3 Matcha Shop Around Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine :Within a 500 m radius.
Opinions on matcha are divided even among the Japanese; my wife and daughter dislike it because of its bitterness. However, my wife says that high-quality matcha has a milder flavor and less bitterness, making it palatable to consume.
I enjoy both matcha ice cream and matcha as a bitter beverage. It was Zen monks who introduced tea cultivation from China to Japan. Because their ascetic training was rigorous, they slept very little; they likely needed the bitter kick of something like espresso. Naturally, the tea was also served to visitors. The earliest tea gatherings in Japan took place at Zen temples.
Temples and shrines in Kyoto have long-standing contracts with tea wholesalers. Fushimi Inari Taisha, for instance, sources its tea from a shop called Tsubakido(椿堂). Tsubakido operates a café named "Inari Saryo(稲荷茶寮)" directly within the shrine grounds. If you prioritize the quality of your matcha, this café is an excellent choice.
In fact, one-third of the shops around Fushimi Inari Taisha offer matcha drinks and food products. Among these options, I particularly recommend the shops run by tea specialists. Even for Japanese people, unless one is accustomed to drinking matcha daily, it is difficult to distinguish the quality of the tea leaves—especially when mixed with milk or chocolate. However, I believe that when a shop specializes in tea, the quality is guaranteed.
As far as I know, there are two such shops on the approach.
大谷茶園(Otani Tea Garden)
Otani Tea Garden was founded in 1909. Homemade matcha soft serve ice cream costs ¥380. I think it's about the same price as plain soft serve ice cream at other stores. It has a reputation for being delicious and reasonably priced.
西村番茶屋本店(Nishimura Bancha-ya Honten)
Nishimura Bancha-ya Honten was founded in 1922. Their gelato costs ¥600 for takeout and ¥650 for dine-in. It features a rich flavor created by using plenty of high-quality Uji matcha.
There are also easier ways to enjoy matcha. Local supermarkets and drugstores sell matcha-flavored ice cream and chocolates. Large packs of these chocolates make excellent souvenirs.
My top recommendation for a souvenir is matcha au lait. You simply dissolve the sweet matcha powder in milk to drink it. I have loved it since I was a child. You can find it in supermarkets on the same shelves as "Milo" and instant coffee.
Do you prefer matcha au lait or matcha lattes that are sweet—like Milo—or do you like matcha that is bitter, like espresso? If you're interested, I’d like you to try the bitter kind, too—but be sure to pair it with a sweet Japanese confection.