Family Dining · Practical guide
Fukujuen
Kyoto Uji Tea Since 1790, FUKUCHA Cafes, and Airport Shop Locations
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
Last checked against official information: 2026-11-15.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | 福寿園 (Fukujuen) |
| Brand Name | Fukujuen / 福寿園 (株式会社福寿園 / Fukujuen Co., Ltd.) |
| Store Type | Historic Uji tea manufacturer, multi-floor tea cultural flagship, modern cafe ("Saryo FUKUCHA") & airport boutique |
| Target Audience | Tea enthusiasts, cultural travelers seeking hands-on matcha stone-milling or tea ceremony experiences in Kyoto, cafe-goers, and departing flyers at Narita and Kansai airports |
| Ordering Style | Staffed retail and department-store counters; Saryo FUKUCHA operates Kyoto Station, Shijo and Uji cafe formats with different menus and hours. Workshops at designated venues require checking the current program and booking terms. |
| Membership Required? | Membership is not generally required for ordinary in-store shopping. Tea-room and workshop reservations depend on the venue. Tax-free shopping, where offered, requires eligible nonresident purchaser status and passport verification. |
| Approximate Price Range | Prices depend on the named tea, gift pack or (where available) cafe menu. Check the official listing or the venue’s current menu; no chain-wide price range applies. |
| Multilingual Support | Official web information may be available in English. Menu language and staff assistance depend on the individual shop or cafe; confirm locally. |
| Payment Methods | Confirm accepted cards, cash and electronic payment types at the specific branch; host-facility payment acceptance does not establish acceptance by each tea counter. |
| Store Network | The official directory lists tea retail counters, the Kyoto Main Store, airport shops and separate foodservice/experience venues. It does not present a verified comparable total of independent tea shops; floors and cafes must not be counted as separate retail stores. |
What it is
Founded in Yamashiro, Kyoto in 1790, Fukujuen is a long-established producer and retailer of Uji tea and a collaborator on Suntory’s Iyemon bottled-tea brand. Its official listings distinguish tea stores, cafes and cultural experience facilities.
The Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store on Shijo-dori hosts tea-related shopping, dining and experience spaces on different floors. Saryo FUKUCHA operates cafe formats including at Kyoto Station. Airport visitors should distinguish the Narita Terminal 2 Main Building 4F shop (before security) from the Kansai Terminal 1 international departures 2F shop (after security).
How to order
Step 1: Choosing Between Kyoto Main Store, FUKUCHA & Airport Shops
- Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store (Shijo-dori, Kyoto): Shops, dining spaces and bookable cultural experiences are spread across the building; consult the official floor and program pages for what is open and which activities require reservations.
- Saryo FUKUCHA: Visit the Kyoto Station-area cafe or the Shijo Main Store cafe for tea and desserts, checking each venue’s current floor, menu and service times. Kyoto Porta, Kyoto Station Central Entrance 2F; Kyoto Station is not the same venue as the Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store on Shijo-dori. The Kyoto Station cafe lists 08:00–20:00 (last order 19:30) and Shijo lists 11:00–18:00 (last order 17:30), closed Wednesdays; check for holidays.
- Airport Shops: Narita T2 Main Building 4F is before security (official Narita Airport listing); Kansai T1 2F is in the international after-security area (official Kansai Airport listing). Purchase rules and eligible tax-free treatment differ by seller and location; do not call both post-security.
- Narita T2’s airport directory currently lists 07:30–21:00 at the before-security 4F shop; the Kansai T1 directory lists hours that can vary with flights. Check each airport’s current listing before travel.
Step 2: Exploring Custom Blending & Uji Tea Grades
- At the Kyoto Main Store and major department store counters, tea specialists can recommend loose-leaf Sencha, Gyokuro, Kabusecha, or roasted Hojicha tailored to your water softness and flavor preference.
- Browse the current Fukujuen product catalog for named sencha, gyokuro and matcha offerings. Gift packaging and historic series availability depend on the actual product and branch.
Step 3: Booking Workshops at Uji Tea Studio or CHA Yugaku Park
- If traveling to Uji or Kizugawa, book a session at Uji Tea Studio (Ujicha Kobo) or CHA Yugaku Park to hand-roll green tea leaves or practice traditional tea stone-milling.
Step 4: Checkout & the November 2026 Tax Refund System
- Check the actual seller: Tax-free shopping is available only when that specific seller is an authorized tax-free shop and processes the eligible purchase. A shop's presence inside a department store or airport does not automatically qualify that counter. Ask before paying; there is no assumed brand-wide tax-free service.
- Pay first: For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, an eligible nonresident buyer pays the full tax-inclusive price. The statutory minimum is ¥5,000 before tax at the same authorized seller on the same day; the seller must record the eligible purchase electronically using the required passport details.
- Export confirmation: Have Japan Customs verify the goods are being taken out of Japan within 90 days of purchase. Keep them available for presentation if requested. Complete confirmation before checking in baggage containing the goods. The 2026 rules removed the old general-goods/consumables categories and mandatory special sealed packaging, but food purchased tax-free must not be consumed in Japan.
- Refund: Following customs export confirmation, the seller or its designated refund operator repays the tax-equivalent amount using the method agreed at the time of purchase. Do not assume that one universal airport refund counter serves all merchants.
- Different transaction: A restaurant, cafe dessert or drink consumed during the Japan visit is not an exported retail purchase and is not eligible for the shopping refund. Check product labels and your destination country's food-import rules before carrying tea or sweets abroad.
What to order first
1. Uji Matcha, Gyokuro & Sencha Gift Tea
- What it is: Fukujuen offers packaged matcha, gyokuro and sencha. Check each product for its intended preparation, origin, milling claims and tin or box format. “Ceremonial grade” is not an official Japanese national grading standard.
