Prices collected 24 August 2026 from Ippodo’s US and Japanese sites.
Ippodo has been selling tea in Kyoto since 1717. Its matcha is the default recommendation for anyone starting out, and its US shop is where most Americans meet it.
What to buy
| If you want | Buy | Price | Per bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| To start | Wakaki, 20 g | $11.00 | $1.10 |
| Everyday drinking | Ikuyo, 20 g | $17.00 | $1.70 |
| Everyday, in volume | Ikuyo, 100 g | $81.00 | $1.62 |
| Organic | Organic, 20 g | $20.00 | $2.00 |
| A step up | Kan, 20 g | $22.00 | $2.20 |
A bowl is 2 g. Wakaki at $1.10 a bowl is one of the best-value entry points from any specialist shop — Ippodo’s reputation makes people assume it is expensive, and its cheapest tin isn’t.
Ippodo is not as expensive as people think
The name carries a premium reputation, and the top of the range earns it. But the bottom of the range is competitive with value brands:
- Wakaki, $0.55 a gram, is cheaper per gram than most specialist matcha in the US.
- Ippodo’s typical matcha sits around $1.24 a gram, which is close to the middle of the American market, not the top. In our matcha brands comparison, its $11 Wakaki box is the cheapest entry tin of the twelve shops.
What makes Ippodo look expensive is the 20 g box. It is the house format, and small formats always cost more per gram. The 100 g bag of Ikuyo works out cheaper per bowl than the 20 g box of the same tea.
If you are buying to drink rather than to try, buy the 100 g size.
What you pay for the American shop
Ippodo sells the same tins in Japan, and the American price is consistently higher:
| Tea (20 g) | Japan | US | US costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakaki | ¥864 | $11.00 | about twice |
| Ikuyo | ¥1,188 | $17.00 | more than twice |
| Kan | ¥1,728 | $22.00 | about twice |
| Organic | ¥1,620 | $20.00 | about twice |
| Kuon | ¥6,480 | $64.00 | about 60% more |
Roughly double, across the range — and interestingly, the gap narrows at the top. The most expensive tin is the closest in price between the two countries.
Whether importing is worth it depends on shipping and how much you buy at once. For one 20 g box it almost certainly isn’t.
Which one should you buy?
Wakaki if you are new to this. It is the cheapest, it is a proper drinking matcha, and $11 is a low-risk way to find out whether you like whisked matcha at all.
Ikuyo if you already drink matcha and want an everyday tin. Buy the 100 g bag if you get through it.
Kan or Organic if you want a step up. The differences here are real but subtle.
Kuon is the top of the range and priced accordingly. It is not a beginner’s purchase.
What Ippodo doesn’t tell you
Ippodo publishes less than several shops charging similar money. It does not routinely give you:
- the cultivar
- the harvest year
- the specific growing area beyond “Uji”
It sells on the house name and three centuries of doing this, which is a legitimate thing to sell on — but if you want to know exactly what is in the tin, other shops tell you more.
Ippodo also doesn’t use “ceremonial” or “culinary.” It names its blends — Wakaki, Ikuyo, Kan, Kuon — and lets the price ladder speak. That is the traditional Japanese approach and it is more honest than a grade word, even if it gives you less to go on.
Common mistakes
Buying the 20 g box when you want to drink it regularly. The 100 g bag is cheaper per bowl.
Assuming the expensive one is the “real” one. All of these are drinking matcha. The ladder is about refinement, not about one being ceremonial and another not.
Whisking with boiling water. Ippodo recommends around 80°C. Boiling water makes any matcha bitter.
FAQ
Which Ippodo matcha is best for beginners?
Wakaki, 20 g for $11. It is the cheapest and it is a genuine drinking matcha.
Is Ippodo matcha worth it?
At the bottom of the range it is very good value. At the top you are paying for refinement that takes some experience to appreciate.
Is Ippodo cheaper in Japan?
Yes, about half the price. Whether that survives shipping depends on how much you buy.
Does Ippodo sell ceremonial grade matcha?
Ippodo doesn’t use that term. Its matcha is all drinking grade; the blends differ in refinement rather than in category.
What water temperature for Ippodo matcha?
About 80°C. Not boiling.
How long does a 20 g box last?
Ten bowls — about a week and a half at one a day.
Prices read from Ippodo’s US and Japanese sites on 24 August 2026. Japanese prices converted at ¥160 to the dollar. Per-bowl figures use 2 g.
No brand paid to appear here, and this page carries no affiliate links.