Tabelog ratingHinode En is an old-fashioned tea shop in the coastal town of Hayama, best known for two things: roasting its own hojicha tea on-site and serving enormous bowls of tea-infused kakigori (shaved ice). The intense, authentic aroma of real tea, combined with light, fluffy ice and generous portions, has made it a local institution that draws long lines throughout the summer.
Guests consistently praise the kakigori, especially the Hojicha-kintoki (roasted green tea) and Ujikintoki (matcha). The ice is lauded for its strong tea flavour and delicate texture, with a surprise of vanilla ice cream and house-made anko (sweet red bean paste) hidden in the middle. Each order comes with a cup of hot tea to balance the sweetness. Other traditional sweets like tokoroten (jelly noodles) and oshiruko (sweet red bean soup) are also popular, as are the tea leaves sold for souvenirs.
The main drawback is the wait. In peak season, expect to queue for 30 to 90 minutes. A few visitors find the anko overly sweet or the service a bit brusque during busy times. However, most agree that the quality and portion sizes represent excellent value for money.
Reviewers report a typical spend of ¥1,000–¥1,999. Recently, the popular Ujikintoki kakigori was priced around ¥930 and the Hojicha-kintoki at about ¥880. Other items like tokoroten were around ¥550.
- Getting There: From Shin-Zushi Station, take a Keikyu Bus for about 7 minutes to the 'Saidozakaue' stop; the shop is a 2-minute walk from there.
- Booking: Reservations are not accepted. You must write your name on a list at the door and wait to be called.
- Payment: Cash or PayPay QR code only. Credit cards and other forms of electronic money are not accepted.
- Practical Details: Kakigori is seasonal (roughly June to September) and last orders can be as early as 15:30. Parking is extremely limited, with only four spaces available. During busy periods, seating is limited to one hour, and strollers are not permitted inside. Pets are not allowed.
