Suzukien Asakusa: 200 Years of Matcha Sweets Perfection

Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s premier tourist destinations, buzzes with festival-like energy every day.

From visiting Sensō-ji Temple to touring the town on a rickshaw and indulging in delicious local food, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your trip to Asakusa.

Among the area’s culinary highlights is “Suzukien Asakusa Honten,” (hereafter referred to as “Suzukien”) a popular shop where lines begin to form even before it opens at 11:00 AM.

Their specialty is matcha sweets, and as you’d expect from a long-established tea wholesaler, the flavor is truly top-class.

Suzukien’s history dates back to the Edo Period

The shop began in 1848. It is said to have started as a tea stall under the name Suzukien during the Edo period.

At that time, Asakusa was Edo’s (now Tokyo) premier district for diverse entertainment, where all kinds of amusements gathered in one place. With numerous restaurants, it was also an area known to satisfy food lovers.

Having earned a reputation among food connoisseurs in Asakusa, Suzukien began focusing on Japanese tea exports during the Meiji era.

In the Showa era, the company founded TokyoTocha Oroshiuri Inc., which now operates the current store.

Since then, the company has specialized in offering carefully selected teas based on the ideal balance of the five essential tea flavors: sweetness, pungency, sourness, bitterness, and astringency.

Suzukien’s treasure trove of matcha sweets

Crafted with expertly selected matcha, every sweet at Suzukien is a masterpiece.

First up is their signature “Four Types of Matcha An Dango.”

This dango (traditional Japanese rice dumplings often served on skewers) which is topped with matcha an (matcha sweet bean paste), is one of the store’s signature menu items.

They use four different types of bean paste with varying intensities of matcha, allowing you to enjoy different flavors with each bite.

The first bite of this sweet skewer delivers just a hint of matcha bitterness and astringency, while the gentle sweetness of the bean paste spreads across your palate, leaving a delightful aftertaste.

By the final dumpling, the matcha flavor grows bolder—the rich aroma and refined bitterness lingering with every bite. It’s a must-try for matcha lovers.

Seasonal variations are also available. In spring, the “Sakura and Matcha An Dango” offers a colorful, cherry blossom twist.

Another crowd-pleaser for matcha enthusiasts is their gelato, created in collaboration with “Nanaya,” a sweets shop that makes desserts with matcha from Shizuoka Prefecture.

You can choose from seven levels of matcha intensity, ranging from the delicately flavored No.1 to the ultra-rich No.7, which the store proudly claims to be “world’s richest matcha gelato.”

Among the seven types, the final level boasts the highest concentration, allowing you to fully savor matcha’s distinct bitterness and deep, lingering flavor.

It’s perfect not only for matcha fans but also for those who don’t usually enjoy overly sweet treats, as the bitterness mellows the flavor.

“No.4” is also a popular variety. Although sweeter than No.7, you can still clearly appreciate the matcha flavor.

It’s ideal for those who want the best of both worlds—sweetness and depth.

The shop’s hōjicha (roasted green tea) gelato is a “secret menu” item that is also very popular.

The rich aroma and clean aftertaste qualities of hojicha remain present even in the form of a gelato. That’s thanks to the premium hojicha sourced directly by this tea wholesaler.

One spoonful of this toasty, fragrant treat and you’ll be hooked.

In addition to single servings, gelato can also be ordered as a double with two different flavors combined.

The combinations are up to you, and the possibilities are nearly endless!

Match two types of matcha gelato, or go bold by pairing matcha with hojicha or seasonal limited-edition options for your own custom creation.

Traditional tea goods and tools at this Asakusa shop

Suzukien offers more than just matcha sweets.

To enhance your visit, browse their extensive selection of tea tools and goods.

At Suzukien you can find carefully selected matcha along with tea utensils such as chashaku (tea scoops),chasen (tea whisks) used to froth matcha with hot water, and various tea cupware.

Besides matcha, they also sell various types of tea leaves, including barley tea and buckwheat tea, showcasing the full range of Japanese tea culture—something only a tea wholesaler like Suzukien can offer.

Perfect for enjoying at home or as thoughtful souvenirs, their tea products are hard to resist.

Information

Store name	壽々喜園 浅草本店 Suzukien Asakusa Honten
Address	3-4-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access	Asakusa Station 8-minute walk from Exit A1 Tsukuba Express（TX03） Asakusa Station 9-minute walk from Exit 1 Toei Asakusa Line（A18） Tokyo Metro Ginza Line（G19） Tobu Skytree Line（TS01）
Phone number	03-3873-0311
Reservations	Not accepted
Payment	Cash Credit cards（American Express・Diners・Discover・JCB・Master・UnionPay・VISA） Transportation-related electronic money（Suica, etc.） Electronic money（iD・nanaco・QUICPay・WAON・Rakuten Edy） QR code payment（Alipay・AlipayHK・au PAY・d Payment・GCash・Kakao Pay・Merpay・PayPay・Rakuten Pay・Touch ‘n Go eWallet・TrueMoney・UnionPay・WeChat Pay）
Service charge/Table charge	None
Hours	11:00-17:00
Closed	No holidays Unscheduled holidays
Seating	Standing table seats only
Smoking	No smoking
Official website	https://www.tocha.co.jp/
Other information	Menus are available Japanese and English language only No allergy-friendly, vegan, vegetarian, or halal menus Wheelchair-accessible Take-out service is available (drinks only); delivery service is not available Luggage storage space is available Wi-Fi is available Posting of food photos and videos on customers’ personal SNS accounts is allowed Separate billing is allowed

※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of April 2025.