How to Catch a Marukyu Koyamaen Restock (2026 Checkout Guide)

A Marukyu Koyamaen restock is a small, unannounced release of matcha on the company's International Online Shop, the only official way to buy it direct from outside Japan. Marukyu Koyamaen has made tea in Ogura, Uji, since around 1704, and demand during the global matcha boom has outrun what it can produce, so nearly every matcha on the shop shows as sold out between restocks. This guide explains when restocks happen, what to set up beforehand, and the fastest checkout routine, based on the shop's own policies as of September 2026.

When does Marukyu Koyamaen restock matcha?

Not on a published schedule. A notice on the International Online Shop, updated May 13, 2026, says matcha is "restocked randomly only during business hours": Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:30 Japan time. It also says no restock date will be announced, to avoid server crashes and bot traffic, that not every grade, tin or bag size returns each time, and that staff will not answer availability questions by email, phone or social media. The shop's older FAQ still mentions announcing dates on the top page, but the May 2026 notice replaced that.

What time is a Marukyu Koyamaen restock in my time zone?

Japan does not use daylight saving time, so the 8.5-hour JST window moves against your local clock twice a year. For Europe it falls overnight into the morning; for the Americas it falls the evening before, so a "Monday" restock in Japan is Sunday night in New York. Asia-Pacific buyers get the most convenient hours. Use the table below to find your window and plan when to keep notifications on.

Why does Marukyu Koyamaen matcha sell out so fast?

Because demand is structurally larger than supply. The shop's own FAQ says matcha demand now exceeds its production capacity, and that tencha, the leaf that becomes matcha, can only be procured once a year. The Global Japanese Tea Association's April 2026 report notes that strong European and US demand has tightened the supply of Japanese tea leaves, with tencha making up roughly 90% of trade at a major Japanese tea trading centre. A small release in front of a worldwide audience of buyers and bots does not last, so preparation matters more than luck.

How should you set up your account before a restock?

Do all of this on a quiet day, never during a restock. Each step removes typing from the moment that counts:

1. Create an account on the International Online Shop. There is no guest checkout.
2. Save your full billing and shipping address in the account so checkout pre-fills.
3. Set up your payment method. On an iPhone or Mac, confirm Apple Pay works in your browser; on Android, Google Pay.
4. Save the login in your browser when prompted, and stay signed in on the device you will buy from.
5. Check the shipping drop-down once, so you know your country's name and courier options.

These steps turn a three-minute checkout into well under a minute, which is the whole game.

What should you do the moment you get a restock alert?

Move immediately, in this order. Do not browse other grades first; a cart does not hold stock, and the tin you wanted can sell out while you compare.

1. Log in to your Marukyu Koyamaen account, if you are not already.
2. Get the item in your cart, the normal way (open the product page, choose the size, add to cart) or the fast way: tap the direct add-to-cart link in the Matcha Alert Club alert, which skips product selection and adds the exact item.
3. Go straight to checkout.

How do you get through checkout fastest?

The checkout page has three gates, and each one costs seconds if you are not expecting it. Work through them in order:

1. Tick the box agreeing to Marukyu Koyamaen's terms and conditions.
2. Complete the "I'm not a robot" reCAPTCHA.
3. Confirm the pre-filled shipping and payment details.
4. Pay. Apple Pay or Google Pay is quickest because it skips typing card numbers. The Stripe checkout also takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and Alipay, all charged in Japanese yen.
5. Place the order, then watch for the confirmation email.

Which Marukyu Koyamaen grades should you target?

Decide before the alert, because each restock is a different mix. The Principal matcha line on the shop listed these starting prices on September 25, 2026 (smallest size, before shipping): Yugen from ¥2,000, Aoarashi from ¥2,120, Wako from ¥2,400, Isuzu from ¥2,520, Chigi no Shiro from ¥2,920, Kinrin from ¥3,000, Unkaku from ¥3,700, Eiju from ¥4,700, Choan from ¥7,150 and Tenju from ¥20,100. Aoarashi and Wako are the usual everyday usucha and latte picks, Unkaku is the popular entry koicha, and Tenju is the top grade. For how these compare with other Uji houses, see Marukyu Koyamaen vs Yamamasa Koyamaen and Nakamura Tokichi vs Marukyu Koyamaen.

What gets a Marukyu Koyamaen order cancelled?

Anything that looks like resale. The shop cancels orders suspected of resale, proxy shopping, group buying or cafe use, and an April 27, 2026 update extended that to all business purchases. Red flags it lists include several orders to one address under different names, many orders from one account in a short period, and volumes beyond personal use. A 10% fee on the order value, handling and shipping applies to purchases it deems business use, and repeat cancellations can get you refused in future, so buy a tin or two for yourself and stop there.

Is it safe to buy Marukyu Koyamaen from a reseller instead?

Usually not. Marukyu Koyamaen publishes an unauthorized-reseller list, last updated September 24, 2026, that covers all resellers on Facebook Marketplace, Telegram, Discord communities, Threads and Mercari, plus dozens of named shops, and it accepts no responsibility for products bought through them. Its warning signs include mixed-brand unboxing photos, matcha stored on floors, orders taken through personal social accounts, and product photos copied from the official site. Matcha Alert Club does not sell matcha; our Discord only sends alerts that link to the official shop. If you live in Japan, use the domestic Motoan online shop instead, because the International Online Shop does not deliver to Japanese addresses.

How does a Matcha Alert Club alert help?

Refreshing a sold-out page for an 8.5-hour window, five days a week, is not realistic from New York or London. Matcha Alert Club watches Marukyu Koyamaen's International Online Shop and its Japanese Motoan shop, and when a tracked matcha comes back it posts to our free Discord with the product, the price and a direct add-to-cart link. You can also get alerts by email, Telegram or web push. The alert tells you a restock has started; the preparation above is what turns it into an order. See the Marukyu Koyamaen brand page for live stock status.

Sources

• Marukyu Koyamaen: International Online Shop restock notice (May 13, 2026)
• Marukyu Koyamaen: International Online Shop FAQ
• Marukyu Koyamaen: Principal matcha catalogue
• Marukyu Koyamaen: orders for resale purposes will be declined
• Marukyu Koyamaen: unauthorized reseller / proxy service list (updated Sep 24, 2026)
• Global Japanese Tea Association: Japanese tea report, April 2026

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