Kyoto in early December, blessed with sunny weather. Kyoto Station is extremely crowded, probably due to the autumn leaves season. We were a little tired from traveling, so we went to a cafe near the station to take a short break. "COYOTE the ordinary shop" located 2 minutes walk from Kyoto Station It has a relaxed atmosphere and is perfect for taking a rest for a while. Since I was feeling a bit hungry, I also ordered scrambled toast and matcha stollen. I hadn't eaten much since I was busy getting on the Shinkansen, so it was really delicious... The first place we head to is the inn in Arashiyama where we stayed last year. The weather is so nice, I'm really happy! I just ate toast, but there are so many temptations in front of the station... I had to settle for just one bar of rice cooked with chestnuts and shared it with him (lol) After eating something salty, I also want to eat something sweet... There are too many food temptations in front of Arashiyama station (lol) Dessert time until the boat leaves for the hotel. "Raw warabi mochi" of matcha milk and plain warabi mochi. I like this better than "tapioca drink"! I stayed at Hoshinoya Kyoto last year as well. It's time for the boat to leave for the inn. I can't forget my stay there last year, and I feel like I'm going back to my hometown. Last year it was around October, before the leaves turned red, so I wanted to come during the autumn leaf season. How beautiful the autumn leaves are on the mountains... As we proceed along the Rankyo of the Oi River, the autumn leaves become darker. We arrived at the inn. It seems like a trolley train is just passing by and welcoming us. This place is like an unexplored region, standing quietly like a hideout. After checking in, head to our room. This room offers a view of the autumn leaves from the window. I get so entranced that I can't help but lose track of time. We're taking a break and thinking about what we're going to have for dinner tonight. After dropping off our luggage, we headed back towards Arashiyama Park. Tonight's dinner is at Kyoto Arashiyama Nishiki, a 4-minute walk from Arashiyama Station. Dinner at Arashiyama tends to be fully booked. Private rooms are popular at this restaurant, but hall seating is often available without reservations. The price is also great, as the course is 6,000 JPY. I also ordered a fruit wine comparison. He ordered a sake drink comparison. Beautiful...like a monster ball (lol) There are also sea bream seasoned with kelp and soup made with Kyoto soup stock. For dessert, I also have my favorite hojicha ice cream! After filling our stomachs, we returned to our hotel. Soak in an apple bath to relieve our fatigue and go to sleep looking forward to tomorrow. I slept soundly and woke up at 6:30. I was looking forward to seeing this view in the morning. The gradation of autumn leaves and green is beautiful, different from last year... Then we have the morning hot pot of seasonal vegetables that we have been waiting for. Add plenty of fresh vegetables to Kyoto soup stock We also have freshly cooked rice. The happiness of being able to enjoy a relaxing breakfast while looking at the spectacular view. The final dish is zosui, a rice porridge in a broth that contains the flavor of vegetables. I leave the room with a feeling of regret. We will take a walk around the inn until the boat arrives. A well-kept garden with wonderful autumn leaves. The gradation of autumn leaves will soothe the fatigue of daily life... Let's forget about time together for a little while. I heard that we can get sweets in the lounge... As "Bread is better than the songs of birds", at the end, we will have tea and sweets. I thoroughly enjoyed the "Kyoto-ness". "I'll be back again" I said, and I get on the boat. The weather is beautiful again today, and the surface of the river is sparkling and shining like a jewel. I took the opportunity to go up to the deck and enjoy the outside air and scenery. Rankyo has many different expressions than it did yesterday evening. Due to the nice weather, there are many people on boats. It seems that the duck family is also taking a walk. After leaving the boat, today we will take a leisurely stroll around Arashiyama. After enjoying the walk, it was time for lunch. "Ogura Chaya" is close to Jojakkoji Temple and has a view of the garden. Warm udon noodles are available, which is a delight at this time of year. The light soup stock has a comforting and familiar taste. After the meal, we had a green tea drink and amazake (sweet sake). It feels like time is passing slowly, and it's the perfect place for our slow-paced lifestyle (laughs). Head to the nearby Jojakkoji Temple. I feel that this temple purifies our soul. This feeling may be what is commonly called a "power spot". After fully enjoying the last autumn leaves of this year, Head towards Randen Saga Station, where the tea shop we are looking for is located. "TEA ROOM KIKI Kyoto/Arashiyama Main Store" A tea specialty store that I've always wanted to visit. You can enjoy handmade scones and authentic tea. Afternoon tea is limited to 20 meals a day. Apparently I had to make a reservation two days in advance (tears). All menus come with free tea, They will brew the recommended tea from over 20 types of tea leaves. Matcha cream tea set limited to Arashiyama. The tableware from Burley, a long-established British pottery brand, is also beautiful. The aromatic tea makes me relax... Freshly made scones with plenty of rich matcha clotted cream It's delicious and I can eat as many as I want...