Eikokuya Kocha-ten (えいこく屋紅茶店).

Eikokuya opened in 1978 on the approach to Nittaiji temple in Kakuozan, the quiet hillside quarter east of the centre, and the family still runs the black-tea shop at 2-58 Sanmon-cho, open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Tuesdays, with an Indian restaurant of the same name at the same address serving curry, naan and chai from 9:00 to 20:30. A franchise shop in Irinaka, in Showa-ku, carries the range as well. The company imports directly from India, Sri Lanka and Europe, runs a factory in Seto that blends, packs tea bags and holds organic JAS certification, and supplies more than 400 shops, cafés and hotels.

The shelves are organised the way a buyer thinks. Darjeeling comes by garden and flush, with a 2026 first flush from Orange Valley and a 2026 second flush from Margaret's Hope in 30 g packs next to a Gopaldhara sold by the 200 g and an organic leaf called Karakusa. Ceylon is boxed by district, Dimbula, Uva, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ruhuna and more, all at one price for 80 g, with Uva and a Tea Plucker blend again in 250 g daily packs. Assam, a Nilgiri-based Earl Grey, Keemun and a jasmine green stand beside house blends such as the afternoon Orange Pekoe.

Chai is a specialty of its own, with a plain Assam CTC base, a version sold with masala sachets and the house Masala Tea blended with anise, ginger, cinnamon, green cardamom, clove and pepper, and the spice shelf behind it feeds the restaurant. Single herbs such as peppermint, lemongrass, hibiscus, rosehip, German chamomile, rose, linden and sage come in small bags and larger value bags, there are rooibos, Darjeeling, Uva and Keemun tea bags, flavoured and fruit teas, dried fruit and teaware, and a black-tea soft serve at the door. Online orders ship nationwide for a flat fee, and fax orders are still taken.