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Best Cafes in Higashiyama, Kyoto

Sep. 05. 2025

Kyoto is home to an incredible number of cafes and restaurants, and with the influx of tourists, the demand for high-quality shops without the overwhelming crowds continues to increase. With so many options, which one will you choose? In this article, we’ve handpicked three standout cafes, all conveniently located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama-ku. Each one with its own unique characteristics, a Western-style cafe housed in a Meiji-era mansion, a serene hideaway serving exquisite matcha desserts made by the team behind the renowned Kikunoi, and a tea spot offering the rarest teas paired with Japanese confectionaries.

Chourakukan

Overlooking Kyoto’s famous Maruyama Park, Chourakukan is an elegant Western-style residence built in 1909 by tobacco tycoon Yoshibei Murai. With its grand Renaissance-inspired Ionic columns, the mansion radiates timeless class.

In 2024, the Japanese government designated Chourakukan as an important cultural property. Today, visitors can enjoy it as a cafe and restaurant within an adjoining boutique hotel.

The grand staircase that evokes a certain opulence of a bygone era upon entering the lobby.

The most popular offering is their traditional British-style afternoon tea, served in the dedicated Reception Room, a Rococo-style salon once used for social gatherings. The room dazzles with Baccarat chandeliers, antique furnishings, and ornate plasterwork, transporting visitors back to an era of refined splendor.

Note: Afternoon tea requires a reservation for two or more guests. From￥6,000 per person.

Pictured here is their signature dessert, Mille-feuille.

Chourakukan

📍 Address: 604 Maruyama-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

🕒 Hours: 11:00 ~ 18:30

📅 Closed: Irregular (Check the official website for the latest updates)

🌐 Website

Muge Sanbo

Yoshihiro Murata, the third-generation chef owner of Kyoto’s acclaimed restaurant Kikunoi, established Muge Sanbo to showcase premium Japanese desserts and the serene beauty of a moss garden. He created the café to bring the flavors of his renowned kaiseki cuisine in a more casual setting.

Left: calligraphy by Kazumasa Nakagawa. Right: teahouse inspired exterior.

Upon entering the modern Sukiya-style building, guests are immediately greeted by a beautifully landscaped moss garden, viewable from every seat. The scenery shifts with the season— cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and brilliant foliage in fall—making the garden view an essential part of the experience.

The most sought-after dessert on the menu is their rich matcha parfait. It layers decadent matcha ice cream, matcha jelly, and house-made castella cake. The parfait is made with Tsujiri’s premium matcha, known for its deep umami and complexity. Other notable desserts include the freshly prepared warabi mochi made to order and seasonal fruit desserts.

Pictured on the left is the freshly made Hon Warabi Mochi. Made from just bracken starch and granulated sugar. Simplicity at its best.

Muge Sanbo (Salon de Muge)

📍 Address: 524 Washio-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

🕒 Hours: 11:30 ~ 17:00 (L.O. 17:00)

📅 Closed: Tuesdays

🌐 Website

Pou Yuenji

At Pou Yuenji Koyo, tea lovers are invited to savor some of the finest and rarest teas from around the world, curated by founder Mr. Chi-Chien Tsai, a passionate tea collector for over 60 years.

The tea house occupies a renovated machiya townhouse in the heart of Kyoto’s historic district. offers a secluded tearoom (reservations recommended) featuring a large wooden communal table and a beautiful garden view.

The garden (pictured right) is designed by landscape artist, Yasuo Kitayama.

The tea tasting set includes four types of premium teas paired with traditional Japanese sweets from renowned Kyoto confectioners like Okashimaru and SHUKA. The tea lineup ranges fromTaiwanese oolong and yancha, to rare vintage Pu-erh teas from the 1950s, a true gem for tea connoisseurs.

In-house tea masters carefully adjust water temperature and steeping time to suit each tea, ensuring an exceptional tasting experience.

Head downstairs to browse a collection of beautifully crafted tea tools and accessories. Whether you’re here to taste, to learn, or simply to relax, Pou Yuenji is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a deeper connection with tea culture.

POUYUENJI KYOTO

📍 Address: 374 Yasaka Kamimachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

🕒 Hours: 10:00 ~ 18:00

📅 Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

🌐 Website

We know that sinking feeling of opening Google Maps, typing in “cafes near me,” and being overwhelmed with hundreds of options, only to settle for a mediocre spot you don’t even feel excited about. This guide is here to prevent that. Bookmark these cafes now on your Google Maps, so the next time you’re looking up cafes in Higashiyama district, you’ll know exactly where to go.