(lol) After enjoying the tea shop, head to Shijo Kawaramachi, where you will stay next. The next place to stay is Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto Bettei at Shijo-Kawaramachi Onsen. It is only a one-minute walk from Exit 2 of "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station", A luxurious inn in a prime location in Kyoto where you can fully enjoy hot springs. Upon check-in, we were given tea and tea sweets. Hotel staff politely guided us to our room. The room has a great location overlooking the cityscape of Kyoto and Higashiyama. My husband and I admired the scenery. In a space full of the high quality of Japanese style that is typical of Kyoto, You can spend your time immersed in a feeling of elegance. The villa is equipped with an open-air bath in every room and terraces on the 2nd floor and above, The original amenities are made with organic ingredients. I don't usually use the provided ones, but I'm glad they're of good quality! The other amenities are also very good and you can come empty handed. There is also a full lineup of beverages, and just relaxing in the room is enjoyable enough. Now, Let's change our clothes and go to the dinner we have been waiting for! What beautiful dishes...! Beautiful tableware that matches each dish. They are made with a lot of time and effort using Kyoto's dashi broth. The display, which incorporates plenty of seasonal elements, is also enjoyable. Wow~! beautiful~! For some reason, the bowl is sparkling. Yeah It's so beautiful Since we are here, we have a sake comparison to match the dishes! Let's have a drink Sashimi and soft-tasting sake go very well...! So nice. Really. every dish... (tears) The flavors of the ingredients are brought to life... So nice. You're impressed. Yeah… Japanese mackerel marinated in miso, cream cheese, and chrysanthemum turnips. Beautiful dishes that look like works of art will soothe our stomach and eyes. Lastly, roast beef with kelp and sea bream rice... The meal is made with great attention to detail, including the pickles. The dessert is also a harmonious combination of Christmas and Japanese. Strawberry sorbet is juicier than actual strawberries. It's so delicious I can't help but laugh (lol) It was a dinner that filled my stomach and soul. As the name "Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto" suggests, it is a rooftop lounge with a panoramic view. You can also soak in the footbath while looking out at the night view. After enjoying the food and scenery, enjoy a natural hot spring in the heart of Shijo-Kawaramachi. The two types of baths are alternated in the morning and at night. After getting out of the hot spring, go to the free drink corner located right next to the hot spring. I'm also happy to get free ice cream. It was a perfect night for adult relaxation. After waking up in the morning, take a bath in the open-air bath provided in our room. Wrapped in soft hot spring water and opening the shoji... The cityscape of Kyoto illuminated by the refreshing morning sun. After a refreshing morning bath, open the curtains in our room. The view of Higashiyama and the Kamo River is a luxurious experience. I had decided the night before to have coffee on the terrace (lol) Exposure to first-class service broadens my own horizons. It can lead to self-confidence and a desire to take better care of myself. Even though I ate so much last night, I'm already hungry. Wow~! beautiful~! For breakfast, each dish is served on a plate that is tailored to suit each dish, and seasonal ingredients are available. Whenever I eat carefully prepared food, I always wonder "What kind of thoughts the creator put into the creation of this product?", It's fun to think about the various stories. I ate everything! Rooftop lounge with a different look from the evening. While drinking coffee after dinner, I think about my plans for the day. I should be thinking about it, but I can't help but relax (laughs). After relaxing, head out into the streets of Kyoto. "Kimono Rental Wargo Gion Store" 1 minute walk from Gion Shijo Station I like kimonos, but I don't have many opportunities to wear them... When I visit Kyoto, I want to enjoy "Kyoto-ness" to