UJI, KYOTO  ·  FOUNDED 1818  ·  OVER 200 YEARS OF TEA MASTERY

Our Story —
Two Centuries of Uji Tea

From a single tea merchant in Kyoto in 1818 to a trusted global partner for premium Uji matcha — this is the story of Kyoto Chanokura.

QUICK FACTS
Founded
Origin Uji, Kyoto
Specialty Uji Matcha B2B
MOQ 5 kg+
Ships to Americas, EU, Middle East & Asia
Contact Contact form

"Tradition & Innovation" — the philosophy we have carried for over two hundred years, and the promise we make to every partner worldwide.

Founded in the first year of the Bunsei era (1818), we have devoted ourselves to the art of tea for more than two centuries. Trading as "Iroha-en," we refined our craft through generations until 2021, when we took the name Kyoto Chanokura — a new chapter built on the same timeless foundation.

Our Track Record

Proven Track Record

200 Years of R&D Expertise
Keisuke Hori, 10th Dan Master Tea Blender at Kyoto Chanokura, appraising tea
10th Dan Master Tea Blender Keisuke Hori

10th Dan is the highest rank in Japan’s tea appraisal competition. Only about 30 people have earned it in more than 80 years. His expertise unlocks each tea’s potential, from sourcing and blending to final quality assessment.

★★★ MICHELIN · 17 YEARS RUNNING

Flavored-tea co-development with Yoshihiro Murata,
3rd-generation master of Kikunoi Honten

🌏
Served at the
G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023

The co-developed flavored teas were served to world leaders.

Featured across major media
TV coverage of Kyoto Chanokura flavored tea — Japanese food culture broadcast
Television feature on Kyoto Chanokura G7 tea — Yoshihiro Murata interview
National TV broadcast — Japanese food culture to the world from G7 Hiroshima
TV program showing Kyoto Chanokura flavored Japanese teas developed for G7
✓ Developed Japan's first green tea bag ✓ Product development for SEIKO & more
Overwhelming Supply Capacity
50+ TONNES Total matcha supplied in 2025 (domestic alone)

Kyoto Chanokura supplies Don Quijote — one of Japan's largest discount-store chains — and develops OEM products at scale. We also have a proven track record of listings at Japan's most prestigious department stores.

Kyoto Chanokura matcha packages on a dedicated end-cap display at a major Japanese retail store
Trusted by leading Japanese retailers
Don Quijote — major Japanese discount store chain, Kyoto Chanokura client
Wako Ginza Tokyo — prestigious department store, Kyoto Chanokura client
JR West Isetan — major Japanese department store, Kyoto Chanokura client
Takashimaya — major Japanese department store, Kyoto Chanokura client

…and many more prestigious department stores across Japan.

200 Years of R&D Expertise × Overwhelming Supply Capacity
↓

Our Core Strength

Planning & Development

It is because we hold both — two centuries of blending expertise and industrial-scale supply — that we can plan, develop, and deliver products end to end. A track record of bringing diverse product concepts to life, a network cultivated through our history, and the flavor-reproduction mastery of our 10th Dan tea blender — Japan’s highest rank — have given birth to countless products.

One of Japan’s Largest OEM Track Records

Custom Blending

From Base Blends
to Your Signature Cup.

Our product lineup is only the starting point — pricing, flavor, and volumes are all tailored to each partner.

How we work — from sample tasting to your original blend

01 Sample Tasting

Taste our base blends with your whole team.

›
02 Feedback

Tell us what you need — stronger umami, less bitterness, a flavor that stands up to milk.

›
03 Re-blending by the 10th Dan Tea Master

Keisuke Hori, our 10th Dan Master Tea Blender, re-tunes the blend to match your menu, taste preferences, and price point.

›
04 Production & Partnership

Once you approve the refined proposal, we move on to production volumes and terms.

※ For fully original OEM products, the MOQ may vary depending on the raw materials.

Our History

Over 200 Years in the Making

Founded — Bunsei Era, Kyoto

Our founder begins trading tea in Kyoto under the name "Iroha-en," establishing the roots of what would become one of Japan's most historic tea houses.

Ochatsubo Dochu Revival

We help revive the historic "Ochatsubo Dochu" — the Edo-era procession that delivered new tea to the Shogunate. Reported by Yomiuri, Kyoto, and Sankei Shimbun; a living symbol of our cultural stewardship.

Incorporated as a Company

The business is formally incorporated on 5 April 1979, establishing the organizational structure that supports our nationwide distribution and export operations today.

1990s
Innovation — First Tea Bags & Direct Delivery

We pioneer Japan's first green tea bag and launch catalogue / mail-order sales, bringing authentic Kyoto tea directly to enthusiasts nationwide — a model that later informed our export approach.

Kyoto Design Award — Recognition for Craft

"Yuishin Meisha Zen no Kokoro" selected at the Kyoto Design Award 2010, Section B Category 3 — affirming that our pursuit of beauty extends from the cup to the package.

Reborn as Kyoto Chanokura

On 1 January 2021, we take the name Kyoto Chanokura — a new identity that honours 200 years of heritage while signalling our readiness to bring Uji matcha to the world.

Official Launch in Global B2B Markets

Responding to a growing volume of enquiries from overseas buyers, we officially launch B2B sales in international markets. A milestone over 200 years in the making — now fully realised.

For 200 years we guarded quality by not selling overseas. Now we are ready — and we choose our partners with the same care we bring to every blend.

Company Profile

Kyoto Chanokura K.K.

Company Name 京都茶の蔵株式会社 / Kyoto Chanokura K.K.
Official Website https://www.kyoto-chanokura.co.jp/en
President Takanobu Nakajima
Director / Head of Overseas Sales Hirotomo Katoh
Established Founded 1818  ·  Incorporated 5 April 1979  ·  Renamed 1 January 2021
Capital ¥98,270,000
Headquarters 〒601-8139 京都市南区上鳥羽南岩ノ本町69番地
69 Kami-Toba-Minami-Iwanomoto-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8139, Japan
Business Hours Weekdays 09:00–17:30 (JST)  ·  Closed weekends & public holidays
Contact Contact form
Business Wholesale & retail of matcha, Japanese green tea & related products  ·  OEM & private label  ·  Global B2B export
Major Clients Wako Co., Ltd. · JR West Isetan · Etoile Kaito · Mitsubishi Shokuhin · Mitsui Foods · Itochu Shokuhin · ASKUL · Jointex · Izumiya · Bentsu · Cerema · Meidi-ya · Takashimaya Cross Media

Ready to Partner with
Kyoto's 200-Year Tea House?

Request a free sample or get in touch — we reply within 3 business days.

CLAIM YOUR FREE SAMPLE → Back to Home