- Why buy it: Represents over 230 years of Yamashiro tea-blending expertise in sealed, suitcase-ready tins.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
2. Saryo FUKUCHA Tea Pairings & Matcha Tiramisu (Cafe Dine-In)
- What it is: Tea and seasonal sweets served at designated Saryo FUKUCHA cafes. The Kyoto Station cafe is at Kyoto Porta, Kyoto Station Central Entrance 2F; the Shijo cafe is on Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store 2F, and there is a separate Uji venue. Check each location’s current menu and hours.
- Why order it: A convenient tea break with the venue’s own tea and dessert menu. Meals consumed in Japan are excluded from the shopping tax refund.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
3. Uji Tea Tasting Assortment Sets (Airport Carry-On Friendly)
- What it is: Fukujuen sells Japanese tea for gifts at its airport branches. Confirm the specific selection at Narita Terminal 2 or Kansai Terminal 1; a four-tea sampler is not guaranteed at both.
- Why buy it: Tea can be a compact gift. Kansai T1’s outlet is after security; Narita T2’s is before security, so plan any checked luggage accordingly.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
4. Traditional Matcha Tea Ceremony Starter Kits
- What it is: Tea tools such as bamboo chasen whisks, bowls and matcha tins may be available individually or in sets. Check the actual set’s contents, brand and product listing.
- Why buy it: Everything needed to recreate authentic frothy Kyoto matcha at home.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
5. Flavored & Botanical Japanese Tea Bags
- What it is: Look for Fukujuen tea bags or flavored teas listed at the branch. Tea-bag materials, certification, flavors and availability depend on the specific product.
- Why buy it: Convenient, mess-free brewing in hotel rooms or offices without needing a teapot.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
Payment & practical info
- Before paying: Confirm your store's accepted payment methods, opening hours, cafe last-order times and any reservation or numbered-ticket arrangements on the specific official store page. Department-store and shopping-mall facilities can have different rules from standalone boutiques.
- Tax-free shopping: At participating authorized retailers only, the November 1, 2026 refund method requires payment including tax, electronic purchase records, and export confirmation by Japan Customs within 90 days. Check eligible seller status at the point of sale; obtain confirmation before checking baggage that contains the purchases. The agreed seller/refund operator handles the refund; there is no universal merchant-independent airport refund desk.
- Food and allergens: Check ingredient and allergen information for the exact product or menu item. Sweets and cafe desserts can contain milk, eggs, wheat, soy, nuts, or other allergens, and tea soba (where sold) may contain buckwheat. Ingredient listings and shared-kitchen cross-contact are different issues. Confirm vegetarian, vegan and halal suitability item by item instead of assuming a chain-wide policy.
- Storage and travel: Follow each package's storage, expiry and brewing directions; chilled sweets need appropriate cold-chain handling. Check airline rules for powders and liquids and the rules at your country of arrival rather than assuming every food item is importable.
Good to know / Common mistakes
1. Know Which Side of Airport Security the Shop Is On
The Fukujuen Narita T2 shop is on the Main Building 4F before security; buy there before handing over checked bags if those purchases must go in the suitcase. The Kansai T1 2F international shop is after security, where purchases may instead have to travel as cabin baggage. Observe the store’s current terms and your airline’s cabin limits.
2. Book Tea Workshops in Advance
Workshops and tea experiences are offered only at designated venues and times. Consult the official booking page for that workshop; do not assume same-day walk-in space or a universal advance-reservation policy.
3. Verify Current Offers at the Actual Branch
Avoid relying on an assumed tourist coupon or percentage discount. Check the specific store or host facility for a currently published offer and its conditions.
FAQ
Q1: Did Fukujuen make Suntory’s Iyemon bottled green tea?
Fukujuen and Suntory jointly developed Iyemon, which launched in 2004. It is sold as a Suntory bottled-tea brand. Fukujuen contributed tea expertise and the name of its founder, Fukui Iemon; describing Fukujuen as the sole maker or manufacturer would be misleading.
Q2: Where is Saryo FUKUCHA located in Kyoto?
Saryo FUKUCHA Kyoto Station is at Kyoto Porta, Kyoto Station Central Entrance 2F (08:00–20:00, last order 19:30). FUKUCHA Shijo is on Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store 2F, and FUKUCHA Uji is a separate shop in Uji. Check holidays and venue-specific operating hours.
Q3: How do I receive my consumption tax refund under the 2026 airport customs system?
Only qualifying goods sold by a participating authorized tax-free retailer can enter the November 1, 2026 refund system. Eligible nonresident customers pay tax-inclusive prices and supply passport information for electronic purchase records (at least ¥5,000 before tax from the same seller on the same day). Japan Customs must confirm export within 90 days of purchase, before checked baggage containing the goods is handed over. Exported food must not be consumed in Japan; special unopened or sealed packaging is not a blanket legal requirement. After confirmation, the retailer or designated refund operator pays using the agreed refund method. Cafe meals and drinks consumed in Japan are not eligible.
Sources
- Fukujuen Co., Ltd. Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-13)
- Suntory Official — Kyoto Fukujuen and Iyemon Joint Development (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Fukujuen Official History — Iyemon Collaboration in 2004 (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Fukujuen Official Tea Store Directory (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Narita Airport Official Fukujuen Store Location — T2 4F Before Security (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Kansai Airport Official Fukujuen Store Location — T1 2F After Security (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Saryo FUKUCHA Official Three-Cafe Directory (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Fukujuen Kyoto Flagship Floor Guide (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Japan Tourism Agency: Traveler Guide to the 2026 Tax Refund Program (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Japan Tourism Agency: Retailer Guidance for the Refund Method (Checked: 2026-11-14)