Matcha Latte – who would have thought that Matcha would be the thing that the latest generation is obsessing over Tiktok. It’s hard to imagine that a drink revered in Japan for over 500 years—once central to Zen Buddhist rituals and the meticulous choreography of the tea ceremony—has been reduced to a trending hashtag. And yet, here we are.

Some time in 2024 (or maybe earlier, who knows with these kids these days), the collective Western world went from merely liking Matcha to absolutely obsessing over it. “MatchaTok” has birthed a frenzy for this aesthetic and healthy jade green drink resulting in Matcha producers being sold out (despite purchase limits) and reselling for sometimes 500% of the original price. Suddenly, everyone’s a matcha expert—armed with a whisk from Temu and a vague understanding that “it’s healthier than coffee.”

All this commotion bemused this decades long casual Matcha drinker. Matcha was always popular, why has everyone just now jumped on the bandwagon? I have never seen such a large, already popular thing turn suddenly viral like this. Unlike the Cronut, Matcha is not a newly discovered thing. In fact, Matcha Lattes were already a thing back in 2015 when Gwyneth Paltrow posted about it.

But if you can’t beat them, join them. So rather than doom-scrolling on TikTok, this article goes to the land of Matcha and explores the places in Tokyo where the Matcha Latte transcends its status as an Instagrammable moment, delivering an authentic experience of flavour and craftsmanship – unfiltered by algorithms and free of alt-milk fads (though most do offer this option if you ask).

And for those who didn’t know it was going viral and/or wasn’t planning on trying Matcha – while the coffee scene is absolutely excellent in Japan, why not try an excellent version of a caffeinated drink that you can’t get back home?

Here are some of the best Matcha to take that first step…or for you to post on Tiktok.

Table of Contents

The Best Matcha Latte in Tokyo

Matsubaya Saryo (松葉屋茶寮) – The Vibe Matcha

Ippuku & Matcha (イップクアンドマッチャ)- The Single Origin Matcha

Wasachi (ワサチ) – The Intimate Matcha

Hachiya (八屋) – The Loose Leaf Matcha

THE MATCHA TOKYO – The Convenience/Starbucks Matcha

Atelier Matcha (アトリエマッチャ) – The Branded Matcha

Satén Japanese Tea – The Coffee Drinkers’ Matcha

Hatoya Asakusa (八十八) – The Toppings Matcha

Matcha Stand Maruni (マッチャスタンドマルニ) – The Tsukiji Market Matcha

Wishlist

Conclusion

Go Beyond the TikTok Trend by Milling your own Uji Matcha and Experience an Authentic Tea Ceremony

Grind your own matcha tea leaves and discover the true beauty and craft behind social media’s favourite tea at the famous Nakamura Tokichi Honten.

Enjoy a tea ceremony alongside matcha soba and namacha jelly in idyllic Uji, the birthplace of matcha. It’s a matcha lover’s pilgrimage—an experience that goes far beyond the cup.

Book Authentic Matcha Milling Now

The Best Matcha Latte in Tokyo

Note the number of good Matcha Lattes I have will continually grow. To keep this guide reasonable in length, only noteworthy ones will get a write up. To follow the latest on my Matcha Latte journey, please follow my Instagram.

Matsubaya Saryo (松葉屋茶寮) – The Vibe Matcha Latte.

Matsubaya Saryo is the Vibe Matcha because simply…impeccable vibes. Opened in 2023, Matsubaya Saryo is a bonsai tea house where you can enjoy your Matcha Latte in a tranquil atmosphere while soaking in beautifully arranged bonsai trees that are changed weekly.

Their Matcha is made from organic tea leaves from Kyoto and you can pair your tea with wagashi (Japanese sweets) such as yokan, made from red bean paste, which balances the bitterness of your Matcha perfectly. Another favorite is the dorayaki, a pancake filled with sweet red bean paste.

The adjoining Hakobune Gallery offers workshops, exhibits and sales of bonsai, contemporary art, ceramics and furniture

Matsubaya Saryo (松葉屋茶寮)

Address – 1F, 5−4−27 Minamiaoyama , Minato City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Umami Balanced

Also Known For – Wagashi, Bonsai

Ippuku & Matcha (イップクアンドマッチャ) – The Single Origin Matcha

Ippuku & Matcha is known as the Single Origin Matcha because they are one of the only Matcha stores that offer handpicked single-origin Uji matcha which is used through their wide range of Matcha-infused drinks (latte, beers) and Matcha desserts (puddings, tarts, parfaits).

Their Matcha is shaded using the tradition reed and straw method which results in sweet and less astringent Matcha due to the nutrients from the straw running into the tea trees and the cooler temperature of straw shaded tea fields. compared to the cheaper black mesh shaded tea fields.

If you’re looking for a more immersive and indulgent experience, make a reservation for their intimate four seat tea room. Here you’ll be able to have a Matcha flight to try all the different single-origin Matchas as well as Matcha courses paired with Matcha sweets.

Ippuku & Matcha (イップクアンドマッチャ)

Address – 2-1-1, Nihombashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Sweet Balanced

Also Known For – Tea course experience

Wasachi (ワサチ) – The Intimate Matcha Latte

Wasachi is the Intimate Matcha because it is one of the most intimate Matcha stores in Tokyo, where customers come for the serene tranquil of the store and warmth of the owner as much as the Matcha itself.

They use ceremonial grade organic Matcha from their partner farm in Uji and each drink is thoroughly hand-whisked with a chasen on order. These are both normally reserved for tea ceremonies or the end of an expensive Kaiseki courss, so the fact that they go into this level of detail for their Matcha Lattes is why Wasachi is deserving of a spot as one of the best Matcha Lattes in Tokyo.

