Japan Guide : Sabo KYO in Kyoto (京都府)
In the spring of 2024, during the cherry blossom season, a new tea room called “居雨/KYO” opened in Kyoto, a collaboration between the Tokyo-based craft gallery “AMAHARE” and the Fukuoka-based tea and sake house “Yorozu.”
Sabo KYO is located inside a traditional Kyoto machiya (townhouse) at the craft gallery “KYO AMAHARE.” After passing through the gallery entrance, you’ll find this tea room tucked away inside a former storehouse.
At the heart of the space, a large table with a wind furnace and walls made by a Japanese paper artist creates an atmosphere of stillness, with droplets of water gently falling from above, filling the room with an aura of “darkness” and “quiet.”
Here, visitors can enjoy a selection of teas chosen by Yorozu’s tea master, alongside unique Japanese sweets specially created for this tea room by a pastry chef who has worked at renowned French patisseries. These sweets combine traditional Japanese ingredients with modern flair.
On the day we visited, we experienced the Usei(雨声) course, which included:
1. Iced seasonal green tea with salted kelp.
2. A seasonal sencha paired with a new-style wagashi. (Choose 1 from 4 Japanese sweets)
3. A plate featuring Japanese pear, cardamom cookies, kinako butter cream, and almond biscuit, all layered together.
My favorite part of the experience was the new-style wagashi served in the second course. It combined ingredients in a way I had never tasted before, and I found myself wishing I could keep eating it.
The name “居雨” refers to a specific type of rain in the Kyoto area, describes a long-lasting, gentle drizzle that falls quietly over the landscape, blending with the surroundings. The name reflects the experience the owners want visitors to have: to spend time here with the rain, savoring tea, sweets, and perhaps sake, while waiting for the sunshine to return.
Coincidentally, when we visited, a calm, continuous rain was falling, allowing us to fully experience the essence of “Rain is here” during our time there.
While Kyoto is home to many tea shops where you can enjoy Japanese tea and sweets, Sabo KYO offers a different atmosphere—one that emphasizes the harmony between tea, sweets, utensils, and the overall setting, distinct from traditional, long-established shops. It’s highly recommended for those who love Japanese tea or are looking for a special experience in Kyoto. Just be sure to make a reservation in advance!
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Shop info：
居雨/KYO
HP : https://www.instagram.com/sabo.kyo_amahare
Thursday – Tuesday 11:00-17:00
Contact : 075-256-3280
Location :
