Will Miss #397 - shops that serve tea

My husband and I were walking around Nishi-Ogikubo, one of many little stops that have little of note to offer that we decided to explore, and I decided to peruse a Japanese sweets shop. I found myself waiting to buy a couple of small bean cakes behind a woman who apparently needed a remedial class in how to purchase goods from a shop. In the few minutes that we twiddled our thumbs, one of the two ladies manning the shop scuttled out bearing a tray with two tiny cups of tea and about 1/6 of one of their cakes on little paper doilies. While it isn't as common as it once was, no small number of traditional Japanese shops will greet every customer, regardless of purchase, with cups of tea (and less frequently, accompanying merchandise samples). 

I will miss this way of welcoming customers and how it makes you feel more like a guest than a wallet that the shop wants to extract cash from. 

Will Miss #161 - beautiful, abundant, cheap tea sets

Because Japan is a country with a long history of tea-related culture, you can get teapots and tea sets nearly anywhere. In fact, you can buy some decent pots at 100 yen shops. Second-hand stores often have very nice sets of pots with cups or just cups that are obviously new (wrapped in their original paper and boxes). One near my home appears to have an endless supplier of them and it takes some self-control not to buy more than I need just to have some of the more unique ones as souvenirs. I got the set above from a freebie pile in front of a neighbor's house (and yes, it's also brand new).

If you're a fan of tea, you can get some very unique and beautiful pieces for nothing or practically nothing, and I'll miss that.

Will Miss #87 - Lipton Milk Tea

I'm not a fan of Lipton tea, with one huge exception. I absolutely love the pre-made milk tea that they sell in cartoons in Japan. It's rich, fatty, perfectly floral with a slight edge of coconut. It's one of the most decadent beverages I've ever had without ice cream in it. It's a perfect blend and not too sweet. I'm certain that whatever tea that is sold in cartons back home is not going to capture the taste of this Japanese blend.

I'll miss being able to just walk 5 minutes to a shop and pick up a carton of this tasty beverage.