A Place Connecting People and Nature: Exploring the Comfortable Relationship Between Wellness and Matcha at Tree of Life Harajuku Omotesando (Part 2)

Stepping out from the beautiful tree-lined avenues of Harajuku and Omotesando into the store, you are instantly wrapped in a comforting fragrance and a gentle, welcoming atmosphere — welcome to "Tree of Life Harajuku Omotesando."

Evolutionizing far beyond its origins as a photo studio and ceramics retailer, Tree of Life has spent decades supporting people's daily lives through the natural gifts of herbs and aromatherapy. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the brand stands as a pioneer in wellness and well-being lifestyles dedicated to mind and body health.

The Tree of Life Harajuku Omotesando and Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi stores have received high acclaim as places where customers can sample and purchase ISSO Ceremonial Grade Matcha.

In this feature, we visited this iconic flagship shop in Harajuku Omotesando — the birthplace of Tree of Life — to talk deeply about how the brand cherishes its core values of "Nature, Health, and Enjoyment," as well as its relationship with ISSO TEA. We are excited to present this interview in two parts (Part 1 & Part 2).

Tea as a Daily Habit to Restore Mind and Body: A Pleasant Harmony of Herbs and Matcha

ISSO : What does "tea" mean to Tree of Life? Could you also share your dedication and commitment behind your herbal teas?

Tree of Life : Tea isn't medicine, but drinking it can make you feel a little lighter and help balance your physical condition. Some people make it part of their morning routine, while others incorporate it into their evening unwind before bed. For us, we place great importance on creating easy-to-drink blends. We want people to enjoy healthy living in a delicious and fun way, so we go through countless trial blends to perfect the taste.

ISSO : Your herbal tea lineups are thoughtfully categorized by specific wellness concerns and daily scenes, aren't they?

Tree of Life : Yes. We offer series like "My 30-Day Tea," which directly supports individual wellness concerns, as well as "Delicious Herbal Tea," which lets people enjoy vibrant flavors like fruits and caramel. Whether you like to blend your own herbs, choose teas based on specific physical needs, or simply want something delicious to replace everyday juices, we design our products so anyone can seamlessly integrate them into their lifestyle.

ISSO :  At ISSO TEA, we currently offer matcha alongside six types of tea leaves, available in both loose-leaf and tea bag formats. Having options that match your mind and body's daily condition feels like a true luxury in itself, so your philosophy really resonates with us.

ISSO : In January 2025, you began offering ISSO Ceremonial Grade Matcha. As a brand primarily focused on herbs and aromatherapy, what made Tree of Life decide to introduce matcha?

Tree of Life : It actually started with feedback from our shop floor staff, who noticed that customers were actively looking for matcha. Since Tree of Life is known for offering wellness teas, many visitors—especially international tourists—would ask us, "Do you have Japanese green tea?" or "Do you carry matcha?" People drawn in by the store’s warm atmosphere were frequently searching for it inside.

ISSO : So it all grew organically from the front-line staff and customer requests. We heard that after considering numerous options, your team chose ISSO Ceremonial Grade Matcha. Now that it is officially in stores, what role does matcha play in a shop built around herbal tea?

Tree of Life : It has become a wonderful entry point for our customers. When international visitors come in searching for matcha, they naturally wander around the shop, discovering our aromatherapy products and herbal teas along the way. It allows them to explore a much broader world of wellness drinks. While herbal teas abroad are often chosen strictly for their health benefits rather than taste, customers who enter through matcha frequently spot our herbal teas and think, "I didn't know herbal teas could look this charming and delicious!"—often purchasing them right on the spot for their lovely packaging. Matcha has truly become a fantastic gateway for introducing people to our diverse range of products.

Modern Ways to Enjoy Matcha and the Value of Organic

ISSO :  What kind of value do your store customers seek in matcha, and how are they enjoying it?

Tree of Life : Their preferences are wonderfully diverse. Some enjoy whisking it traditionally at home using a chasen (bamboo whisk), others integrate it into their diets like a healthy superfood, and many love crafting their own matcha lattes at home.

ISSO :  How do you prepare the ISSO Ceremonial Grade Matcha for customer tastings in-store?

Tree of Life : We often serve it chilled as an iced matcha, adding a small drop of Tree of Life’s organic agave syrup. It really highlights the vibrant, beautiful green color of the matcha.

ISSO : That's a delightful signature twist unique to Tree of Life. Those tasting interactions must spark great conversations with your guests.

Tree of Life : Absolutely. The dialogue that grows out of tasting is something we cherish deeply. Sometimes a customer will sample the matcha, visit several other shops in the area, and then return to us saying, "It really was the best, so I came back to buy it."

ISSO :  At ISSO TEA, being organic (certified organic cultivation) is core to our identity. How conscious are your in-store customers about organic products?

Tree of Life : When it comes to herbal tea, customers very frequently ask, "Is this organic?" Along with caffeine-free options, organic quality is a major trend and a key priority for many. On the other hand, regarding matcha, international visitors are usually looking for "matcha" itself, so they don't ask if it's organic as often. That's why we take the time to gently explain to them that finding high-grade, truly organic matcha is actually very rare. Japanese customers, who are already familiar with this rarity, are often pleasantly surprised and delighted to learn, "Oh, this is organic matcha?"

ISSO TEA and Tree of Life: Handing Down the Story Behind the Product

ISSO : Seeing both brand worlds side by side, do your staff feel any shared values or common ground between Tree of Life and ISSO TEA?

Tree of Life : Just as Tree of Life offers more than physical "things"—proposing a lifestyle focused on joyful, rich everyday living—we deeply resonate with how ISSO TEA goes beyond just saying "here is matcha." You thoughtfully share the story behind the tea. From home serving ideas to detailed recipes, you place immense value on the "lifestyle" built around the product. That philosophy aligns perfectly with our own vision.

ISSO : Hearing that makes us so happy. Through the joy of drinking tea, we want to preserve Japanese tea culture as an inspiring choice for daily life and pass it on to the next generation—whether that means traditional tea ceremony, drinking it pure from a bottle, or enjoying a casual matcha latte. It all comes back to enriching daily living. We are profoundly grateful to Tree of Life for sharing this core philosophy and helping convey it to your customers.

ISSO : At this store, you also offer beautifully curated gift boxes pairing ISSO Ceremonial Grade Matcha with agave syrup, bamboo whisks, matcha bowls, and handheld shakers.

Tree of Life : Matcha represents a proud piece of traditional Japanese culture. We created these gift sets because we want people to enjoy the process of making and arranging it themselves. Delivering the story and spirit behind a product alongside the item itself has always been Tree of Life's unchanging philosophy.

ISSO : To wrap up, what would you like to continue delivering to customers through ISSO TEA, and what lies ahead for Tree of Life?

Tree of Life : Matcha, just like essential oils and herbs, is a precious gift of nature. Through ISSO TEA, the main message we want to share is that a lifestyle enriched by nature’s gifts is surprisingly close and easily within reach. Tree of Life is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and as we look ahead toward our 80th, we hope to keep taking on exciting new challenges.

Stores Carrying ISSO TEA

Tree of Life Harajuku Omotesando
Tree of life, 6-3-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tel  03-3409-1778

Tree of Life Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi
3F Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0045
Tel  03-5610-3065