Matcha has long been rooted in Japanese culture, from tea ceremonies to wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).
But this time-honored flavor has evolved in surprisingly creative ways with the times.
In recent years, a wave of specialty matcha dessert shops has ushered in a new era of matcha sweets that blend Japanese tradition with Western innovation.
Why not step into this new world of matcha, where the classic and the cutting-edge come together?
Matcha sweets at Ujien Urasando Garden
“Ujien Urasando Garden”: a renovated traditional Japanese house in Omotesando
In this article we’ll introduce the Urasando Garden location of “Ujien,” a long-established tea shop that first opened in Kyoto.
The shop sits inside Urasando Garden—a renovated traditional Japanese house that now hosts a handful of unique stores—just a short walk from Omote-sando Station.
Pass through the noren (traditional Japanese fabric curtain) at the entrance, and you’ll find an even calmer space within, complete with a serene courtyard where you can also dine.
Urasando Garden, a renovated traditional Japanese house
Urasando Garden offers a sharp contrast to the glitzy world of nearby Omotesando Hills and high-end fashion boutiques. With its understated design and tranquil atmosphere, it offers a peaceful escape from the bustle outside.
You can also enjoy your food and drinks in the courtyard
Ujien’s signature “Matcha Parfait” Made with premium Uji matcha
Founded in Kyoto in 1869, Ujien has built its business around tea, offering everything from retail tea products to sweets and cafe dining.
Their Urasando Garden branch opened in 2016 and features modern matcha desserts like parfaits and tiramisu, all made with high-quality matcha.
The deep umami, fragrant aroma, and subtle bitterness of true matcha take on new dimensions when paired with sweets.
One of the best examples of this harmony is the “Matcha Parfait.”
“パフェ（抹茶）,” Matcha Parfait 1,500 JPY (tax included)
Layered with matcha jelly, cake, shiratama (rice flour dumplings), ice cream, and cookies, each ingredient adds a unique texture and rhythm to every bite.
The flavor experience evolves as you eat, keeping you engaged to the very last spoonful.
The main topping is matcha ice cream
The star of the show is the matcha ice cream—lightly sweet with a clean finish that lets the rich aroma of matcha shine through.
Another standout is the matcha jelly. Its smooth texture and subtle bitterness leave a pleasant aftertaste, rounding out the parfait beautifully.
Matcha jelly
“Matcha Tiramisu”: a dessert you could almost drink
The Matcha Tiramisu feels like the best of both worlds: a dessert and a drink in one.
“ティラミス（抹茶）,” Matcha Tiramisu 1,500 JPY (tax included)
Scoop into it and you’ll first notice the mascarpone’s incredibly soft, almost liquid-like texture.
Take a bite, and its rich yet balanced flavor gently spreads across your palate—making the term “drinkable dessert” feel just right.
What brings it all together is Ujien’s carefully selected matcha. It balances the sweetness with just enough bitterness to create a clean, sharp finish.
If you’re craving both the slight bitterness of matcha and the sweetness of dessert, this tiramisu is the perfect choice—it delivers the best of both worlds.
One delightful bonus? Each Matcha Tiramisu comes with a complimentary piece of Ujien’s original “Fresh Chocolate” (ganache). Its rich flavor offers a nice contrast to the tiramisu and makes for the perfect palate cleanser.
Other flavors like matcha and hōjicha (roasted green tea) are also available for purchase at the shop—perfect for souvenirs!
(left)”抹茶 生ショコラ 小佳女 “おかめ”,” Matcha Fresh Chocolate “Okame” 1,620 JPY (tax included), (right) “ほうじ茶 生ショコラ 火男 “ひょっとこ”,” Houjicha Fresh Chocolat Hyottoko “Hyotoko” 1,620 JPY (tax included)
Freshly made-to-order: the “The Smile-Inducing Matcha Mont Blanc”
If you really want to immerse yourself in matcha, “The Smile-Inducing Matcha Mont Blanc” is a must-try.
It’s one of the shop’s signature dishes, and true to its name, it brings a smile to just about everyone who tries it.
“笑みがこぼれるモンブラン（抹茶）,” The Smile-Inducing Matcha Mont Blanc 1,500 JPY (tax included)
One of the best parts? Watching the staff pipe the Mont Blanc cream by hand, one by one, for each order, right behind the counter.
The live preparation adds a sense of anticipation, making that first bite even more rewarding.
The base is a matcha-flavored sponge cake, topped with a generous layer of matcha-infused whipped cream.
At the heart of the dessert is the Mont Blanc cream, made with sweet bean paste blended with matcha. Rich and dense in texture, each bite delivers a deep, bittersweet flavor and the bold taste of high-quality matcha.
Bringing together the refined subtlety of traditional Japanese sweets and the elegance of Western-style desserts, this Mont Blanc offers a deeply satisfying experience.
Each layer is infused with matcha, making it a must-try for matcha lovers.
Experience the World of Matcha at Ujien
Conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo’s Omotesando, Ujien lets you enjoy authentic matcha in a relaxed, approachable setting.
With the “Hands-On Matcha Experience,” you can even try whisking your own bowl of matcha—adding a memorable, interactive touch to your visit.
“体験型 お抹茶,” Hands-On Matcha Experience 1,500 JPY (tax included)
First, pour hot water into your matcha, freshly ground from Uji tea leaves using a stone mill. Slowly stir using the chasen (a Japanese tea whisk), gently blending the tea.
Next, lift the whisk slightly and use a quick back-and-forth wrist motion to create a layer of fine, creamy foam on the surface.
The Hands-On Matcha Experience comes with hot water and a chasen whisk for preparing your own tea.
The tea used is 100% Uji matcha, known for its mellow umami and balanced bitterness, letting you savor matcha’s true character.
If you’d prefer, the staff can also prepare the tea for you, but why not give it a try yourself?
At Ujien’s Urasando Garden shop, you can enjoy matcha not just through sweets, but also in its traditional form.
In this peaceful, Japanese-style setting, what kind of matcha moment will you make?
Information
| Store name | 宇治園 裏参道ガーデン店 Ujien Urasando Garden |
|---|---|
| Address | Urasando Garden 1F, No.5, 4-15-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access | Omote-sando Station 5-minute walk from Exit A2
Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station 10-minute walk from Exit 5
Harajuku Station 14-minute walk from Harajuku Station East Exit
|
| Phone number | 070-4448-0217 |
| Phone number | Accepted Phone number, Hot Pepper Gourmet |
| Payment |
|
| Hours | 12:00-18:00（last order 17:30） |
| Closed | No holidays excluding Urasando Garden holidays |
| Seating | 7 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.uji-en.co.jp/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of June 2025.
