A unique Japanese-inspired sakura afternoon tea set served on tatami mats, in Richmond, just 20 minutes from Vancouver.
For this outing, I headed out for a special girls' day with my best friend and our elementary school-aged daughters. With their Sakura themed tea in mind, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity for the girls to dress up in traditional cultural dresses. They were thrilled by the idea to dress up "fancy" and have little treats together.
Tsujiri is a Japanese dessert shop known for it's matcha green tea offerings. They have several locations in Western Canada alone. The only local store that serves the afternoon tea set is the Richmond location, approximately 13 kilometres south of downtown Vancouver - a straightforward, easy drive of about 20 minutes. Richmond is widely known as one of Metro Vancouver's most vibrant hubs for Asian food, culture, and shopping, so it feels entirely fitting that one of the area's most popular Asian-inspired afternoon tea experiences would call it home.
What made this experience truly stand out was how different it felt from anything else in Vancouver's afternoon tea scene. From the Japanese-inspired food and presentation to the tatami-style seating area, every detail reminded us that we were somewhere genuinely one of a kind. And at $40 per person, the value is surprisingly strong for an experience this distinctive, especially one just a short drive from the city.
If you're someone who has tried it all and is craving something truly novel, this is the tea set for you. Already a Tsujiri fan? Even better - you can order off-menu to round out the experience, which we happily took advantage of. This one is worth checking out!
Until our next tea date. XOXO, Mimi
Notable Points:
- One of the only Japanese-inspired afternoon tea sets in Metro Vancouver - a genuinely unique experience that stands apart from the traditional British format
- At $40/person, excellent value for a themed tea set of this calibre, especially compared to most Vancouver afternoon teas
- The tatami seating area is a highlight in itself - shoes off, low tables, woven grass mats, and a serene atmosphere that transports you completely
- Only three tables in the tatami room, so reservations are essential, book ahead
- Existing Tsujiri fans can order off-menu; à la carte desserts, floats, and soft serve are available alongside the set
- Desserts are delicately and moderately sweetened in the Japanese tradition - ideal for those who find Western afternoon tea sweets too rich or overpowering
- An easy 20-minute drive south of Vancouver in Richmond - pair it with a full afternoon of exploring one of Metro Vancouver's best neighbourhoods for Asian food, shopping, and entertainment
The Vibe
Tsujiri's interior strikes a calm, earthy balance between modern café and traditional Japanese teahouse. The main space is anchored by warm light wood furniture - low tables, cube stools, and round seats - set against a dramatically dark ceiling of exposed black ductwork strung with Edison-style track lighting. On one side is a medium glass dessert case and counter area, the other side features large windows allowing for some natural light to come through.
The tatami seating area where the afternoon tea set is served is tucked slightly behind the main ordering and café area. A raised platform covered in woven grass tatami mats with a teal-trimmed border sets the tone immediately: you slip off your shoes, settle in low to the table, and feel the shift in atmosphere completely. Large windows at the end of the room look out onto the street and beyond that, a large undeveloped lot. It is serene and intimate. With only three tables, the experience feels a little bit exclusive - reservations are a must.
The Tea
The tea selection at Tsujiri keeps things focused and authentically Japanese, offering four varieties to choose from: Kabusencha, Sencha, Hojicha, and Genmaicha. All four originate from the same green tea plant (Camellia sinensis), but each is processed differently, giving each its own distinct character.
Sencha is the everyday classic - steamed and rolled leaves that produce a bright, clean, grassy cup with a gentle astringency. Kabusencha is a shade-grown variety, covered before harvest to slow the leaves' development; the result is a sweeter, more delicate tea with a subtle umami depth, less sharp than sencha and beautifully smooth. Genmaicha blends green tea with roasted brown rice, lending it a warm, nutty, almost popcorn-like aroma that makes it one of the most approachable and comforting of the four. Hojicha stands apart from the others: the leaves are roasted over charcoal until they turn a rich reddish-brown, giving it a toasty, earthy warmth and significantly lower caffeine - a wonderful choice if you're sensitive to caffeine or simply want something mellow.
The teas are served in the most charming way: poured into clear glass bottles topped with blush pink lids and wrapped in small decorative fabric bands alongside sakura-printed teacups that echo the tea set's theme perfectly. A dark green insulated bottle of hot water sits alongside for topping up your cup. The whole presentation is simple and thoughtful, in keeping with the calm Japanese aesthetic of the space.
