“Wa no Cha” is an excellent tea stall and shop established by ITO EN in Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi department store. The name of “Wa no Cha” means “Tea of Harmony”. As the name implied, tea, service, appearance, setting, hospitality, everything is harmonized in the room.

Especially I prefer the exhibition of specialty teas all around Japan.

The exhibition of specialty teas for sale from various tea estates all over Japan.

Speaking of ITO EN, only an elaborate series of “Oi Ocha” R.T.D. comes to my mind . Such my stereotype was broken!! ITO EN corrects various specialty teas from all around Japan and lines those teas with exhibiting their appearance.

Sencha green tea of ‘Tsuyuhikari’ cultivar produced in Tenryu Tea Estate in Shizuoka prefecture. What a beautiful appearance of the loose leaf tea with luster!

We can enjoy looking the appearance of loose leaf tea and also smelling the aroma. Loving specialty teas as I do, this kind of service is the best hospitality for tea fanciers.

The kinds of teas exhibited in the space are changed constantly to let visitors enjoy  diversity of Japanese tea more.

Some of them are served for tasting. When I visited, ice-brewed teas of Koganemidori cultivar and cold infusion of Japnese oolong teas were served.

Ice brewing of ‘Koganemidori’ Sencha is demonstrated in front of the tea stall. As implied in the part of name “Kogane”, the color of infusion is golden yellow. The taste is mild and clean with less astringency.

Cold infusion of Japanese oolong teas. The shop brews two kinds; “Ruri” and “Unjo Hisui”. Both of them are so aromatic!

The appearance and infusion color of Japanese oolong tea named as “Ruri”, which means “lapis lazuli” literary.

The appearance and infusion color of roasted green tea of ‘Koganemidori’.

The inner tea room, there are 4 seats for enjoying the specialty teas.
The specialty teas on menu also changes according to the weekly lines of teas in the shop. In addition, there is a daily cuppa. When I visited, it was a cup of Japanese purple tea of ‘Sun Rouge’, cultivar, which change its liquor color with pH of infusion. For example, some dews of lemon juice can change its color from pale purple green to brilliant crimson as shown in the menu.

A skillful tea waiter brews a cup of tea ordered. He adjust the amount, and temperature of water perfect to each tea.

 set of the excellent Sencha green tea of ‘Tsuyuhikari’ cultivar and a piece of cake roll of Hoji-cha roasted tea. The green tea of ‘Tsuyuhikari’ cultivar is produced in Ryogochi tea estate in Shimizu ward in Shizuoka city.

After finishing the dishes, the waiter made an “Ohitashi” of tea leaves after brewing remaining in the Kyusu tea pot. Surprisingly it was delicious and suited for soy sauce. Less astringent and somehow crunchy.

Besides, the Sencha green tea of ‘Koganemidori’ cultivar was served in the special manner of cold brewing so-called “Susuri-cha”.

The special style can provide more umami!!
The tea farmer produced the tea was introduced in the movie.

The ‘Koganemidori’ green tea is produced by Mr. Sato in Morokozawa area located along the upper stream of Abe River.
The small black dish of unique shape is made by the tea farmer Mr. Sato only for the “Susuri-cha” style tea serving.
Specialty tea, special manner and diverse styles of tea brewing, sophisticated service of staff, everything was harmonized and absolutely delighted me.

< Shop information >

• Venue : 1st Basement floor of Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main building.
• Address : 1-4-1, Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo ward, Tokyo.
• Access : 5 minutes’ walk from Mitsukoshimae station on Ginza Subway Line.
• Hours : 10:30 – 19:30
• URL : http://itoen.co.jp/shopping/store/detail.php?id=231 (written in only Japanese)