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All Japan Hakone Amazake-chaya Teahouse
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Amazake-chaya Teahouse

Existing for more than four centuries, the last of Hakone’s historic teahouses serves a sweet, mold-based rice drink.

Hakone, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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The Amazake-chaya Tea House.   Maarten Heerlien/CC BY 2.0
The Amazake-chaya Tea House.   Maarten Heerlien/CC BY 2.0
Amazake-chaya.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The storefront.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
“Amazake.”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The ceiling.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Interior.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The menu.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The tables give off a rustic feel.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A miniature of the teahouse.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The history information board nearby.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Mochi and amazake.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Amazake-chaya.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The historic teahouse by the road.   Kuruman/C BY 2.0
The façade.   : : Ys [waiz] : :/CC BY-ND 2.0
The interior.   Maarten Heerlien/CC BY 2.0
A teahouse with a thatched roof.   Aimaimyi/CC BY-SA 2.0
Amazake at the last remaining of Hakone’s ancient teahouses.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The teahouse’s sign.   Hiroki ONO/CC BY-ND 2.0
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About

The hot spring town of Hakone has attracted visitors for centuries, serving as the entrance to Tokyo for those making their way from the cities of Kyoto or Nara. Naturally, Hakone once boasted many inns and teahouses, which thrived by catering to travelers.

The Amazake-chaya is one—and the last remaining—of such teahouses, established in the early 1620s. It has been damaged by fires and earthquakes several times over the course of its history, but each time the owners simply renovated and carried on. Most recently, the building was renovated in 2009 and restored to how it used to look in the Edo period (1603-1868), complete with a thatched roof.

The teahouse is named after its signature drink, amazake, a sweet, low-alcohol or non-alcoholic sake made from rice and kōji mold that has been enjoyed in Japan for over a thousand years. The Amazake-chaya’s recipe for its amazake dates back to the Edo period, and its sweetness comes from the fermented kōji mold instead of sugar. A hot cup of the teahouse's amazake and a plate of mochi are all that's needed to give visitors a tasty glimpse into the past.

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Teahouse Tea

Know Before You Go

The teahouse is open year-round from 7 am to 5:30 pm. It’s right in front of the Amazake-chaya bus stop, connected to Hakone-Yumoto and Moto-Hakone; the bus usually comes every thirty minutes.

The signature amazake is 400 yen, and, since it's non-alcoholic, children may drink it too. You can also take out the drink as a souvenir for 750 yen. 

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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

December 31, 2020

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  • https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/spot/586
  • http://www.hakoneyumoto.com/eat/3
Amazake-chaya Teahouse
395-1 Futagoyama Hatajuku
Hakone
Japan
35.202236, 139.048771
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