Ikegawa Cha-en Cafe

In Niyodogawa, a small town known for its green tea cultivation in the steep-sided Niyodo River valley. The cafe sources its tea from local farms and serves it in multiple forms alongside simple food. Sitting here with a bowl of ceremonially prepared matcha while looking out at the river and surrounding hillsides gives you a sense of where the flavor actually comes from. The interior is modest and calm. Staff can tell you about the local tea varieties and how the valley's cool mist contributes to the tea's character. It's a relaxed stop between the Niyodo Blue pools upstream and the cedar forest walking trails nearby, fitting naturally into a day exploring the upper Niyodo valley.