Shouten-Tei

Crisp monaka wafer shells meet coarse sweet bean paste and smooth mascarpone cheese cream in An-Pône. Overlooking the gardens of Shinjuku Gyoen, the teahouse Shouten-Tei serves this East-meets-West confection alongside other sweet treats paired with green tea and picturesque park views. Guests assemble the wafers themselves, leading with a light crunch that gives way to the gentle sweetness of red beans balanced by the subtle richness of cheese.

Mascarpone Soft Serve and Tea Pairings

A favorite refreshment during a park stroll is the An-Pône soft serve. Mascarpone is folded into soft-serve ice cream and accompanied by sweet red bean paste, offered plain or topped with options like Uji matcha or mitarashi sweet soy glaze and roasted kinako soybean flour. The drinks menu covers hot or iced matcha, sencha green tea, and Japanese black tea, providing balanced companions for the sweets.

Resting Amid the Greenery

Inside, guests can enjoy views of the garden from regular table seating or raised tatami mats where shoes are removed at the entrance. On clear days, taking a matcha or hojicha ice cream monaka out to the open-air terrace or a garden bench offers a relaxed break. Souvenirs such as the Andoora pancake sandwich, flavored with browned butter caramel, provide something sweet to take home after exploring the grounds.