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Yanoen Kissa Yurin

Fragrant, mellow Japanese tea served in a historic building

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Yurin-kan is located in the Kiryu Shinmachi Important Traditional Buildings Preservation District. The group of storehouses was built and used for storage purposes between the Edo and Showa periods, and in the past, sake, soy sauce, and miso were produced here. Yanoen stands at the entrance to the site. Founded in 1717, this historic store has a history of over 300 years, and it was established in the current building in 1928. The building has been designated an important traditional building of the city of Kiryu.

These days, Yanoen sells tea, rice, and sake, and operates a cafe as well. Enter the front of the store with its dignified Kirin Beer sign, and you will find the cafe at the very back.

Tasteful and full of historic flavor, the store is designated as an important cultural property
Tasteful and full of historic flavor, the store is designated as an important cultural property

Here, customers can enjoy Japanese tea made from choice tea leaves unique to Yanoen, which sells tea alongside cakes and snacks. Types of Japanese tea available at the cafe include yurin, kura-akari, Japanese black tea, hojicha (roasted tea), and genmai-cha (green tea with roasted brown rice). Among them, kura-akari is especially popular. With its rich fragrance and mellow taste, it will have tea lovers moaning with delight. It is also attractive for its well-balanced flavor, which can be enjoyed whether it is served hot or iced.

The cafe space located at the back of the store. Its ambiance differs from that of the building exterior
The cafe space located at the back of the store. Its ambiance differs from that of the building exterior

Now, don't be surprised! The ceramic cup decorated with a crest that your tea is poured into is yours to take home! The cup serves nicely as a souvenir of your trip, but if you bring your own cup to the cafe, you can enjoy all subsequent cups at a cheaper price. Perhaps a taste comparison of the cafe's five varieties of tea would be a nice idea. While the flavor of the tea at Yurin is of the highest quality, give the coffee a try too. The cafe serves Horizon Coffee by Horizon Labo. It is the work of Kiryu-born Hibiki Iwano, a young coffee roaster still in his teens. This is Kiryu Yukari coffee, which can't easily be found anywhere else, so we would like to recommend it as well.

The ceramic cups can be taken home. The cakes and snacks include monaka wafer cakes and dorayaki red bean pancakes
The ceramic cups can be taken home. The cakes and snacks include monaka wafer cakes and dorayaki red bean pancakes

Yanoen Kissa Yurin—a place where you will find many things related to Kiryu. A flavor that goes perfectly with a walk around Kiryu and its rows of historic buildings.

Photos

  • Tasteful and full of historic flavor, the store is designated as an important cultural property

    Tasteful and full of historic flavor, the store is designated as an important cultural property

  • The cafe space located at the back of the store. Its ambiance differs from that of the building exterior

    The cafe space located at the back of the store. Its ambiance differs from that of the building exterior

  • The ceramic cups can be taken home. The cakes and snacks include monaka wafer cakes and dorayaki red bean pancakes

    The ceramic cups can be taken home. The cakes and snacks include monaka wafer cakes and dorayaki red bean pancakes

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Details

Address
2-6-30 Honcho, Kiryu City, Gunma
Telephone number
0277-45-2925
Business Hours
9:30am-6:30pm (L.O.6:00pm)
Closed
Every Monday (Open on National Holidays), The New Year holiday
Payment methods
Cash only
Access
20 minutes on foot from Kiryu Station on the JR Ryomo Line.