Tokyo’s origins are quite surprising. It started out as a small fishing village called Edo and then rose to prominence when it was made a political centre by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. In the 1800s, it was renamed to Tokyo. Present-day Tokyo has a lot of activities and things to see. If you’re in town, you should check out Yayoi Kusama Museum, a five-story art installation and showcase of her work, including the infinity room. Shinjuku Gyoen, a Japanese garden, and Sensi Ji Temple are also other interesting places to visit. Another thing you must check out is the bubble tea shops. Although bubble tea originated in Taiwan, Tokyo has made bubble tea its own. Keep reading to find out about the best bubble tea shops in Tokyo, Japan.
1. TP Tea
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
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Posted by TP TEA Japan on Thursday, March 26, 2020
TP Tea company started out small in 2005, but now has over 250 stores in Taiwan! Their goal is to encourage happiness and promote socialization amongst individuals over a cup of tea. Try stopping by one of their branches in Tokyo. The baristas at TP Tea are highly trained and have passed a number of tests in order to be able to make tea for the patrons. Thus, they’re well versed in the traditions of making tea but are able to customize it for each patron. Some of the classic teas they make include oolong tea, jade jasmine tea, black tea, and tapioca tea. One of their most popular teas is the sakura latte that tastes like cherry blossoms.
TP Tea
Address: 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo B1F
Website: TP Tea
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 8pm
2. Chun Shui Tang
\Chun Shui Tang is a speciality tea café that has 38 stores in Taiwan. This restaurant and tea shop is a short distance from the Daikanyama station. Only certified baristas are allowed to make the tea for patrons and they brew a wide range of drinks that complement the meals perfectly. They take care to produce safe, healthy tea without additives and only natural ingredients to bring out the flavours. When you walk in, you’ll find the sweet aroma of the tea calling to you. If you’re looking for a place to take your date, then this is it!
Chun Shui Tang
Address: Axis 209 Daikanyama 20-9 Daikanyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0034 Japan
Website: Chun Shui Tang
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
3. The Alley Lujiaoxiang
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Alley Lujiaoxiang is a popular bubble tea milk chain that started in Taiwan in 2013 and has branches in more than five countries. Although it only came to Tokyo in 2017, it has quickly grown to have more than 15 branches in this city alone. They feature five types of drinks and their variations: tapioca tea, brown sugar tea, milk tea, fresh tea, and the popular alley speciality. This tea shop is unique in that they make their own tapioca pearls in-house. Their goal is to evoke the following reactions when you drink their tea: surprise at the first time you try it, admiration at the second time, and that you’ll miss it after the third time.
The Alley Lujiaoxiang
Address: 6-6-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: The Alley Lujiaoxiang
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)
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4. Sin an Ju
Editor’s note: establishment is permanently closed
Sin An Ju is a tea shop that produces high-quality tea. They maintain their quality by using tapioca that has been locally grown or imported from Taiwan. Good tapioca balls are large grain and sticky. They also make great efforts when brewing to ensure the perfect cup by regulating the water temperature, the amount of tea leaves, and the extraction time. One of the most appreciated features of this tea shop is that they ask for your preferred level of sweetness so that you aren’t overwhelmed.
Sin an Ju
Address: 1 Chome-19-14 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Website: Sin an Ju
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 10pm
Tokyo Tour Guide
Ayano Totsuka
Hello! I am Ayano, a local host in Tokyo. I have been living in Tokyo for over 10 years, so I know a wide range of restaurants, bars, cafes, and tourist spots! Leave your Tokyo sightseeing to me. I have traveled to various countries and had unforgettable experiences. Being passionate about traveling, I really want to take you to the captivating places in Tokyo. As photography is my hobby, I will capture beautiful photos that will become lasting memories. Join my tour and let's explore Tokyo together!
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5. Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This tea shop was named after Yifang, who was born during the Japanese colonial period. She worked hard alongside her grandparents and learned the customs and traditions of teamaking, which she used to set up her shop in Taiwan. They now have stores in more than 10 countries around the world. They employ hard-working baristas who aim to promote the love and admiration for tea, and insist on using only ‘MIT’ ingredients - made in Taiwan, as well as fresh fruits that are in season.
Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea
Address: 3 Chome-35-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Website: Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
6. Gongcha
‘Gong cha’ roughly translates to ‘tribute tea’ - a reference to the tradition of offering the highest quality tea in the land to the emperor. The Gongcha franchise has a modern take on this form of traditional tea. Their menu is extensive and highly customizable - from the amount of ice, the flavour, and the sweetness. They are very particular about using only fresh tea, using only those that are less than four hours after the extraction.
Gongcha
Address: 6-9-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Jingumae Sakai Building 1F
Website: Gongcha
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)
7. Toki Seven Tea
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Toki Seven Tea is a highly successful tea franchise that has several stores all over the country. They use high-quality tea leaves and handmade, raw tapioca to create the most delicious drinks.
Toki Seven Tea
Address: 2 Chome-12-3 Kitaotsuka, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0004, Japan
Website: Toki Seven Tea
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
8. Pearl Lady
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Pearl Lady is a Bubble tea chain that makes delicious bubble tea and Japanese-style crepes. Bubble tea options start with nine different bases which can be customized based on sweetness, milk, and type of tea to create the right bubble tea for you. The crepes are wheat flour-based and made thin, crisp, and paired with an assortment of filling to create the right combination. Their menu items are extensive, reasonably priced, and of great quality. For those who don’t know Japanese, the drinks come with little description icons that make it easier to understand.
Pearl Lady
Address: 27160-0022 3-27-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku , Tokyo
Website: Pearl Lady
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)
9. Koi
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Koi Thé is the self-proclaimed master of handmade artisan tea. Here, you will get the full tea-making experience. As soon as you walk in, the aroma of the tea welcomes you. Then as you decide what to order, you can hear the ice being crushed and feel the enjoyment of the highly trained baristas who are preparing your drink. They ensure to provide friendly service in order to treat patrons like family. At Koi, you can customize the tea, the sweetness, and the amount of ice in your drink to create a drink made for you.
Koi
Address: 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 4 Chome−27−1
Website: Koi
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)
10. Alfred Tea Room Aoyama
Editor’s note: establishment is permanently closed
Alfred Tea Room is a boba tea cafe that started in Tokyo in 2017. While it is quite popular because of its number of Instagram-worthy spots, it also produces good-tasting bubble tea. The interiors are well lit, armed with aesthetic furniture and décor, and have a light pink theme. One of the most popular drinks is the Boba Alfred House Milk Tea, which was is smooth, milky and not overly sweet, and also does not overpower the taste of the tea. The only drawback is that portion sizes tend to be on the smaller side.
Alfred Tea Room Aoyama
Address: 160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku, 3 Chome – 38 -11F (street level of Lumine EST Shinjuku)
Website: Alfred Tea Room Aoyama
Enjoy hunting for boba tea
We get it - something about those chewy tapioca bubbles soaked in sweet milk tea is very addictive so we don’t blame you if you decide to check all these places out! They’re definitely worth every penny. What did you think about these bubble tea shops? Do let us know whenever you visit Tokyo!
Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of the shops may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from the websites.
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