When it comes to Hishio, it is a prestigious establishment in Kyoto known for its exquisite bento boxes. Established in the early years of the Tenpo era (1829), the current head is the 5th generation, Iwamatsu Kawamura, following the founder Iwakichi from Wakasa. Their motto is "delicious even when cold" and "colorful". They provide bento boxes with high skills. The bento box is like a treasure chest filled with five flavors and colors in a small box. The firmness of the delicious taro, the moist texture of the prawns, and the refreshing flavor of the young sweetfish are exceptional. The base of the bento box, rice and rolled omelette, is made with high-quality ingredients such as aged kelp from Rishiri and shaved bonito flakes, combined with two types of eggs. The rice, shaped like a bundle, is carefully adjusted to the cooking of the rice, creating a nuanced and well-balanced flavor. This bento box, paired with a cold beer, is the perfect companion for the Shinkansen ride back from Kyoto.

I had heard that they were on summer break, but I found out that I could make a reservation through the Isetan website. However, they strictly requested that the bento must be consumed within 1 hour after receiving it. The bento cost 5400 yen and was handed to me in a well-equipped package with four ice packs. The dishes were served in ceramic cups, and I was impressed by the attention to detail for a 5000 yen meal. The flavors were not too strong, but as I ate, I felt like my body was being reset and refreshed.

Reserved the day before, a luxurious bento box for 5400 yen. I left the reservation up to them, so I'm not sure if there are other options available, but you can pick it up at Kyoto Isetan B2 floor. It's a cold bento box, not meant to be heated, but the flavors are well balanced and delicious! The presentation is also beautiful. As expected from a high-end bento box. However, I couldn't help but feel that for over 5000 yen, deliciousness and beauty are a given. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be, and for this content, I felt like 3240 yen would be more appropriate. Sorry for being critical... Thank you for the meal.

On the 4th day of my Kobe-Kyoto trip in May 2019, I enjoyed a delicious bento box on the return Shinkansen train. I pre-ordered the Hishio Bento from the special selection bento box section at Kyoto Isetan underground. The Hishio Bento cost 5,400 yen and was quite heavy. When I opened it, I found simmered dishes, grilled dishes, salmon, duck, rolled omelette, shrimp, seasoned vegetables, and sushi rolls. The variety and quantity of the food were impressive, and the flavors were exquisite. The rice was also delicious. Although it was a bit pricey, this bento box was truly exceptional. It was the best bento box I have ever had. I heard that it is not available for sale during the summer.

Kaiseki cuisine and bento. The unique food culture nurtured by Japan. Probably the pinnacle of a fusion of these two. It may be expensive, but once you see it, you'll understand, once you taste it, you'll be impressed. The high hurdle of needing a reservation adds to the unfamiliar luxury, but the deliciousness is unforgettable. Each dish is a masterpiece that tastes best when cold. From the mellow vinegar miso dressing to the elegant dashi-flavored simmered dish, and the duck roast that tastes like roast beef with no hint of gamey flavor... Sipping on warm sake, I want to leisurely enjoy each bite. The Kyoto-style rolled omelet is the only thing I'm not a fan of.

The Diamond Rock Bento Box for 5,400 yen is delicious with all ingredients having a refined and tasty seasoning.

I received a reservation at Isetan, and enjoyed the bento on the Shinkansen. It came with a hand towel and was very clean. It was a luxurious experience compared to ordering a bento from a regular store. The bento was neatly packed and easy to eat. Each dish was separated in the container to prevent flavors from mixing. The taste of the Sabazushi can vary depending on the store, making it enjoyable. The Tamago also had a different broth, adding to the variety. The beautifully arranged selection was impressive. Although it was a bit pricey, it was a delicious bento that showcased the attention to detail from the catering service.

It is a well-known catering shop that needs no introduction. Currently, orders can be placed at Takashimaya and Isetan. The dashimaki tamago is extremely delicious. The rice portion is small, so the nutritional balance is well-maintained. The yakitori roll is slightly on the salty side, but overall the bento is satisfying. The bamboo leaf-wrapped sushi is exceptionally tasty. Overall, the top 3 recommended bento boxes are as follows, with the taste of the bento being the best at the rightmost shop. Tsujidome: High-quality ingredients shine through. The seasoning is strong but delicious. Available without reservation. Hishi Iwa: Well-balanced seasoning with generous portions. Reservation required. Waku Densetsu: Mild seasoning that appeals to everyone. Available without reservation.

Very ordinary

I went on a business trip to Hakata on the Shinkansen. I decided to go out from noon on the day before, so I searched for something enjoyable on the Shinkansen. I had been very interested in Hishi Iwa bento for a long time. When I made a reservation on the Isetan Kyoto store website, I received a confirmation call. I would pick it up at the long-established bento corner in the basement from 11:30 on the day. Since it's perishable, I couldn't pick it up earlier than 11:30. Well, I also bought some alcohol at the Isetan basement and headed to the Shinkansen platform. It was a bit embarrassing to have a white paper bag with "Hishi Iwa" written on it. I sat down, set up the bento and alcohol. The dishes were beautifully arranged with a variety of colors. They included seasonal ingredients, making me feel like sighing just by looking at them. The seasoning was calculated to be delicious even when cold. There were grilled fish, meat, simmered vegetables, nuta, and rolled omelet, among others. Every dish was exceptionally delicious. The bento was excellent as a side dish for alcohol. I enjoyed it very much with hiyaoroshi. As expected, it lived up to its reputation, and I was truly impressed. I would love to try it again if I have the opportunity. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I sometimes use the bento corner at Kyoto Isetan BF2, which handles bento boxes from famous Kyoto restaurants. This time, I chose a 4860 yen bento box from "Hishiyama," which requires advance reservation. I made a reservation by phone a week in advance. Just so you know, the Gion main store suspends bento sales from June to September during the hot season. I'm not sure if the same applies to this corner, so I decided to enjoy it now just in case. I have had Hishiyama's bento boxes many times, and they are consistently delicious. I think they are the number one in Kyoto's traditional bento boxes. The dishes, reflecting the four seasons of Kyoto, are colorful and neatly arranged, and even when they cool down, they are still delicious. "Delicious even when cold" is an important point for bento boxes. The bento box included: rice ball, rolled sushi, cucumber with sesame dressing (shiitake mushrooms, myoga, wheat gluten), egg omelette, salt-grilled suzuki fish, grilled eel, hachiman-maki (rolled egg with shrimp), smoked duck breast, smoked salmon, squid with egg yolk, chicken with pine nut sauce, white fish, tofu skin with various fillings, tender octopus simmered. After picking up the bento box, I went to the sake section and bought "Nishijin" dry sake from Sasaki Sake Brewery to enjoy with the meal. The refined flavor of the dish paired perfectly with the dry sake. I enjoyed it leisurely at home.

