Yakumo Saryō

Finally made the trip from central Tokyo. Beautiful setting, tucked away from the bustle of Tokyo. Staff seemed distracted (upon arrival, during service, and upon paying the bill). Breakfast and tea were tasty and portions felt appropriate. Unfortunately no one seemed passionate about their job and the element of omotenashi I’ve grown to love and anticipate was definitely missing. I’d return with a friend for a different meal service and season, but perhaps not again solo given this experience and the effort made on a rainy morning to arrive there.

Situated in southwest Tokyo, between Meguro and Setagaya, away from the tourist trails, this is a place that exudes Zen everywhere and in everything, perfect for enjoying a slow and traditional Japanese breakfast and tea or matcha service. The food and Japanese sweets (wagashi) are refined and the service very elegant and traditional.

Never had tea like this tea. A beautiful compound, mid century but classic, felt timeless. We sat alone at a kind of bar for lunch (for most of the time we had the room to ourselves). The first green tea — gyokuro — was pure umami. Served through four steeepings. First two in a thimbleful. Intense, but not in the usual way one would think of intense tea - light but almost electric on the tongue with a very long finish. Third time a cherry leaf was added, last time iced, stirred, like a cocktail, neat. Food also great, moist morsel of saury, rice balls with sea bream, some very nice sake, the wagashi, but this tea, the matcha and hojicha that followed, were the stars. Extremely attentive service, as one might expect (some English but not much, which was sort of reassuring). Beautiful serving pieces and decor - see especially the antique tukkuri. Ethereal.

Had a truly unforgettable experience doing the tea ceremony at Yakumo Saryo. Saki was beyond sweet and professional. She went above and beyond to make our experience memorable and was an amazing host. The best tea and matcha I have ever tasted. Will definitely be back!

From the moment you walk up the steps to the entrance of this restaurant you’re immediately transported into a world where simplicity meets elegance and modernity. We came here for traditional Japanese breakfast and tea pairings. The food here is simple yet contemporary, complementing the architecture and decor of the restaurant. Once we were done with our breakfast we were taken to the most beautiful space for some green tea and traditional Japanese pastries. You won’t find this place in most guidebooks, but this is a hidden gem where you can take a break and find peace in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Great food great service, everything’s displayed in a very Japanese way, calm and zen. Showcased their specialty in Japanese tea and wagashi. With English menu. Nice view, very quiet area. Only disadvantage is that they are quite over priced.

Best Japanese breakfast in the city. The whole shop is very Zen, with excellent architecture and a exquisitely maintained Japanese garden. Great place to spend a relaxing morning, contemplating life over delicious food and fragrant teas. Advanced reservations are required. I don't think they accept walk-ins.

Very special Japanese tea ceremony experience, the green tea has a lot of umami and tastes like soup. The wagashi is so good and complements the tea really well.

Tokyo, Meguro. November 2022 In the fast pace of Tokyo, sometimes you need to force yourself to slow down. A tranquil slow paced zen like asa gohan can be the perfect step back - if you let it. Shinichiro Ogata is a Tokyo based international architect, designer, restauranteur, and chef. He has taken a mansion in a residential Meguro street and converted it into a peaceful welcoming nihon ryori repast. Breakfast and lunch sets are available, by reservation. Previously, dinner could not be reserved. It was presented on an invitation only basis - the reopening of Japan after a long closure has led Yakumo Saryo to experiemnt with dinner reservations. The breakfast, called asa-cha, is an eye opening opportunity to experience a lifestyle that even Tokyoites have not tried. The grounds open at 9:00am. You are invited to be seated promptly at 9:15am. First of all, put away your smartphone. There is no mention on its website but, except for outside, photography is kindly declined. Taking photos, posing your food, scanning the web, all distract you from the unique setting. And, save the idle conversation for afterwards. Is it that important to hear yourself talk? Second, consider not eating or drinking anything before you arrive. Your body will be in low energy mode. You'll start your morning in a similar way of buddhist priests. Asa-cha starts with a small taste of a warm amazake. The rice used for making nihonshu is barely fermented allowing for a thick milky drink with almost or no alcohol. This instantly warms and wakes your body up. Next, a tea blend is prepared - this tea also had slices of fresh persimmon added. The tea is prepared for each guest or group of guests with a presentation of the tea leaves and a slow deliberate steep. The wait can lull into wanting to close your eyes but you start to appreciate the way ritual slows your body and gives your a chance to breathe and open your senses. The food also comes ritually slowly. You are given a flat bowl of omo-yu - the liquid only, on top of the rice porridge. This is followed by a thin porridge accompanied by dashi tamago, grilled dried sardines, some tdukudani/seasoned chirimen/shio kombu squares, and an umeboshi. You get sweet, salty, sour and your body gets happy. Then, a thicker porridge is presented, with tsukemono, like nukazuke daikon, komatsuna, kabocha, kabu, and aka miso paste to add wherever you like. An aka/shiro miso with nameko mushrooms and fresh tofu completes the main part of asa-cha. After you are done you are given warm hojicha. For the end, you are presented with the daily selection of wagashi and asked to choose one only. Then a bowl of matcha is ceremoniously whisked, individually for each guest, to savor. When you are finished, a cup of warm water is offered to cleanse your palate after asa-cha. You are done, although you are invited to linger to look at the vessels, tea, and wagashi used for asa-cha. All are for sale. Otherwise, it is closer to mid-day and are left with a sense that you had a full relaxed morning in Tokyo - something not enough people take the time to enjoy.

The service and ambiance for private dining were very nice. The food was fresh, featuring interesting ingredients, and the restaurant was exceptionally quiet.

From the moment you walk up the steps to the entrance of this restaurant you're immediately transported into a world where simplicity meets elegance and modernity. We came here for traditional Japanese breakfast and tea pairings. The food here is simple yet contemporary, complementing the architecture and decor of the restaurant. Once we were done with our breakfast we were taken to the most beautiful space for some green tea and traditional Japanese pastries. You won't find this place in most guidebooks, but this is a hidden gem where you can take a break and find peace in one of the world's busiest cities.

oh.my.god. I'm a {recovering} vegan and this was the best, and some of the only, fish I've ever had in my life! Each plate was expertly prepared with a perfect meddling of flavors. The quiet and tranquil ambiance set the tone and the meal feels unrushed and comfortable, a welcome experience in Japan. Honestly, words can't describe it. You should just book your meal and go!

One of the best places I've been to in Tokyo. A bit hard to find, but absolutely fantastic. The interior, exterior is beautiful and the tea waiting room is lovely too. After a delicious meal, try their desserts/// It is an absolutely amazing experience and also a hidden gem that even a lot of people living in Japan do not know about. If you would like to go some place special that has a bit of modern with traditional Japan, this would be one of the best places.

Amazing food, amazing restaurant. Probably the best restaurant I have ever been to in Japan. Loved the design of the building and interior. Food was amazing and prepared right next to our table. Tried sparkling sake for first time and that in itself was very interesting. Staff was very friendly and helpful, and they were never in the way or intruding. Price is way above what I would normally pay, but it was absolutely worth the experience.

fantastic experience for traditional Japanese breakfast. ambiance was entirely peaceful, staff extremely polite and professional, food was meticulously prepared. must try for a unique experience in Japan!