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Okunishi Rokuhoen

奥西緑芳園

Okunishi Rokuhoen (株式会社奥西緑芳園) is a Kyoto tea house founded in 1865 (Keio 1) by Okunishi Risaburo I under the guidance of the Kanbayashi family, hereditary tea masters of Uji. Now run by fifth-generation president Okunishi Kazuo from Kyotanabe, the company says it has managed its own tea gardens in the area for roughly 350 years and handles cultivation, processing, and sales in-house. It holds Imperial Household supplier status, having provided matcha for palace garden parties and tea ceremonies, and supplies temples including Kyoto's Daitokuji (and its sub-temple Tokuzenji) and Kamakura's Enkakuji, several of whose past abbots lent their names and preferences to specific matcha blends. The company was incorporated in November 1952 with ¥10 million in capital and 7 employees, and describes its business as manufacturing, wholesale, and retail of Japanese tea.

Brand story

Okunishi Rokuhoen frames its identity around a single word: quality first. Its official company history traces the founding to 1865 under Kanbayashi-family guidance, and highlights a client list built over generations — the Imperial Household, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Rinzai Zen temples (Daitokuji and its sub-temple Tokuzenji, Kamakura's Enkakuji), Kyoto kaiseki and yoshoku restaurants, tea ceremony schools, and ceramic artists. Several of its koicha blends are literally named for the tea-ceremony grand masters (iemoto) of the three main Kyoto schools descended from Sen no Rikyu — Omotesenke's Yuyusai, Urasenke's Zamosai, and Mushanokoji Senke's Futessai — each said to be blended to that iemoto's personal preference (goonomi), alongside temple-abbot-preference blends named for Daitokuji's Taigaku Imaoka and Enkakuji's Yokota Nanrei.

Brand Facts

Japanese name: 奥西緑芳園
Founded: 1865
Headquarters: 5 Kusauchi Higashi-Kakiuchi, Kyotanabe, Kyoto
Origin regions: Uji
Official site: okunishirokuhoen.jp
Ships to: Japan
Price/gram range: ¥87–¥177/g
Blends tracked: 10

Origin regionsUji

Blend Lineup

10 blends

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Okunishi Rokuhoen been producing matcha?: Okunishi Rokuhoen was founded in 1865, making it over 160 years old. It dates to the Edo or Meiji era of Japanese tea production, based in 5 Kusauchi Higashi-Kakiuchi, Kyotanabe, Kyoto.
Where is Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha grown?: Okunishi Rokuhoen sources its matcha from Uji in Kyoto prefecture, one of Japan's recognized matcha-producing regions.
Does Okunishi Rokuhoen offer single-origin matcha?: Yes, all of Okunishi Rokuhoen's blends are single-origin, meaning the tea leaves come from one specific farm or region rather than being blended across multiple sources.
How many matcha products does Okunishi Rokuhoen offer?: Okunishi Rokuhoen currently offers 10 matcha blends across 10 grade levels (Koicha — Mushanokoji Senke Futessai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Urasenke Zamosai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Special Grade (Tokujo), Koicha, Koicha — Daitokuji Temple Blend, Koicha — Premium (Tokujo), Koicha/Usucha — Enkakuji Temple Blend, Koicha — Special Selection, Koicha — Omotesenke Yuyusai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Daitokuji Tokuzenji Temple Blend). The lineup ranges from Choshou no Mukashi to Yurin no Mukashi, covering different preparation styles and price points.
Why is Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha more expensive?: Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha ranges from ¥87 to ¥177 per gram, placing it in the premium tier. Higher pricing typically reflects stone-milling, single-origin sourcing, specific cultivar selection, or traditional production methods — and Okunishi Rokuhoen's 161-year heritage.
Where does Okunishi Rokuhoen ship to?: Okunishi Rokuhoen ships to: Japan. Availability may vary — check their official site for current shipping options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Okunishi Rokuhoen been producing matcha?

Okunishi Rokuhoen was founded in 1865, making it over 160 years old. It dates to the Edo or Meiji era of Japanese tea production, based in 5 Kusauchi Higashi-Kakiuchi, Kyotanabe, Kyoto.

Where is Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha grown?

Okunishi Rokuhoen sources its matcha from Uji in Kyoto prefecture, one of Japan's recognized matcha-producing regions.

Does Okunishi Rokuhoen offer single-origin matcha?

Yes, all of Okunishi Rokuhoen's blends are single-origin, meaning the tea leaves come from one specific farm or region rather than being blended across multiple sources.

How many matcha products does Okunishi Rokuhoen offer?

Okunishi Rokuhoen currently offers 10 matcha blends across 10 grade levels (Koicha — Mushanokoji Senke Futessai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Urasenke Zamosai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Special Grade (Tokujo), Koicha, Koicha — Daitokuji Temple Blend, Koicha — Premium (Tokujo), Koicha/Usucha — Enkakuji Temple Blend, Koicha — Special Selection, Koicha — Omotesenke Yuyusai Iemoto Goonomi, Koicha — Daitokuji Tokuzenji Temple Blend). The lineup ranges from Choshou no Mukashi to Yurin no Mukashi, covering different preparation styles and price points.

Why is Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha more expensive?

Okunishi Rokuhoen matcha ranges from ¥87 to ¥177 per gram, placing it in the premium tier. Higher pricing typically reflects stone-milling, single-origin sourcing, specific cultivar selection, or traditional production methods — and Okunishi Rokuhoen's 161-year heritage.

Where does Okunishi Rokuhoen ship to?

Okunishi Rokuhoen ships to: Japan. Availability may vary — check their official site for current shipping options.