Itoken SouSou

Trying my hand at getting the quintessential photo in Kyoto.

And truly go early in the day to avoid crowds.  In the afternoon it does get quite packed, you feel like sardines all packed together. 

Walked by and saw these cute little skewers.

They are different colors and different types too. 

I do know the bottom set are called dango which are made with rice flour and glutenous rice flour.  It's sweet and it's a type of traditional Japanese confectionary. 

This is what I ended up getting.  Just looked so happy. 

So the top green one is matcha flavor,  yellow is yuzu agar jelly.  The pink is Chrysanthemum, and Smilie Face is castellated steamed cake.   All seems very meaningful.  

Their main store (outside of this super touristy area) does actually have classes/workshop that teaches you make these.  And each month has themed flavor and shapes for the class.  Obviously has to be booked in advance.  These, however, you can walk into the shop to get.

Itoken/SOU・SOU

3-315 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0862

https://www.kyoto-itoken.co.jp/en/shop-info/itoken-sousou-kiyomizu/

 

Cafe Warajiya

Climbing up to steps to Kiyomizu-dera.  

Plenty of view to have on top of this hill.

The view is great, would've been better if the flowers had bloomed but the structure on the side of the mountain is still amazing.  

On your way down, there are many options for snacks, a few for a meal.  

So we came to Cafe Warajiya 

I ordered Cola, Omurice, and a plate of cabbage... guess we need some veggies.

For those who are uneducated, Omurice is short of Omelet over Rice.  Literally a little mount of rice at the bottom, and a nice little pouch of omelet sits on top of the rice.  Then the server cuts it open it opens up like a blanket over the rice.  So of course, as you dig in, you cut thru the egg and scoop the rice with it.  This version has the Demi-glace over it.  Otherwise, another version the Japanese does is with ketchup.  Often they put smilie face.  Personally I like the Demi-glace sauce, makes it all the more flavorful.

Cafe Warajiya Kyoto

 

Imo Pippi Fushimi Inari

So this was all over my Instagram before I headed to Japan.  

So it was such a nice surprise to see it when I least expected it. 

Their name of the game is sweet potato dessert.  They do baked sweet potato cut open with creme brûlée top.  You can literally crack the sugar on top.  And you can have butter on top, or ice cream on top.  Or you can have it plain.  

But their other dish, is the Mont Blanc style.

They press the purple potato and squeeze out the 'noodles' onto my ice cream.  It's a vanilla base, which when you have the sweet potato you get that flavor. 

The clerk cut the noodles like it's nothing.  Pretty cool to see her make the dish.

Super purple and nice.

Perfect for a warm day!

Imo Pippi - Fushimi Inari store

• 15-13 Fukakusa Aurigawa-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

• https://www.instagram.com/imo_pi_pi_inari/
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Nishiki Market

First thing we went to in Kyoto after dropping our bags was to Nishiki Market.

Felt like we arrived a tad late because a lot of the shops started to pack up.  What's left were the gimmicky stalls. 

Which are stuff that can be fried.

Luckily, this shop is a combo of several shops, and left some space for waiting and eating.  Since it's not polite to eat and walk in Japan. 

I got a dish that has fried scallops with uni and caviar on top. 

Then, saw a dumpling shop hidden in the back.

They were boosting pan fried dumplings. 

Got a little dish of 4.  It's the pan fried Xiao Long Bao.

They are definitely bigger than regular ones I'm used to having.   Just like the XLB, the soup is in there, and you have to be careful because it gets super hot. 

At night, we made our way to Nijo Jo Castle.  On the map, it looked closer than it really is.  I would've cab it next time.  

At the castle at night, they have projection during the Sakura season.  During the day, you can actually enter the castle and walk thru.  The best thing to do is to check Klook and purchase tickets there. 

Nishiki Market

191-1 Higashi-Uoya-cho, Nishi-iru, Fuyacho-Nishiiru, Nishikishikoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/en/stores/nishikiretoroyokocho/

Nijo Jo Castle

541 Nijo-jo-cho, Horikawa-nishi-iru, Nijo-jo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/?lang=en
 

Ekiben

Also on my bucket list is to ride the Shinkansen - bullet train.

It's a pretty amazing marvel where a train goes over 170mph, that's just amazing.

It's a about 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Kyoto.

But, let's talk about what's neat about riding the train - the food.  First of all, there's all sorts of vending machines at the train station for the bullet train.  Not just tea, water, soda.

Here's a tip for you, if you see the label is blue - the drink is cold; if it's red - the drink is warm. 

There's ice cream vending machines.

Special Shinkansen coffee machines. 

I got a warm Caramel Tea Latte - so apparently caramel is only good for coffee than tea.  That's my verdict on that one. 

The other thing is to eat.... Japanese are known for enjoying limited edition of snack that is originated in the region. 

So Eki Ben - Eli means train, and Ben is short for bento.  So it's really mean train bento <-> bento you eat on the train.  It's a little counter intuitive because you've been told many of times not to drink or eat on the trains in town.  But since these rides are longer, that's actually acceptable. 

Since it's about lunch time, no snack here... going to grab lunch.  They have sandos of all kinds. 

Or some true Japanese bento lunches.  

I mean, the train ride is over 2hours long.  Since it's around lunch time, might as well get a meal. 

I didn't get a self-warming one, which I wanted to try that.  But this bento box seems pretty full too.

Basically is unagi (eel) over a bed of rice, and tamago (egg omelet) with some pickled turnip on the side.  The entire box actually is pretty big.  It has alot of food packed in that little package.  I could not finish that lunch box there.  Good thing I didn't bring snacks, I was going to do that, but glad I didn't, seeing I couldn't even finish this. 

Apparently, they do have smaller size bento at other locations, and that would've run between 400 - 700 yen.  The one my size was about 800-1200 yen, that whole meal is still less than $9US for lunch; and it was tasty!

Now, where to find them... the best one apparently was at the concourse level of Tokyo Station called Ekiben Matsuri before the ticketing gate, I happened to get it on my way to the platform after they took my ticket. (Oopsie, no backsides)  There were one or two smaller ones on the platform too. 

Ekiben

Gransta Tokyo Concourse area

 

Noble Cafe Shu

We were out early one morning and had time to kill and went to a cafe for breakfast.

This place was very nice and the set up is super fancy.  

Not knowing this is an uppity place, just set down and get a tea to start.  I got the Apple and Flower tea to start.  Smells pretty and not overpowering flavors, nice and mild.

I got the toast combo, which is literally a giant slice of toast, I asked for blueberry jam.  Came with boil egg and the pot of tea.  All for 1540 yen, which is approximately $10.73US.   Might seemed high for an egg and a slice of toast with tea, but you also know that this is a fancy place, this ain't McDs, and the meals are fancier.   That said, comparatively, you cannot order a meal set here in the States even at a diner for that price. 

Noble Cafe Shu

107-0052 Tokyo, Minato City, Akasaka, 3 Chome−9−1 Kiyoh Building, １F, Japan

https://shu-group.studio.site/shop/akasaka

 

Wumei Taiwanese cuisine

Was wandering around Tokyo Station, and that place is huge.  The non-train part of the station, where the food and shopping are is also huge.

There are food at basement and 2nd floor.  So I wander to whichever have the least people.  

It was kinda early still, so I went to a Taiwanese cuisine store.   It's what they called cafeteria style.  You scan the QR code for menu, and order from there.

I ordered tea, and there's actually other drinks that you can order from the fridge, but I like tea, so...

I order 1 piece of pan-fried Xi Long Bao - I've never had that before, so I must try it.  The skin is definitely thicker than regular XLB, but it's different and nice in a different way. 

I ordered a meal set, I haven't had meat sauce over rice in a long time.   They filled the bowl to the rim, and it came with quail egg, veggie, and ginger.  The set came with potato salad, and wonton soup and dumpling. 

The wonton is definitely different, I've never seen a pink wonton skin before, but the taste is definitely is good.  It's a lot of food all for $13, definitely worth a meal. 

As you know Japanese are really big on the Gachapan - these twisty machines.  Which I like these better than the claw machines, since I'm guaranteed to win something.  Not like claw machine where I kept losing right at the end.  And these I'm definitely will bring home something.  

Anyway, you can find Wumei on the 2nd floor of the Gangstar Yaekita portion of the station.  It's like part mall, part food court, part restaurants.  I can be there for hours and just walk and walk and eat some good food.  So much fun!

Wumei

1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

https://multi.andtrip.jp/LUC2AITRIP/cdata/luc2aitrip_1047_jaen.html