"Kyototo" Opened in Higashiyama

The flier "Our shop opened in Higashiyama of Kyoto" was from "Kyototo." 

The shop is located on the right side of this road, near the Yasaka Pagoda.

Their designs are mostly arranged with the Japanese motif. 

Price is also very reasonable.

I really liked their tenugui towel "Kinkakuji Temple" so I framed and hung it on the wall of Maeniiya Guesthouse.

Yasaka Koshindo at Night

On the way back to my home, I noticed that the gate of Yasaka Koshindo was open.  So I went in the very quiet precinct and prayed, which made me feel fresh.

"Nakamura Tokichi" in Uji City

When I was walking along the Uji River, I saw a familiar Noren in the distance. 

And it was Byodoin Branch of...

Nakamura Tokichi, a very famous Japanese tea shop.

It was 3PM -- perfect tea time!  So I went inside and ordered their seasonal menu "Spring Dolce" with Uji green tea (980 yen).

Light and fluffy chiffon cake with strawberry whipped cream, chocolate and green tea ice cream, and green tea chocolate with marshmallow were extremely delicious!!

Incidentally, there are lots of constructions going on in Uji City until 2014 -- Byodoin Temple, Ujikami Shrine, and Uji River bank...

I'd like to visit Uji more often while there are not many tourists.

Gyoiko Sakura

It was a summer day in Kyoto today.  There is a tree called "Gyoiko Sakura" -- green cherry blossom -- near my house.

The color of a petal changes from green to yellow, and to pink. 

There are two trees of Gyoiko Sakura near Ninen-zaka Slope in Gion as well.

And lots of people were taking photos of them.  Cherry blossom season of this year is ending.

Steak Restaurant "Hanayashiki" in Uji City

I came to Uji City to have lunch at "Hanayashiki."

In front of the restaurant, there is a Japanese style inn "Hanayashiki Ukifune-en." 

Chef cooks steak in front of you in a Japanese tatami mat room.  Chopsticks rest of Raccoon is very cute.

I ordered a lunch set of hors d'oeuvre and 100g fillet steak (4,200 yen).  Hors d'oeuvres: marinated fish, chawan-mushi (egg custard dish), and deep-fried conger eel.

Broad bean soup and salad.

Fillet steak!

Salt, ponzu sauce, miso based sauce, and sliced garlic chips were all wonderful for steaks.  Steamed rice and pickles were also served together with the steak.

Then, dessert and coffee.  Great lunch! !

Kyoto Cuisine "Gion Yata"

Gion Yata is one of my favorite Kyoto cuisine restaurants.  This is the street in Gion that the restaurant is located.

You are asked to take off shoes and guided to a long open kitchen counter in a Japanese tatami mat room, where you can observe chefs at work.

Appetizer of the day was "Shira-ae," tofu dressing.

And sashimi.

Assortment of Yuba (tofu skin)

Okara (soy pulp)

Salad

Chicken meatballs and egg in thick sauce were wonderful together!

And my most favorite -- Nama-fu (wheat gluten) on charcoal grill.

Grill both sides of nama-fu, and...

add a bit of miso paste with snapper flakes.  Sooo good!!

Chef's recommendation -- Sake steamed cabbage and Hamaguri clam.

The last is a rolled omelette.

We ordered "Warabi-mochi dumpling" as dessert again.  Everything was not only delicious but also looked very artistic on beautiful plates!

Since the restaurant is very popular, reservation is recommended. They also have a bar on the 2nd floor.

Inoda Coffee Kiyomizu Branch

Inoda Coffee is a coffeehouse chain based in Kyoto, founded in 1940. 

I had a bread roll set (780 yen) in the Kiyomizu shop.

It is a good place for a cup of coffee for sure.