HIGASHIYA GINZA

We stopped in on a whim around noon. Waited about 5 minutes to be seated with no reservation. The staff was incredible! Helpful with our dietary restrictions and patient with us as we used our translator to help communicate. The tea presentation was lovely, and the sweets are the best thing I’ve had to eat so far during our trip. The tea comes with 1 free refill for each type that you order. Stop in. Don’t think twice.

HIGASHIYA in Ginza is a place where you truly feel harmony. Every detail is filled with a sense of aesthetics, from the interior to the presentation. The wagashi look like little works of art, capturing the seasons and the breath of nature. The atmosphere is calm, almost meditative, which makes it easy to savor every flavor. I loved how tradition and modernity blend here so naturally and subtly. It’s more than just a confectionery—it’s a unique experience that stays with you.

I tried their afternoon tea and found the overall experience enjoyable. The tea and pastries were well-prepared and delicious, though a few items were a bit unusual and might require an acquired taste

The decor was amazing and we were so impressed with the attention to detail for everything from service to design. The tea they offer were also great. We also love some of the dessert they offer. The food was not that special I. It’s say. However, it was a nice experience and we enjoyed it. Note that you are only allowed to take photos of the dishes on your table and not the atmosphere. Guess you will have to go see to enjoy it yourself. Highly recommend if you want to see some amazing decor.

A must visit for all who loves to experience tea time, in particular to those who loves green tea. Set aside at least 1.5 hours for optimum experience. Higashiya Ginza offers Japanese teas from bancha to matcha, confectioneries and some food. We ordered the traditional tea course and Saka. Both tea courses present various tea and confectioneries over five to six servings. Saka has a modern twist of teas and sweets while the tea course is more traditional as its name suggests. The staff were also very attentive to our needs and were patiently explaining the steps and menu to us in English. Presentation was immaculate - it was akin to fine dining. Each piece of confectionery has a distinct flavour which pairs well with the tea served. I was made known that Higayashi changes menu according to the season that they are in. A reservation is highly recommended if you wish to try their set menu.

Amazing! We wanted to find a true Japanese tea experience before our departure tomorrow. Fantastic choices of matcha (I'll add other pictures shortly), tasty small bites (the citrus and persimmon ones were my favrites). Service beyond anything we have been used to, extremely informative and detailed. Plus.. the reason why I'm posting pictures of the interior is that it's so incredibly beautiful. All those furniture pieces... jaw dropping. I'm normally not posting any bathroom pictures but also that private room... amazing. 10/10. A must go and must see.

Ladies and gents! Behold! This is my fave place for tea in Tokyo. Period. As I know many people are attract to other, more advertised on social media, places - none is as good as Higashiya. With Higashiya Ginza holding a special place in my heart. But first - the place itself: beautiful confectionary/tea shop and tea room designed by Shinichiro Ogata is worth bisiting if just to admire the simple yet charming interior. If you are looking for a wonderful tea experience, go to their website and reserve tea tasting or lunch. I fully recommend their meals, which include seasonal ingredients and at least 2 kinds of tea. Sake tasting menu is fantastic when you are new to japanese alcohol bewerages (each drink is paired with wagashi to enchance the taste). The tea is top quality and worth all the money. Various kinds of tea (and teaware) are available for the purchase in the shop. The wagashi (japanese sweets) available in Higashiya are one of the best in Tokyo - make sure to try them. As they are fresh made, most must be eaten on the same day or within 3-4 days - make sure to ask stuff when purchasing. And treat yourself, they are all high quality and delicious. A small visit in Higashiya Ginza is a wonderful idea wheather you are staying in Tokyo only few days or live here. The relaxing atmosphere of Higashiya will make you forget the business of Ginza outside and sink you into tranquilty of the lazy afternoon. Beautiful place to please all of your senses ❤️

A hidden gem among the bustling streets of Ginza. Higashiya Ginza is a meditative experience. I felt relaxed, welcomed, nurtured and energized through the sacred art of tea. The masterful execution is evident in the distinct flavor of matcha. It wasn't as bitter as the ceremonial quality I've tasted before. The matcha is grown in Kyoto and it was subtle, smooth and refreshing. The selection of sweets was divine, each bite of wagashi paired perfectly. Attentive staff were present and not rushed. It was an elegant experience that one can only appreciate in Japan. Sorry you hipster cities but execution in Japan is on another level, the service is unmatched. If you're in the Ginza area you definitely want to stop by. Reservations are encouraged but we were able to get a table as walk-ins. There's also a gift shop to purchase a selection of teas and sweets.

Amazing! We wanted to find a true Japanese tea experience before our departure tomorrow. Fantastic choices of matcha (I'll add other pictures shortly), tasty small bites (the citrus and persimmon ones were my favrites). Service beyond anything we have been used to, extremely informative and detailed. Plus.. the reason why I'm posting pictures of the interior is that it's so incredibly beautiful. All those furniture pieces... jaw dropping. I'm normally not posting any bathroom pictures but also that private room... amazing. 10/10. A must go and must see.

