When visiting Ginza, Tokyo’s upscale district known for its international luxury brands, there’s more to enjoy than just shopping. Among the affluent women who frequent Ginza, experiencing a leisurely afternoon tea has become a popular pastime. Ginza boasts a strong culture of coffee shops offering exquisite afternoon tea experiences, with renowned brands blending their philosophies with the art of afternoon tea. However, when I seek out an afternoon tea in Ginza, I tend to bypass the international big brand stores, as their offerings are similar to those found in Europe. Instead, I gravitate towards the highly regarded coffee shops favored by Tokyo’s older generation. In addition to the previously mentioned Ginza West, I would like to introduce you to the “WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON,” a highly esteemed coffee and afternoon tea shop that captures the hearts of the Japanese.
【Store Information】Wakou Tea Salon
- Address: 2F, Wako Building, 4-4-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Phone: (03)5250-3100
- Business hours: 11:00~19:00 (until 18:30 on Sundays and holidays)
WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON is a café located next to the landmark Wako Clock Tower at the intersection of Ginza 4-chome. It is a café attached to Wako Department Store.
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Dining Environment at Heguang Tea Salon
The first floor of Heikou Tea Salon is for take-out desserts. If you want to have afternoon tea inside, you need to climb the stairs to the second floor. However, Heikou Tea Salon is a very popular restaurant. This type of nostalgic and classical cafe with a mix of Japanese and Western styles is very popular among middle-aged Japanese people. We arrived at 2:00 pm on a weekday and had to wait for 20 minutes before being seated.
The dining environment follows a Western style, with waiters and waitresses dressed in small suits and maid dresses providing very professional service. The guests dining are also very formal, similar to the concept of Europeans dressing up carefully when going to a restaurant. The dining atmosphere at 光ティーサロン is more focused on the French emphasis on the dining atmosphere rather than just eating delicious food or drinking good drinks. This means that the guests are all very high-end and elegant, but the food may not necessarily be delicious! However, the ingredients are definitely very particular and authentic.
Menu of Heguang Tea Salon
The menu at He Guang Tea Salon is available in both Japanese and English, and mainly sells drinks. There are many types of black tea, which can rival the menu at Mariage Frères, the French tea specialty store that Piaor loves. The prices are also quite expensive, but I think this price is more like a quality setting for dining guests. Although the tea leaves are not bad, the black tea is not as fragrant and pure as other tea specialty stores. However, just by looking at the restaurant’s rule that children under 12 are not allowed to enter, you can tell that the restaurant is regulating the quality of dining guests and hoping to create an atmosphere of a high-end and elegant restaurant.
There are also hot chocolate, fruit juice, alcohol and other drinks.
The menu is not very extensive, mainly consisting of light meals such as salads, soups, sandwiches, and toast.
Earl Grey Tea
The Earl Grey tea at WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON is a very unique flavor that I have tried. The Earl Grey tea from TWG that I usually drink is more of a refreshing and fragrant type, while the Earl Grey from MARIAGE FRÈRES has a fresh floral scent added to the original bergamot fragrance, creating a delicate and layered taste. The Earl Grey tea from FORTNUM & MASON is made by smoking Keemun black tea with bergamot essential oil, giving it a unique ruby red color and a gentle taste. However, the Earl Grey tea from WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON is very different from the typical Japanese black tea that I usually drink. It has a strong aroma, deep red color, heavy tea taste, and a smoky flavor. Actually, I don’t really like strong black tea with heavy flavors, and prefer the refreshing Japanese black tea. But for tea lovers, it’s definitely worth trying and comparing.
Strawberry Ice Cream French Toast
Next, let me introduce the afternoon tea desserts at WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON. This berry ice cream French toast is a must-try for many women because it’s good for girls!
Strawberry ice cream French toast is a very solid dish. The French toast is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a rich egg flavor. Those who like thick pancakes with an egg aroma will like this dish, but those who don’t like greasy food may find it a bit difficult to eat. However, the strawberry, berry, and ice cream parts are quite good.
After visiting WAKO ANNEX TEA SALON, I found that middle-aged Japanese people really love this kind of traditional Japanese-Western fusion style afternoon tea shop. Japanese people will proudly show off to you that they have been to this shop, giving them a sense of identity and superiority. In terms of food, I don’t think it’s particularly delicious, but the dining environment is similar to that of a century-old European café where people mainly come to chat. The high customer unit price is maintained to ensure dining quality, so the dining atmosphere is very pleasant. If you want to experience this kind of Japanese afternoon tea shop that is similar to European cafes, it is still worth a try!
Ginza One-Day Shopping Itinerary
【Morning】Tsukiji Outer Market Take Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line from “Tsukiji Station” to “Ginza Station”→ 【Afternoon】Shopping in Ginza, having afternoon tea, shopping in Yurakucho, taking a walk and seeing maple leaves in Hibiya Park Take Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from “Ginza Station” to “Shimbashi Station”→ 【Evening】Enjoying Tokyo night view and watching Miyazaki Hayao’s clock at Shiodome Caretta
Ginza is very close to the surrounding Tsukiji Market and Shiodome, making it a great place to visit. You can also refer to my itinerary for a one-day trip to Ginza, which includes Tsukiji Market, Shiodome, Ginza, Yurakucho, and Hibiya.
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