"Kinochaya" is a collaboration between Kinokuniya Bookstore and Japanese Tea Cafe. In addition to the Otemachi Building store and Niigata store, which are seated and equipped with Wi-Fi and power supply, there are four stand-type stores in Osaka and Kyobashi, similar to the Shinjuku store (as of July 2018).

The author visited "Kinokuniya Shinjuku Store" on the 1st floor of Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku Main Store, which opened in 2015.


I ordered the most popular "tea master specially selected soft serve" "Matcha soft serve" and the second most popular "hojicha soft serve". A soft serve ice cream based on the original recipe of the tea master.


Matcha soft serve ice cream is a low-sweetness dish that gives you the crisp bitterness of tea. It has a strong finish that is packed with the umami of matcha, making it an irresistible dish for tea lovers. The mouthfeel is smooth and refreshing than expected. It's a nice point that the waffle cone is fully packed ♪



Hojicha soft serve has a light taste and the fragrant flavor of hojicha spreads in your mouth. Impression that is a little sweeter than matcha. The aftertaste was refreshing and I ate it completely.


Kii Chaya's soft serve ice cream recommended for tea lovers. Other drink menus and sweets are on sale. Why don't you take a rest on your way home after choosing a book at Kinokuniya?

■ Kii Chaya Shinjuku Store Address: 3-17-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo