In the heart of Kyoto, the collaboration between Koyori and Atelier Salt has given rise to Mitomi, a minimalist, takeaway-only tea and monaka shop that invites customers into a sensory experience both grounded in tradition and reimagined for modernity.
The shop’s architectural design draws inspiration from the Japanese tea house, creating an intimate and deliberate atmosphere that reflects the essence of hospitality and cultural refinement. With black mortar covering the floors, walls, and ceiling, the space is rendered in muted tones, allowing the vibrant monaka — bite-sized sweets made with seasonal ingredients — to stand out as visual and culinary focal points. Copper elements, chosen for their historical association with tea utensils, add a textured warmth that deepens with age, mirroring the shop's intent to become a part of the surrounding neighborhood over time.
The design's careful attention to materiality extends to its furnishing, where a mix of antiques and modern Japanese craftsmanship subtly coexist. Wall-mounted shelves with numerous small drawers, as well as a large counter made of Japanese horse chestnut, echo the aesthetics of tea ceremony tools: simple yet considered, never detracting from the main act — the monaka and tea. In this compact, thoughtfully curated environment, customers are encouraged to savor the ritual of choosing from five types of monaka, each paired with a freshly brewed tea, carried away like a portable expression of Japanese tradition.
Mitomi’s architectural choices go beyond the surface, embracing a community-oriented ethos. The shop’s façade, minimal and unobstructed, welcomes all passersby, from tourists to neighborhood children who stop in with coins to buy their sweets. It is this balance of openness and curated detail that marks Mitomi as a space that, while dedicated to the craft of fine monaka and tea, resonates with everyday simplicity, offering a moment of contemplation in the bustling city.
