Category: Kyoto

Arabica, Arashiyama

Arabica has been dubbed one of the best coffee shops in Kyoto. I visited their Arashiyama store. This is a hipster coffee shop on the banks of the Hozu-gawa River. The only available seating in the store is a cubicle which can accommodate 4 adults but with a charge of 1000yen/ 30mins. There are seats outside the store where you can enjoy the view of the river. It’s a great place to get a pick-me-up while exploring the area. I would recommend going early in the morning as there are fewer people. I got there around 9am.

I got myself a medium-sized cappuccino for 500 yen. There are 3 sizes available – small, medium, and large. The coffee was smooth, creamy, and milky, different from the ones bought at more popular chain stores such as Starbucks, Tully’s, and Costa. I really liked it!

 


Open from 8AM to 6PM

*On a side note, I recommend that anyone visiting Kyoto visit Arashiyama. It’s a really beautiful and serene place. Do go early to avoid crowds of tourists. I also recommend exploring sites that are further away from the more popular destinations, such as the bamboo forest and the Tenryu ji temple.  My brother and I visited the Gio-ji temple, which was a 30min walk from the randen arashiyama station. We took the richshaw from the bamboo forest to the temple and then returned to the station. There was hardly anyone there. It was perfect! I was able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the temple without the interference of a crowd. The walk back to the station was peaceful also.

Here are some pictures that were taken during my trip 🙂

My first meal in Kyoto

image via google maps
image via google maps

My first meal in Kyoto was dinner at this small, homey Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) restaurant on Sanjo-jingu-Michi (Okonomiyaki Bonbori).

. The owners were a lovely elderly couple.  The menu was simple, with a variety of Okonomiyaki, noodles, and stir-fried dishes. There is no English menu available. Luckily, my sister could read and speak Japanese.

My sister and I were tired after a day of traveling, so we did not order too much. We ordered a stir-fried vegetable, fried kimchi udon noodles, and a seafood Okonomiyaki. The fried kimchi udon noodle was better than I expected.  It is a mixture of sweet, salty, and sour (from the kimchi).  The pork slices in the fried udon were incredibly tender and savory; they had absorbed all the different flavors.

It was our first time having Okonomiyaki. It was intriguing watching the man make it. We were full of anticipation. When the Okonomiyaki was placed in front of us, we were like two children who could not wait to dig into a bowl of cookies. 🙂

I could only taste the sweetness of the Okonomiyaki sauce on my first bite, but as I ate, the other flavors (the vegetables, egg, shrimp, and squid) began to present themselves. It was a savory pancake indeed and also very filling!

This is an excellent place to eat if you are in the area and looking for something less commercial.

 

Okonomiyaki Bonbori (permanently closed)

Nishiki market, Kyoto

Nishiki Market is a four-hundred-year-old market. It has modern and traditional shops selling fresh seafood, vegetables, souvenirs, local sweets, pickled vegetables, popular local food, etc. The market is very clean and packed with locals and tourists. It is a great place to explore local produce and savor Kyoto specialties. It is definitely worth visiting.

One of my favorite stores at the market is the Aritsugu knife shop.  They are one of the oldest and most famous knife makers in Japan. The knife selection was impressive and had amazing handiwork. You can even have your initials carved onto the knife. A household kitchen knife would cost around 10,000 yen. They also sell other cutting tools, such as scissors, pots, and pans. I regretted not buying a knife when I was there. I will put that on my list of things to buy on my next trip.

 

Tofu Manju, Kyoto

There is a little steam bun stand next to Okutan iKyomizu (one of the oldest tofu restaurants in Kyoto) right on the top of Ninenzaka, on the way to the Kiyomizu temple.

The steam bun has a sweet stuffing of okara (soy pulp). The bun is delicately soft and fluffy. Complimentary tea is given with each order. The perfect snack on a cold day.  Benches are available where one can sit and people-watch while enjoying the steam bun and tea.

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Kagizen Yoshifusa, Gion, Kyoto

image via
image via http://www.kagizen.co.jp/en/store/

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Kagizen Yoshifusa is a long-established sweet shop making Kyogashi (Kyoto sweets) in Kyoto.  The interior is furnished with old-style furniture and wood panels –
very vintage.  All confectioneries are beautifully handcrafted.

There is also a cafe at the Gion branch offering a simple menu consisting of Matcha, mochi, Japanese cake, and their house specialty, “Kuzukiri,” which are noodles made from kudzu starch served with brown sugar syrup.

 

Kagizen Yoshifusa

Website: https://www.kagizen.co.jp/en/

Opening hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. – 18:00 p.m., close on Mondays

Telephone: +81 0755611818

Address: 264 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan

Pontoiru (Japanese- Italian cuisine), Kyoto station

Pontoiru is a modern Kyoto fusion pasta restaurant located on the 11th floor of The Cube shopping mall at the Kyoto station.

The menu is seasonal, and the English menu is available. There is a special set menu where you can have two different pasta (obviously at a smaller amount each), a drink, and a dessert for 1340yen. I ordered the Pollock roe & shrimp with cream sauce pasta,  duck pasta with cream sauce, matcha latte, and pudding with taro ice cream. My sister decided to go with the a la carte menu and ordered the oyster with leek and scallion pasta in ginger butter sauce. The pasta was all delicious, each with its unique Japanese flavor.  The ingredients were very fresh.

The matcha latte was smooth and rich.  The pudding was refreshing. It had a jello-like texture. It was not too sweet, and the matcha sauce gave it a nice tea flavor.

If you want something a little different from the traditional Japanese dishes, this is a good alternative.

 

Pontoiru

Website: https://www.pontoiru.com/

Opening hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Telephone: +81 0753658740

Address: Japan, 〒600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, 塩小路下ル東塩小路町901 京都駅ビルThe Cube 11F

Tully’s coffee, Kyoto

I have never been a fan of Matcha.  I never understood how people could like it until I went to Japan during my Christmas break. I had my first Matcha drink in Kyoto at Tully’s coffee and instantly fell in love with it. My sister and I were looking for a cafe to have breakfast near the Yasaka Shrine, and we came across Tully’s coffee.

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