What Is "Sawawa" in Kyoto? Discover the Charm of Matcha at Nishiki Market, with Over 1,300 Years of History!

Nishiki Market is often called the "kitchen of Kyoto," and it’s lined with all kinds of shops, isn’t it?

Is there anyone out there who thinks, “I’d love to try some matcha drinks or ice cream in a place like that!”?

If you're taking a leisurely stroll through the Nishiki Market area, I recommend a shop called "Sawawa."

In this post, I’d like to introduce a shop called Cha-Wa-Wa, which is a great place to stop by while strolling through Nishiki Market in search of delicious food.

If you're planning to visit the Nakagyo Ward area, please be sure to stop by.

■ What is “Sawawa”?

As you walk through Nishiki Market, you’ll come across a shop with an atmosphere that’s quintessentially Kyoto matcha.

This is a shop called “Matcha Sweets Shop Sawa-wa.”

A light green noren curtain, reminiscent of matcha, hangs at the entrance, and the modern Japanese atmosphere, inspired by traditional storehouse architecture, exudes a distinctly Kyoto-like charm.

Here, you can enjoy a variety of matcha-themed items, including drinks like matcha lattes, as well as matcha warabi mochi and matcha ice cream.

You can not only get takeout but also eat in, so please stop by.

■ What Makes “Chawawa” So Special?

The appeal of “Chawawa” is that you can savor thick matcha tea in true Kyoto style.

The first floor is the Matcha Sweets Hall, where a wide variety of matcha-themed sweets are sold.

We use freshly ground first-harvest matcha, milled on-site with a stone mill, and you can enjoy Uji matcha in dishes such as warabi mochi, anmitsu, and parfaits.

You can also order takeout, but since the second floor is a café, you can relax and enjoy your meal there.

This shop’s signature thick-style warabi mochi, made with authentic warabi flour, is a popular item that features rich matcha kneaded right into the dough, giving it a distinctly Kyoto flavor.

■ Reviews of “Chawawa”

Let's take a look at the reviews for "Chawawa."

・You can choose the intensity of the matcha flavor in the matcha ice cream, so you're sure to find the perfect one for you. I tried the strongest matcha flavor, and it was delicious—sweet rather than bitter.

・I had some matcha and warabi mochi, and they were delicious. I was able to relax on the second floor, and the interior, with its paper lanterns and other decorations, had a very Kyoto-like atmosphere.

・There are many tourists here. If you’re taking a short break while exploring Nishiki Market, this is the place to go.

・This is a café in Kyoto where you can enjoy delicious matcha desserts. When I visited on a hot day, they had matcha shaved ice, and it was delicious!

・It’s all about matcha here, and it’s amazing. You can get takeout, but I decided to relax on the second floor. It was delicious.

■ Address and Directions to “Chawawa”

Finally, let's take a look at the address and directions to "Chawawa."

○ Address of “Chawawa”

456 Jumonji-cho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

○ How to Get to “Chawawa”

About an 8-minute walk from "Karasuma Station"

Phone number

075-708-6377

○ Homepage

https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/stores/sawawa/

■ Summary

How was it?

In this post, I’ve introduced the charms of a Kyoto shop called “Sawawa.”

This is a shop with a modern Japanese vibe that you'll come across while walking through Nishiki Market, where you can enjoy matcha-based sweets and other treats.

If you're strolling through Nishiki Market—which has a history of over 1,300 years—and would like to enjoy some matcha, please be sure to stop by.