The Food
The food at Tsujiri is where the Japanese inspiration really comes to life. Each set arrives beautifully arranged on a flat wooden tray with every item given its own saucer, dish, or small vessel. The presentation is clean, minimal, and precise, very much in keeping with the Japanese aesthetic of the space. Altogether it is a generous spread. Nothing is heavy, rich, or overly filling; every element is delicate and considered, with just enough to satisfy without leaving you sluggish. For a regular appetite, the set is perfectly sufficient on its own. If you tend to eat more at lunch or simply want to linger a little longer, Tsujiri's à la carte menu is also available for ordering. We added a bowl of noodles each and were very glad we did.
The Savories
The savoury items lean fully into the Japanese format and are a wonderful departure from anything you'd find at a traditional British afternoon tea. Each set includes two nori-wrapped onigiri-style pieces - one with a teriyaki-glazed filling, rich and savoury, and one with a softer, creamier filling. Both are compact and satisfying without being heavy. Alongside them is a dish of mochi dango: two smooth, pillowy white rice flour balls resting in a pool of kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) and dusted with kinako (roasted soybean powder). It is one of the most quintessentially Japanese things you could put on an afternoon tea set, and it works beautifully - sweet, chewy, earthy, and light all at once. For extra satiety, there is a bowl of ochazuke - a Japanese dish of steamed rice served in a light broth, garnished with green onions and a pickled plum on top.
No Scones
There are no scones in this tea set which makes complete sense given the Japanese format. This is not a British afternoon tea with Japanese flavours layered on top, it is a Japanese tea set in its own right. It is not a gap you will notice, let alone miss.
The Sweets
The sweets are the heart of this tea set, and they are a delight from start to finish. True to Japanese pastry tradition, every item is light and delicately restrained in its sweetness, nothing cloying or heavy, just clean, elegant flavours that pair naturally with the tea. It is the kind of sweetness that leaves you feeling content rather than full.
The sakura panna cotta is the standout. It's a pale blush dome with a smooth, almost mirror-like surface, crowned with a single dried sakura flower. Visually perfect and delicate in flavour: lightly floral, gently sweet, and silky all the way through. It captures the sakura theme more purely than anything else on the tray. The set also offers the chance to try an iconic Japanese dessert - the strawberry shortcake with airy sponge layers, fresh cream, and fresh strawberry on top. The matcha chiffon cake, a pink macaron and a white-chocolate dipped strawberry adds a playful finishing touch. Every item feels intentional and in perfect harmony with the sakura theme.
Ordering À La Carte
The Tsujiri tea set can also be supplemented with items from the regular menu. We each ordered a bowl of noodles alongside our tea set, which rounded out the meal perfectly. If you have a heartier appetite or simply want to make an afternoon of it, the display case near the entrance is also worth a look: it features a rotating selection of beautifully made pastries including matcha cake, black sesame mousse, and yuzu rare cheesecake and more.
To finish things off, I ordered my favourite Tsujiri treat - the yuzu float, served with matcha or hojicha soft serve (you can even do a twist of both). It is one of those combinations that somehow manages to be both refreshing and indulgently rich and creamy at the same time, and it is the perfect way to close out the experience on a high note. If you are already a Tsujiri regular, you will know exactly what I mean. If you are not, I highly recommend coming to grab one on a regular day.
The Tea Ware
The table setting at Tsujiri is a thoughtful balance between modern design with classic Japanese aesthetic. The tea itself arrives in individual clear glass bottles with soft blush pink lids, each one wrapped in a small decorative furoshiki-style fabric band. Alongside each bottle sits a handleless yunomi teacup in classic white porcelain, printed with delicate pink sakura blossoms - a small but perfectly chosen nod to the cherry blossom theme. A tall forest green insulated thermos of hot water completes the tea service, keeping things topped up throughout the meal.
The food vessels are mostly white with minimal design. Everything is arranged on flat natural wood rectangular trays, keeping the overall look warm, organic, and uncluttered. Black chopsticks are offered on a small wooden board alongside.
Alcoholic Beverages: Not offered.
Tsujiri Sakura Tea Set: $40/person. No kids' menu offered. À la carte ordering is available for desserts, floats, and soft serve ice cream.
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday–Sunday, 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Closed Monday and Wednesday. Reservations required for the afternoon tea set.
Address: #1535 – 4777 McClelland Road, Richmond, BC V6X 0N1 T: (604) 370-4956 W: tsujiri.ca
Parking: convenient and free - street-level parking is available throughout the shopping complex. Just be mindful to stay within the premises while your car is parked.
Leave a Reply