Date visited: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
On my way to Sanzen-in, one small tea shop caught my eye.
“Rokawa Chaya.”
A handwritten sign read:
“Made with 100% natural yuzu — yuzu from our own field.”
“I’ll stop by on my way back.”
With that in mind, I continued on to Sanzen-in first.
After visiting the temple and having lunch, I returned to Rokawa Chaya.
I had a hard time deciding what to order.
Yuzu juice.
Or shiso juice.
Both were homemade.
Thirsty from the summer heat, I finally chose the yuzu juice.
Rokawa Chaya in Ohara, Kyoto.
For a body tired from the heat,
a glass of homemade yuzu juice made with yuzu grown in their own field.
“Please sit somewhere cool and enjoy it.”
I enjoyed it together with that small gesture of kindness.
Most people seemed to order soft-serve ice cream.
I saw many visitors receive freshly made soft-serve from the machine at the front of the shop and enjoy it right away.
I ordered the yuzu juice.
Perhaps not many people order juice, because the staff member went into the back and returned carrying my yuzu juice on a tray.
Then she said,
“Please sit here and take your time.”
She showed me to a large bench beside the shop.
She even switched on a fan and adjusted it so that the breeze reached me.
That simple, thoughtful gesture made me very happy.
These days, it is easy to buy a cold drink from a vending machine.
But this glass felt a little different.
The handwritten words, “Yuzu from our own field.”
The way the drink was brought to me on a tray.
The simple words, “Please take your time.”
None of these things were extraordinary.
And yet, I felt that this one glass carried a sense of comfort and human warmth.
The flavor was not flashy either.
Simple and homemade.
It gently refreshed my body, tired from the summer heat.
For a while, I simply relaxed and listened to the sound of the stream.
When we travel, famous sightseeing spots often become our strongest memories.
But sometimes, an ordinary moment of rest like this stays with us even longer.
Recently, I have started stopping not only at my planned destinations, but also at places that catch my attention along the way.
A journey that does not always go according to plan.
But sometimes it is precisely those little detours that lead us to unexpected scenes and encounters.
Rokawa Chaya was one of them on this trip.
🍵 YUMEVOJA Food Radar
Rokawa Chaya｜Yuzu Juice ¥400
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆
Tartness: ★★★☆☆
Aroma: ★★★★★
Coldness: ★★★★★ (served with ice)
Portion size: Regular
Ease of visit: ★★★★☆
【YUMEVOJA Satisfaction Rating】
★★★★★ Very satisfied
※A personal rating based on the food, atmosphere, and people.
📍For the latest information on opening hours, closing days, and how busy it is,
please check Google Maps and the official website.
※Information may change.
📍 Google Maps👇
Rokawa Chaya
👉Official page
Ohara Tourism Conservation Association — Rokawa Chaya
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I ordered this drink because I was drawn to the words, “Yuzu from our own field.”
Along with its simple, homemade flavor, what stayed with me most was the staff member’s quiet thoughtfulness.
I recommend it to anyone who would like to stop for a while and enjoy a peaceful break during a walking journey.
🚉 Related Reading｜Stopover Journey
👉A summer day walking through Ohara, with a bus ride to Sanzen-in.
🍵 Related Reading｜Beauty & Taste
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🍵Beauty & Taste| Seryo Jaya | I Meant to Order Gyudon… but Chose Oyakodon Instead
👉 Related illustrations here
(Free to use)
▶︎ 🎨View illustration page
👉Choose Kyoto by mood.
▶︎☆View the Kyoto Guide
👉Next time, why not explore Osaka one station at a time?
▶︎☆View the Osaka Loop Line Guide