At Rikyu, we believe the true potential of Japanese matcha is only beginning to be realized — not just as an ingredient, but as a living culture, one that deserves both deep respect and fresh expression. That belief is what drew us to Senkyu, and it's what makes their story one we're proud to be part of.
A Brand Rooted in Tradition, Built for Today
Since 2019, Senkyu has been on a quiet but determined mission: to honor the depth and integrity of Japanese matcha culture, while making it genuinely accessible to the modern world.
This isn't about simplifying matcha, or packaging tradition for convenience. It's about understanding what makes matcha remarkable — the craftsmanship, the seasonality, the nuance of Uji's terroir — and finding the right forms to carry those qualities forward. New formats. New contexts. New audiences. All without losing what matters.
That philosophy is visible in everything Senkyu does, from their twin ball-shaped stores in Ginza to the sweets they craft using their own original blends of Uji matcha. Their concept — "a moment of sunshine for the heart" — captures something essential: that matcha, at its best, is not just a drink or a dessert. It's a pause. A small ritual of care.
A Collaboration That Embodies the Vision
This spring, Senkyu has partnered with The Prince Park Tower Tokyo — one of the city's flagship luxury hotels, situated beside Tokyo Tower in the greenery of Shiba Park — for a special Matcha Afternoon Tea experience running from May 1 through June 30, 2025.
Now in its second year, the collaboration has deepened. Building on the success of last year's debut, Senkyu and the hotel have pushed the concept further: every item on this year's menu, both sweets and savories, is entirely gluten-free — achieved through rice flour, shiratamako, and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients — without any compromise on the quality or pleasure of the experience.
The menu brings together seven matcha sweets, including Senkyu's signature Matcha Genmai Canelé, a Matcha Rare Cheesecake, Matcha Daifuku wrapped in rice flour with lemon marmalade, and a delicate Matcha Financier Sandwich with house-made Shine Muscat butter. Savory offerings include a Japanese-Western chirashi sushi with crab and shrimp, and a salmon caviar salad — fresh and light, befitting the season. The full experience is accompanied by 19 drink options anchored by Senkyu's own Matcha Cappuccino.
All of this, enjoyed from the hotel lobby lounge, with Tokyo Tower framed in the window.
What This Means for Rikyu
Collaborations like this one sit at the heart of what Rikyu does.
Senkyu had already built something exceptional. What this partnership created was a stage worthy of it — a setting where their matcha philosophy could speak to a broader audience, including international visitors and guests who might be encountering Japanese matcha culture in depth for the very first time.
That's precisely the kind of moment Rikyu exists to help create. We work alongside Japanese matcha brands and connect them with the partners, platforms, and markets that allow their story to travel further — while ensuring that the authenticity of the matcha, and the culture behind it, is never diluted in the process.
Senkyu's vision — to honor tradition and expand its reach — is one we share deeply. And as they continue to grow, we look forward to helping carry that vision beyond Japan, and into the world.
Rikyu is proud to support Senkyu as part of our broader mission to bring authentic Japanese matcha culture to a global audience.
