Hoho Hojicha Uji Main Store (焙茶専門店 宇治本店)
I know, I know—what on earth is wrong with me? Uji is practically the matcha capital, and here I am, sipping on hojicha like it’s no big deal. But honestly, there’s a reason. First of all, the lines at the popular matcha spots were crazy long—tourists everywhere, standing in lines that looked like something out of a Black Friday sale, only with fewer TVs and more green tea. Even the stands were packed. So, after dodging a few crowds like a pro, I stumbled upon Hoho.
It was empty. Peaceful. I knew straight away it was the spot for me.
One: I love hojicha more than matcha (don’t judge me, matcha lovers). Two: I could sit down immediately. No awkward hovering or pretending to ponder the menu—I just got to sit and breathe for a second.
By the time I’d made my order and plonked myself down at a lovely window seat, things started to take a turn. Suddenly, the door opened, and a flood of tourists came in. Many of them were speaking Chinese, and a few were chatting away in Spanish. Before I knew it, the place was buzzing.
And then, this cute young Japanese couple came up to me and asked, "Excuse me, would you mind if we shared the table?" Of course, I said yes—how could I say no? And just like that, the whole place was crowded. I’m sitting there, sipping my hojicha latte, thinking, Was this place really empty a few minutes ago? It was like the moment I found peace, the universe decided to throw in a little more hustle and bustle for good measure. But hey, at least I was surrounded by people, enjoying their drinks and chatting away in different languages, which was kind of fun in its own way.
Despite the sudden crowd, I was still in my little corner of heaven. I got my hojicha latte, a side of ice cream with strawberry and brownie (because I can never resist a little extra), and a front-row seat to the most unexpected crowd of tourists I could have hoped for. Some days, it's just about embracing the chaos.
