Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience

Hidden in a quiet corner of Minami-Aoyama sits one of the most unique Japanese tea bars in the world — Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience.

The man behind it is Shinya Sakurai. His journey began as a bartender, followed by stints managing the Japanese restaurant Yakumo Saryo and the wagashi boutique HIGASHIYA. In 2014, he went independent and has since been redefining how we experience Japanese tea, free from any fixed ideas or conventions.

The tea selection spans an impressive range. Centered on carefully chosen single-origin teas from across Japan, the lineup includes house-roasted hōjicha and original blends inspired by the changing seasons. The experience often starts with a fragrant blend featuring fruit or florals, gently drawing you into the world of Japanese tea before leading you to the deeper, more nuanced flavors of pure green tea. There’s a touch of the bartender’s flair in the narrative flow of it all.

The space itself is minimalist, modeled after a traditional Japanese tea room. Staff dressed in pristine white coats prepare each cup with deliberate, graceful movements — more like researchers in a lab than servers in a café. Outside noise disappears. All that remains is the toasty aroma of roasted tea leaves and a perfectly sharpened sense of calm.

Sakurai often compares Japanese tea to sushi. In its simple structure, you savor the freshness of the ingredients, the characteristics of the region, and the expression of the seasons. Like single-origin coffee, more producers are now crafting teas that capture the terroir of specific plots of land. Organic cultivation is on the rise, and seasonal blends are even being served like non-alcoholic cocktails. The diversity of Japanese tea is growing, quietly but steadily.

One of the best ways to experience it all is the 7,100 yen tea course. The chosen leaves are steeped three times, each with different water temperatures and brewing times. The first infusion at 35°C brings out deep umami. The second adds a touch of bitterness with slightly higher heat. The third introduces kinome (young sansho leaves), bringing in a new aromatic dimension. The changes are subtle but striking, unfolding like a quiet drama.

Even if you’ve explored teas from around the world, Japanese tea has a depth and stillness that feels truly unique. Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience is one of those rare places that reminds you, with clarity and grace, just how profound a cup of tea can be.