Ippodo Chaho

Founded in 1717 (Kyōhō 2), Ippodo traces its origins to Ōmiya, a shop established by Ōmi merchant Rihei Watanabe. Initially, the shop dealt in tea and ceramics, but during the late Edo period, it was granted the name Ippodo by Prince Yamashina. The name, meaning "to preserve one thing," was bestowed with the intent that the shop should dedicate itself solely to tea, renowned for its exceptional quality. Since then, under the name Ippodo, the company has remained committed to tea, adapting to the times while staying true to its craft.