Wasachi is a favourite of Daniel Calvert from Sezanne.

Wasachi (ワサチ)

Address – 7-11-9 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Balanced

Also Known For – Matcha Cookies

Hachiya (八屋) – The Loose Leaf Matcha

Hachiya is the Loose Leaf Matcha because on top of excellent Matcha, they also offer a wide range of Japanese loose leaf teas such is Sencha and Hojicha. However, it doesn’t stop there – they also have a full modern tea menu that features some creative inventions such as Yuzu Sencha, Green Tea Fruits Soda, and Sparkling Cold Tea, where carbonated gas is added to cold tea.

The tea leaves at the Hachiya are carefully selected from farms. such as the century-old Kaneju Farm in Shizuoka and Tea Farm Inokura in Nara.

Their devotion to tea doesn’t stop there. It extends to the tsuiki (hand-hammered) copperware teapots designed to bring out the natural sweetness of the tea leaves and Kaikado tea caddies to store the tea, the first workshop in Japan to produce handmade tea caddies and one of the most premium tea storage brands in the world.

For snacks, beyond the usual sweet menu, they also offer handmade onigiri made fresh each morning.

Hachiya (八屋) – The Loose Leaf Matcha

Address – 3-2-10 Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Sweet

Also Known For – Houjicha Latte, Sencha creations, Onigiri

THE MATCHA TOKYO – The Convenience/Starbucks Matcha Latte

THE MATCHA TOKYO is the Starbucks Matcha because of its popularity, accessibility and multiple stores across Japan. They only use organic Matcha and were one of the first to kick off this “new wave” of Matcha Latte stores.

They also have a Matcha Coffee Latte where you can have both Matcha and Coffee for three colourful layers.

THE MATCHA TOKYO

Address – Several branches across Tokyo and Japan

Style – Umami

Also Known For – Matcha Coffee Latte

Atelier Matcha (アトリエマッチャ) – The Branded Matcha

Atelier Matcha is the Branded Matcha because it’s run by the famous tea brand Yamamasa Koyamaen that has been operating for 160 years. Yamamasa Koyamaen opened the café to make Matcha more accessible and casual, taking it beyond the traditional and formal tea ceremony. The Matcha is handpicked from the company’s own tea farm in Uji, Kyoto.

Regardless of whether you’ve heard of Yamamasa Koyamaen, chances are you’ve consumed their tea before as they are one of the biggest Matcha wholesale supplier to other shops, restaurants and hotels.

Atelier Matcha (アトリエマッチャ)

Address – 8-18-4 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Sweet

Also Known For – Matcha tins and an electric matcha whisk

Satén Japanese Tea – The Coffee Drinkers’ Matcha

Satén Japanese Tea is the Coffee Drinkers’ Matcha because not only do they make Matcha Lattes but they also make Matcha cappuccinos (with full latte art) and Macchiatos too. This is because ‘cha-rista’ (tea barista) Kazuhiro Koyama and former Blue Bottle Coffee barista Hibiki Fujioka joined forces to open Satén. So alongside your Matcha, you can also get your daily coffee fix as well (though I do recommend you just get two Matchas instead).

They also have one of the best snack games around, with their signature house-made Matcha pudding selling out early in the day, as well an excellent a range of excellent toasts such as anko red bean-butter toast and Matcha toast.

Satén sources from independent tea farms in Saitama and Nagasaki prefectures.

Satén Japanese Tea

Address – 3-25-9 Shoan, Suginami City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Sweet

Also Known For – Matcha Cappuccinos, Toasts

Hatoya Asakusa (八十八) – The Toppings Matcha Latte

Hatoya Asakusa is the Toppings Matcha because they offer several unique toppings to their Matcha Latte such as Matcha ice cream, Matcha cream and shiratama mochi.

Owner Nobuhiro Maruyama originally worked as a coffee barista for a decade but after encountering Gyokuro tea, he became fascinated by the world of Japanese tea. He trained at a Japanese tea company before opening the first Hatoya location in Arashiyama Kyoto in 2019. Since then he has opened a store in Tokyo and Kamakura.

Each drink is thoroughly hand-whisked with a chasen on order. To be frank, the quality of their Match is a standard below the rest in this article, but their interesting toppings make up for it if that style of drink interests you. They also offer a variety of matcha-based baked goods and unique sweets like half-baked Matcha and fresh Matcha terrine.

Hatoya Asakusa (八十八)

Address – 2-14-3 Hanakawado, Taito City, Tokyo Japan (map)

Style – Grassy Umami

Also Known For – Matcha Ice Cream, Houjicha

Matcha Stand Maruni (マッチャスタンドマルニ) – The Tsukiji Market Matcha

Matcha Stand Maruni is the Tsukiji Market Matcha you’ll likely stumble across it when you’re exploring Tsukiji Outer Market.

Owner Shingo Ito also runs a nori seaweed specialty shop and even gives lectures on Japanese seaweed. While Matcha and nori may appear quite different, the two are highly prized Japanese ingredients, provide deep umami and a moisture sensitive products that requires handling with care. As a result, it’s not uncommon for traditional seaweed stores to also sell tea, though few will have Matcha at this quality.

All of Matcha Stand Maruni’s tea is produced in Uji, Kyoto and each drink is thoroughly hand-whisked with a chasen on order. To be frank, the quality of their Matcha is a standard below the rest in this article, but almost every tourist ends up at Tsukiji Market at some point on their holidays, and there’s no better tea based drink in the market.

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