the fullest. I was dressed in a cute kimono, and I'm so happy (laughs). I tried to put it together in a soft orange color, what do you think? The obi string matched the gold of the ring. He, too, is dressed in warm colors. It looks good~ Yeah (pleased) Does it suit me? Yeah, it suits you~ For lunch, go to Toka Saikan, a 1-minute walk from Gion Shijo Station. This Western-style building was built in the 15th year of the Taisho era in the Spanish Baroque style. The oldest elevator in Japan is still in use, guiding visitors to each floor. A mysterious space unfolds, as if we have wandered into a story. We were shown to room No. 7. You can also order a la carte dishes, You should visit this restaurant at least once for sightseeing as well. Traditional Beijing cuisine, unfettered by trends The taste is nostalgic, yet robustly delicious! I love these basic fried rice... I'm afraid to get on the scale because I'm eating too much (laughs). It looks like we are going to go back in time, even to the Taisho era! Next we came "70B ANITIQUES," a five-minute walk from Karasuma-Oike Station. It is said that you can buy bargain antique furniture for about half the price in Tokyo. Furniture was floating in the air or stacked on shelves... The store looks like Alice lost in a hole in the ground in Alice in Wonderland. And certainly inexpensive considering it is an antique... They sell tableware for around 1,000 JPY. The clerk told me that buyers from all over also come to buy. The merchandise seemed to change in a week, and there were all kinds of bargains. "Musubi Kyoto" is located just around the corner from "70B". The furoshiki designed in collaboration with Mina Perhonen caught my eye. When I asked the store staff, they told me that there are various ways to use it. I bought one to commemorate my visit to Kyoto. The last stop on the kimono walk was "Chorakukan" It was built on the banks of Maruyama Park in 1902 as a state guest house for Kyoto. My husband asked me, ”Are you going to eat more?'' But I also eat mirefeuille. My argument is, "If I can only eat it now, I will eat it" (laughs). As the sun goes down, the illuminations in the garden of the Western-style building are beautiful. After returning the kimono, we had dinner at "Kacto" near the inn. A modern American cafe restaurant along the Kamogawa River. You can enjoy a relaxing dinner while admiring the view along the river. Since we mostly had Japanese food, the Western food made with ingredients unique to Kyoto was also fresh! He eats like a child in a romantic place. That's the good thing about him! (lol) It's finally the last day of our Kyoto trip. After leaving the inn, we headed for.., "Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Rokkaku Cafe" 5 minutes walk from Karasuma Oike Station It has been loved for about 100 years since the late Meiji period. Blue Bottle's cafe is located in a corner of the bicycle shop Tsujimori Bicycle Company. We can drink Blue Bottle coffee elsewhere, but we came here to enjoy the cafe's atmosphere. The cafe was created by renovating a townhouse with a history of about 100 years. While making use of the original pillars and walls, we created a space that is typical of Blue Bottle. The large glass windows are impressive, and you can feel the story unique to this store. Then, you can relax and enjoy the delicious and stable coffee. Because I live in Tokyo, which is fast-paced and changing to new things, I am attracted to the values of Kyoto, which values history and atmosphere. I've always wanted to come to "TORYBAZAR", a general store. A little-known general store located a 5-minute walk from Jingu Marutamachi Station, All items are carefully selected. The atmosphere of the store and the owner's sense of style are very nice. Warm and humorous, complete with tableware and cutlery. I'm sure you'll find your favorite item. I also quickly found my favorite! After enjoying shopping, I headed to a little-known tea specialty store that I had been curious about. "MISSLIM" is a 5-minute walk from Jingu Marutamachi Station. Antique furniture, unique floors, and refreshing ceilings... A space where everything is comfortably balanced. Tea that was carefully brewed over time and chiffon cake. I'm glad that I was able to experience many authentic teas on this trip. The homemade cake was also a blissful moment, moist and fluffy. It might have been the most delicious Darjeeling in my life... There is plenty of tea in the teapot, so you can spend your time relaxing. I am happy to add milk to change the taste. I'll have to make a diet plan when I get home (lol) A trip to Kyoto that lasted 4 days and 3 nights, ate a lot, and enjoyed the autumn leaves. Encountered beautiful things and wonderful services to enrich our soul. By doing this, I can start working hard again tomorrow. Let's go home with the promise, "I'll be back for sure."
