About the Shop

Hello, lovely travelers! ☆
This is Rikotama, your Sarukuma writer!

Today I’d like to introduce a truly special spot located in
Kumamoto Prefecture, Onoue, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City —
【Hitoha (一葉) Japanese Tea Specialty Shop】 (*^▽^*)

The shop is located right near 【Nishikigaoka Park】, which Ayumama previously introduced!
It’s right next to Domino’s Pizza!

【Nishikigaoka Park】A Park with a Special Play Area for Toddlers! 【Nishikigaoka, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City】

The shop opened this past May! ☆
Since it’s only open Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 17:00,
timing my visit was tricky — but at last, I made it in! (≧▽≦)

This was my first visit to a ‘Japanese tea specialty shop’ ever!
I had a feeling something wonderful was waiting inside ♡ My heart was racing (*´ω｀*)

Wow… absolutely beautiful! ♡

The interior was even more stylish than I imagined (≧◇≦)
And — oh my — the entire space was filled with the most wonderful aroma of Japanese tea!

There’s also a cozy eat-in space toward the back!

They were burning traditional Japanese incense (okō) here ☆
Ah-ha! So that’s where the lovely fragrance was coming from! (/・ω・)/
I’d love to try this at home too… ♪

They also sell beautiful traditional Japanese tableware and pieces decorated with mizuhiki (Japanese decorative cord) patterns — perfect companions for enjoying tea ♬

Here’s Hitoha’s original ‘Midori-maro’ tea series!

Enjoy 7 carefully selected premium teas from across Kyushu (*^▽^*)

They even have affordable ‘single-brew packs’ so you can try them easily — perfect souvenirs for travelers!

Premium Yame Tea ¥150
Premium Chiran Tea ¥150
Hitoyoshi Top-Grade Tamaryokucha ¥180

While the teas and tableware were all wonderful, what really caught my eye were the adorable
floral arrangements scattered around the shop!
…or are those ikebana?

I asked the staff, and it turns out the owner’s husband runs a preserved flower studio right next door! (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

The studio focuses on Western-style arrangements,
but here at the shop, they display Japanese-style flower arrangements to match the atmosphere!

From Monday to Thursday, the wife also helps at the flower studio,
which is why Hitoha is open only on Fridays and Saturdays!

That makes perfect sense!
…and to be clear, those are preserved flowers, not ikebana!!! (;^ω^)

Parking is located behind Hitoha,
in front of the preserved flower school ‘Merci Rose’!

There’s also one parking spot beside the shop itself!

Recommended Menu

Here’s the cafe menu!

Hot — Green Tea ¥200
　　　Bo-Hojicha (Roasted Stem Tea) ¥150
　　　Matcha Latte ¥350
　　　Matcha ¥350

Iced — Green Tea ¥200
　　　Matcha Latte ¥350

This time, I tried the Hot Matcha Latte for ¥350!

Smooth and creamy on the palate,
with just the right amount of matcha bitterness — absolutely delicious ♡

The owner was so warm and welcoming, and we chatted about everything from tea to daily life (*^▽^*)

When I mentioned, “My son won’t drink tea,”
she kindly recommended the ‘Bo-Hojicha,’ which is gentle enough for children to enjoy ☆

It’s no surprise that, despite being open only Fridays and Saturdays,
customers come from both inside and outside the prefecture! Definitely!

I truly want everyone to experience this place!
Hitoha Japanese Tea Specialty Shop — please come and find your moment of zen ♡

And here’s the ‘Bo-Hojicha.’
No bitterness at all — just a subtle natural sweetness ♬

This one might just win my son over too ☆

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.