Yakumo Saryō

Finally made the trip from central Tokyo. Beautiful setting, tucked away from the bustle of Tokyo. Staff seemed distracted (upon arrival, during service, and upon paying the bill). Breakfast and tea were tasty and portions felt appropriate. Unfortunately no one seemed passionate about their job and the element of omotenashi I’ve grown to love and anticipate was definitely missing. I’d return with a friend for a different meal service and season, but perhaps not again solo given this experience and the effort made on a rainy morning to arrive there.

Situated in southwest Tokyo, between Meguro and Setagaya, away from the tourist trails, this is a place that exudes Zen everywhere and in everything, perfect for enjoying a slow and traditional Japanese breakfast and tea or matcha service. The food and Japanese sweets (wagashi) are refined and the service very elegant and traditional.

Never had tea like this tea. A beautiful compound, mid century but classic, felt timeless. We sat alone at a kind of bar for lunch (for most of the time we had the room to ourselves). The first green tea — gyokuro — was pure umami. Served through four steeepings. First two in a thimbleful. Intense, but not in the usual way one would think of intense tea - light but almost electric on the tongue with a very long finish. Third time a cherry leaf was added, last time iced, stirred, like a cocktail, neat. Food also great, moist morsel of saury, rice balls with sea bream, some very nice sake, the wagashi, but this tea, the matcha and hojicha that followed, were the stars. Extremely attentive service, as one might expect (some English but not much, which was sort of reassuring). Beautiful serving pieces and decor - see especially the antique tukkuri. Ethereal.

Had a truly unforgettable experience doing the tea ceremony at Yakumo Saryo. Saki was beyond sweet and professional. She went above and beyond to make our experience memorable and was an amazing host. The best tea and matcha I have ever tasted. Will definitely be back!

From the moment you walk up the steps to the entrance of this restaurant you’re immediately transported into a world where simplicity meets elegance and modernity. We came here for traditional Japanese breakfast and tea pairings. The food here is simple yet contemporary, complementing the architecture and decor of the restaurant. Once we were done with our breakfast we were taken to the most beautiful space for some green tea and traditional Japanese pastries. You won’t find this place in most guidebooks, but this is a hidden gem where you can take a break and find peace in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Great food great service, everything’s displayed in a very Japanese way, calm and zen. Showcased their specialty in Japanese tea and wagashi. With English menu. Nice view, very quiet area. Only disadvantage is that they are quite over priced.

Best Japanese breakfast in the city. The whole shop is very Zen, with excellent architecture and a exquisitely maintained Japanese garden. Great place to spend a relaxing morning, contemplating life over delicious food and fragrant teas. Advanced reservations are required. I don't think they accept walk-ins.

Very special Japanese tea ceremony experience, the green tea has a lot of umami and tastes like soup. The wagashi is so good and complements the tea really well.