Visited: February 23, 2026 (Mon)
A national holiday in Japan — the Emperor’s Birthday.
Matcha Cafe Itohkyuemon – Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Branch
After leaving Kiyomizu-dera,
I found a café just a short walk away.
Behind the busy street,
a quiet café hidden inside.
Itohkyuemon.
It is a well-known shop for matcha.
Looking at the menu,
I noticed something unusual.
Matcha and pickles pizza.
The price was 1,990 yen.
Although it is a café,
pizza seemed to be the only food option.
However, there were several types of pizza.
Among them,
this one caught my attention the most.
First, you secure a seat,
then purchase a ticket from the machine.
Since it is located in a tourist area,
I expected it to be crowded,
but surprisingly, it was not.
The reason is that
the front area is a shop space,
while the café is located deeper inside,
making it difficult to see from outside.
Because of that,
even in a busy street,
it was possible to spend time here relatively calmly.
Having a place to sit and rest
is always appreciated.
After a while,
my number was called,
and the display board made it easy to understand.
The appearance of the pizza
was quite unique.
It’s pizza—
but green.
To be honest,
it didn’t look very appetizing at first.
It was smaller than expected,
a light portion you can finish easily.
When I took a bite,
things became even more confusing.
It looks like pizza.
But in your mouth,
the taste of pickles stands out.
“Wait… is this Japanese food?”
Then,
a subtle matcha flavor lingers afterward.
It looks like pizza.
It tastes like pickles.
And the aftertaste is matcha.
My mind
was slightly confused.
Still, I was hungry,
and as I continued eating slowly,
I gradually got used to it.
That unusual green color,
which felt strange at first,
began to feel like part of its character.
At one point,
it reminded me of a moss garden.
The taste is not bad at all.
But it is a dish
that is difficult to describe.
I wonder
how people from overseas would feel about it.
Perhaps, rather than eating it as “pizza,”
it might be more enjoyable
to experience it as
“a curious Japanese dish.”
Looks like pizza.
Tastes like pickles.
Leaves a hint of matcha.
Around Kiyomizu-dera,
there are many shops.
Some serve traditional dishes,
while others offer something a little different like this.
It’s not about which is better.
Choosing based on your mood
is part of the joy of traveling.
Since Itohkyuemon is a café,
it is easy to drop by casually.
The area around Kiyomizu-dera
is always crowded,
and after walking for a while,
you naturally start to feel tired.
At times like that,
a place where you can sit down and rest
is truly valuable.
The interior is bright and clean,
with a relatively large number of seats.
Orders are made via a ticket machine,
and when your food is ready,
you are guided by both announcements
and a display board,
which makes the system very easy to understand.
I think even international visitors
will find it easy to use.
The restroom is also clean and convenient,
making it a reassuring stop during sightseeing.
Since it is a matcha-focused café,
it may be especially recommended
for those who love matcha.
At the back,
there is a small garden
and terrace seating.
Even in a busy tourist area,
it was a place
where you could relax quietly for a while.
🍽 YUMEVOJA Food Radar
Matcha & Pickles Pizza
Sweetness: ☆
Saltiness: ★★
Umami (Dashi): ☆
Oiliness: ★★
Spiciness: ☆
Portion: Light
【YUMEVOJA Rating】
★★★☆☆ Good
*Personal impression including food, atmosphere, and people.
📍For opening hours and crowd conditions,
please check the latest information on Google Maps.
*Information may change.
Itōkyūemon Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Branch
View on Google Maps
👉 Related article:
Walking Kiyomizu-dera-The Famous Stage and Temple Structure in Kyoto