Tokyo, Ginza 1-Chome. November 2022. A long established tea company with cafe locations in Tokyo. You will be attracted to the wagashi but Higashiya is a tea business. This main store in the main street in Ginza has a full tea salon that also serves full meals with tea and wagashi. You can get a full on kaiseki styled meal with several teas and wagashi served as courses along with very good food. You can consider it as your main meal for the day. It is easier to opt for a lighter more shortened meal if you have additional meals planned. Their Ichiju-Sansai a set meal with two teas and a wagashi of your choice. Ichiju-Sansai means one main dish and three side dished. Rice (all you want) and miso soup in included. The main, sides, rice, and soup are the four elements of a traditional healthy meal. Service is well paced but keep in mind this is not going to be a quick meal. The service of tea is designed to allow you to calmly reflect on things and leave behind the urgency in your daily life. Take the time to appreciate the entirety of your meal. Without any doubt, this tea sabo offers the best and most refined tea and food service you will find in Ginza.

What an amazing experience we had at the place! Great ambiance, great service and attention to detail. Highly recommend!

Came here with high hopes expectations and was very let down. Nothing was good. It was also very expensive. Considerable regrets. I regret coming here.

Note: the shop may be a little difficult to find if you just use Google Maps or Apple Maps. The shop is inside the POLA building on the second floor (the shops are listed on a board just outside the elevators). A relatively affordable place to get traditional Japanese confectionaries. I paid a little more than 2000 yen and got the box of 1-day sweets (which seem to rotate on a regular basis), and one box of wafers with seasonal flavors of some kind of paste (I can't remember the name). The items take sweet, salty, and sour elements to mix the natural flavors of different ingredients rather than refined or artificial flavorings. If you're a first-timer to Japanese sweets, the neri yokan (one of my personal favorites) and seasonal items that use red bean paste, rice flour, and bean flour are good choices. Note: neri yokan, which looks like a block of jelly, is vegetarian since it's made from agar agar rather than animal gelatin. Fair warning: Japanese wagashi are *not* especially sweet the way Western cakes and pastries are, but have a subtle sweetness that is best enjoyed with Japanese teas. If you have a sweet tooth and prefer more Western style sweets, you may prefer a sweet shop like Theobroma instead.

I love English high tea and wanted to try a Japanese version of High Tea. Higashiya in Ginza is tucked away on the 2nd floor of the POLA building, which can be hard to find if you are unfamiliar with the area. The tea service is the Japanese version of English High Tea with a twist. There is a wide variety of hot and cold green tea to select from, as well as, an array of japanese food. Depending on your selection of tea service you can enjoy a meal with your tea or a selection of finger foods. Either selection is eye catching and delicious. Reservations is highly recommended as you also need to book your time limit, 60 min or the max 90 min. There is no dress requirements but being in Ginza, I would recommend a nice casual wear. ***This is not a traditional tea service, by this I mean that if you are looking to be seated on a tatami mat and served matcha tea in a clay tea bowl then you will not find that here. This is an upscale tea restaurant. ***I was politely asked not take pictures when I pointed my iPhone at the seating area as I entered. The staff explained that I could photograph the food in front of me but not other people or any other areas of the restaurant.

Wonderful tea room tucked away on the second floor of the Pola building. Innovative wagashi and seasonal teas. Perfect for taking a break from shopping in Ginza. Try the afternoon tea set if you can: it mixes salted snacks and sweets on a beautiful little double tray.

I found this place on a website somewhere in the internets. I can't remember which, but I DO remember that it broke each part of Tokyo down by ward (Roppongi, Ginza, Nihonbashi, etc), and gave you 101 things to do in each. They described this as a wonderful place to get authentic Japanese afternoon tea, however do note that they stop the afternoon tea at 5:00pm (17:00) and you can only get a wagashi paired with a beautiful and simple tea blend of their own making. Both the wagashi and the tea we ordered (different kinds) were fantastic. The staff were incredibly responsive and helpful - although keep in mind we're talking about Japan, where this is considered normal and not out of the ordinary. They refilled the water in your pot twice, to give you three distinct flavors of the tea blend you chose. I chose one with Chrysanthemums, because they remind me of both a childhood book and a childhood friend I had who is very kind. I highly recommend coming here and experiencing their afternoon tea. Although I wasn't able to, I did purchase Blend No. 5 (their most popular) to bring home as a gift - it's not inexpensive (I mean, name a restaurant in Tokyo that is, for real), but it is a real treat you should give yourself at least once.

Beautiful and restful place. Not an expert on Japanese teas or sweets, but they seemed high quality, and quite reasonably priced for the experience. There is a gallery upstairs worth checking, and remember, the place itself is on the second floor of the Pola building and not visible from the street. While there a Japanese man had chosen to entertain his foreign guests - which seemed like a good sign.