Nakamura Tokichi Honten

Nakamura Tokichi Honten, founded 1854 in Uji, is unique among serious tea producers in combining premium tea production with one of Japan's most famous matcha-themed restaurants. Their Uji Tokichi restaurant serves matcha in every dish — soups, sweets, desserts — while the adjoining tea shop sells their premium cultivar teas. The integration of premium tea production with dining education is a model for the restaurant industry.

Nakamura Tokichi Honten demonstrates how premium tea producers can build a hospitality dimension that educates customers while creating demand. Their restaurant model — using their own ceremonial matcha throughout the menu — is a direct inspiration for high-end restaurants seeking to build matcha programmes. The production quality matches their hospitality reputation.