Kyoto Tea House goes against the norm. Moreover, based on my experience, they didn’t ask me to leave when time was up.


The shop displays four signature dessert photos, each mouthwatering and showcasing the allure of dessert photography...


The interior space is larger than I expected. The most eye-catching item on the wall is a giant matcha wooden box.


I love this wood-toned decor—it’s not overly cute or girly, but simple and bright. Aside from the central open seating area, the left-side private room has tatami flooring, requiring you to take off your shoes to enter; if you’re not wearing socks, the shop kindly provides free ones.


Alongside the kitchen is a long wooden table and matcha utensils—if you’re looking to buy matcha powder, the owner can probably give you a detailed explanation.




They’ve brought back original sencha tea bags and leaves from famous temples in Kyoto.
 



There’s also a full set of matcha tea ware for purchase. The little paper cranes folded from washi paper nearby are so cute—I wonder if they can be given as gifts too (lol).


The decorations include ema (votive plaques) bought from famous temples in Kyoto, which is pretty fun.


You can also buy Marukyu Koyamaen’s matcha directly to brew at home.




For those looking to buy gift sets, the pre-packaged tea boxes are perfect for gifting. The pricing is also interesting—they use Japan’s 5% consumption tax style, but since Japan’s tax rate is now 8%, hopefully they don’t raise prices accordingly (lol).


The cake display case doesn’t hold cakes, but boxes of matcha powder and tea leaves. The wall displays photos of ice cream cones for takeout customers to choose from.


The super matcha-flavored ice cream makes me want to scoop out a big spoonful and enjoy it right away.


In the semi-open kitchen, the chef is busy making the tempting matcha roll cakes. It turns out the whole roll is quite long when baked, but it’s cut in half for sale.


Another section displays more tea bowls, cups, and trays—all available for purchase.




This set is particularly beautiful, blending Chinese and Japanese styles.


This set has a very traditional Japanese feel. But the cups have wavy edges, sneakily mixing in a bit of Western flair.


I came today, but all outdoor seats were fully booked, so I was seated in a tatami private room. The kettle here probably serves only decorative purposes.


The small card on the table explains the shop’s origins and dining rules.


I especially love the view here—simple and elegant.




Please refer to the menu. Both desserts and drinks can be ordered individually, but there are also many pre-set tea + dessert combo options, divided into weekday and weekend sets. The prices are set just right to meet the minimum spend requirements.

Even the water cup is so full of Japanese charm—I love it...


Today I ordered the weekend combo: two cake rolls + sencha tea, and a parfait + matcha latte.


The first steeping of sencha was prepared with assistance from the staff.


The reason we ordered the parfait was actually for the matcha ice cream (laughs). The white bean paste might have been slightly affected by the coldness of the ice cream — though it had a nice chew, if you waited too long to eat it, it would get a bit hard. The cookies, on the other hand, were very crispy and fragrant.


The matcha ice cream was rich and bitter, while the red beans were cooked perfectly — tender yet melting in the mouth. They were sweetened to just the right level to suit Taiwanese tastes, not overly saccharine like Japanese-style red beans. The strawberry pieces were firm and slightly tart, complementing the sweet ice cream and red beans just right. In the end, the matcha agar mixed with whipped cream was absolutely indulgent, but I couldn’t help scooping it up despite the calories~


It seems to be the Marukyu Koyamaen matcha cream roll that came with the cake roll set. The cookie crust was extremely, incredibly crispy — as soon as you bit into it, it shattered with a crisp crackle. The matcha filling wasn’t particularly memorable in comparison.


From this angle, it’s even more obvious — the super thin layers of matcha roll crust create that satisfying crackly texture.


The cake roll in the front is matcha-flavored, filled with both matcha whipped cream and regular whipped cream. The bitter-sweet aroma of matcha is very distinct, and the cake itself has a nice chewy, bouncy texture. Look at the amount of whipped cream in the filling — so generous!


In the top right, she prefers the genmaicha roll over the matcha one. The rice aroma of the genmai is very distinctive, and it’s not a flavor you often find in cakes around town.


The sencha aroma is also quite excellent — it can probably be steeped four or five times and still taste good.


This time when I came to dine with friends, some thought the price was a bit high. But from my perspective, considering it uses high-quality ingredients and real matcha powder from a century-old shop, I find the pricing acceptable. Plus, Japanese tea houses are around the same price range, so it didn’t feel too bad (laughs).


【Heiankyo Tea Ceremony】

Address:No. 165, Shida Road, Taipei City (Exit 5 of Taipei Arena MRT Station, walk straight for 2 minutes and it’s on the left)
Phone:02-2368-2277
Business Hours:12:30–21:30 (Closed on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month)

A Japanese-flavor food diary from a girl at a 45-degree angle
Just loves going to Japan
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