Cloud Club Matcha Ginza: my first matcha in Japan (and the longest line I waited in)

Cloud Club Matcha Ginza was the very first matcha I tried in Japan. That alone makes it memorable.

Our first full day in Tokyo was dedicated to exploring Ginza, one of the city’s most polished and upscale neighbourhoods. Earlier that morning we had wandered through Tsukiji Outer Market, sampling street food and getting our bearings.

Afterwards we walked toward Cloud Club Matcha, a tiny stand tucked along one of Ginza’s quieter streets. And by tiny, I mean tiny.

It is essentially a matcha window where you order, wait, and then stand somewhere nearby to drink.

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The TikTok famous matcha line

Because Cloud Club Matcha Ginza is extremely popular on TikTok, there was already a line stretching down the street when we arrived. At that point I had only been in Japan for a few hours, so naturally I assumed this might be the reality everywhere.

I was wrong.

This ended up being the longest line I waited in during the entire trip. We stood outside for almost an hour. A decision I told myself I would not repeat again. And I didn’t. Thankfully most cafés in Japan were nowhere near this chaotic.

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The unexpected travel moment

Oddly enough, the long line turned into one of the nicest travel moments of the trip. Since there was nothing else to do except stare at the small menu board, people in line started chatting with each other.

We met a few different couples who had come to the area for nearby breakfast spots. There was a pancake and waffle café just down the street that was also drawing a crowd.

But the most memorable conversation was with two women traveling together who had actually met at a hostel earlier in the trip. Within minutes we were all talking like we had known each other for years.

We compared travel plans, discussed what matcha to order, and shared stories about where we were from. Everyone came from completely different parts of the world.

Spending that hour together honestly made the experience feel special.

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What you can order at Cloud Club Matcha

The menu at Cloud Club Matcha Ginza is surprisingly simple.

There are essentially two main options:

• regular matcha
• premium matcha

The premium matcha uses first harvest leaves, which means the flavour tends to be smoother and more balanced. Naturally, I ordered the premium.

The friends we met in line ordered the regular version, which meant we were able to compare both drinks.

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The matcha itself

The premium matcha had a beautifully balanced flavour. You could taste the natural bitterness of the tea, but it was rounded out with a gentle sweetness and that signature umami note matcha lovers appreciate.

The regular matcha, on the other hand, tasted noticeably sweeter and less complex. If you are visiting Cloud Club Matcha Ginza, I would strongly recommend choosing the premium version.

The drinks are already sweet enough on their own, so there is no need to add anything extra. One thing I appreciated is that the matcha is prepared right in front of you, whisked fresh before serving. Watching that process never gets old.

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The standing matcha experience

Since Cloud Club is just a stand, there is no seating area. Most people simply stand along the street nearby while enjoying their drinks.

At the beginning of the trip I felt slightly awkward walking around with drinks because Japanese culture tends to encourage drinking in one place rather than wandering.

Eventually I realized that it is mostly about being respectful with garbage and spills. As long as you are mindful, it is perfectly fine to sip your drink while strolling outside.

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Would I wait in line again?

The matcha was very good. But the line was very long. Looking back, I would probably only return to Cloud Club Matcha Ginza if there were little to no wait.

Once I tried other matcha spots in Japan, especially places like Hatoya Matcha, my expectations shifted quite a bit. Still, for a first matcha experience in Japan, it was memorable.

Great flavour, kind staff, and an unexpected hour spent making friends in line. Not a bad way to start a trip.