On the way back from Kyoto, it has become a habit to buy a bento box at Isetan and eat it on the Shinkansen. I always look forward to the special bento boxes they offer. On this day, I requested the yakiniku bento box from "Hatsuda" but the staff recommended trying the bento box from "Hishiiwa" as there was a cancellation. Hishiiwa is a super long-established catering specialty store that has been around for over 200 years, and you can only purchase their special bento box with a reservation made the day before. I immediately agreed and purchased it. Enjoying the delicious bento box while looking out the window at the scenery passing by, the time spent was even more special than usual. It was such a fun experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Established in 1829, "Kyotoshumi Hishiiwa" is a specialty shop in Gion that offers traditional Japanese boxed lunches. While they have a store in Gion, you can also purchase their bento boxes at the long-standing bento corner in the basement of JR Kyoto Isetan. It is necessary to make a reservation in advance (you can do this by phone) the day before, so be sure to make a reservation as soon as you arrive in Kyoto. You can pick up your order at the reception corner on the B2 floor. While the Gion store offers a variety of bento boxes, at Isetan you can only purchase one type of bento box for 4,860 yen. I enjoyed the beautifully arranged bento box with a colorful assortment of dishes, each with a distinct and delicious flavor. The most delicious item was the dashimaki tamago, which had a gentle flavor and a fluffy texture. Although the bento boxes offer a wide variety and high quality, I still believe that Kyoto cuisine is best enjoyed at a restaurant. Overall rating at the time of review: 3.57 stars.

A few days ago, my wife made a reservation in advance and went on a day trip to Kyoto, where she bought a bento box from Hishi Iwa. She brought back both the Hishi Iwa bento box and the Shino Wakuden two-tier bento box for dinner, and she felt that the Hishi Iwa bento box had a more robust seasoning. It may be the classic way of bento boxes, but it was delicious. The Hishi Iwa bento box was a treat that we hadn't had in about four years. It used to be easier to get without a few days' advance reservation, but now it's become harder to buy. Today, as usual, I called the traditional bento corner at Isetan to check the stock, and they said there was a cancellation for the Hishi Iwa bento box, so I reserved it and picked it up before boarding the Shinkansen. The dashi broth was a bit stronger than when I had it before, but the simmered dishes like the dashimaki tamago were excellent, and the depth of flavor in the salmon yuba-yaki and the juiciness of the roasted duck breast were impressive. The white fish, smoked salmon, and simmered octopus were all well-prepared and delicious. While it may not have the flashiness of the Shino Wakuden two-tier bento box, the green pea rice was subtly delicious, and overall, it was still considered a top-notch bento box. It seems that not only Isetan but also Takashimaya is handling reservations.

When traveling to Kyoto, I always make sure to eat this. This time, I made a reservation in advance at the bento box shop in the basement of Isetan at Kyoto Station so that I could eat it on the way back on the Shinkansen. The price is 4,725 yen. It's quite expensive, but it comes in a pretty deep box, so it's quite filling. There are dishes with strong flavors and delicate flavors, and no matter how many times I eat it, I feel happy (*^_^*). The colors are beautiful, and even on the way back on the Shinkansen, I can feel Kyoto with this delicious bento box. Ah, I want to eat it again...

In March 2013, I descended the approach to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and the weather was warm and sunny. I decided to have a meal and chose to get a bento box from "Hishio". While Kyoto is famous for its traditional Japanese cuisine, I wasn't a big fan, so I didn't make a reservation at a fancy restaurant. However, I wanted to try some local flavors, so I opted for a bento box instead. "Hishio" is a long-established catering shop founded in 1829, located in Gion. They have a corner in JR Kyoto Isetan where you can buy various traditional bento boxes. Some bento boxes require reservations in advance, so be careful. "Hishio" is one of those. At the store, I found a variety of bento boxes, but at Isetan, there was only one type available for 4,725 yen. The bento box was filled with a generous amount of side dishes, making it hard to decide where to start. The presentation was elegant and the flavors were rich. I used to think Kyoto cuisine was bland, but the meat and fish were well-seasoned, while the vegetables were light and delicious. The fluffy rolled omelette was particularly tasty. If I had known it would be this good, I would have made a reservation at a restaurant. As I looked at the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, I felt a bit of regret...

Theme: ● Pictures of food eaten ♪ (291108) Category: Deli, Takeout, Convenience Store At the Isetan B2 bento corner, there is a reservation-only Hishiiwa bento box available for 4,725 yen. It is quite pricey, but it is known for being delicious as a specialty store for catered bento. Isetan only carries this one type of bento, but apparently there are various types available in the actual store (according to Gurunavi). However, it's hard to find the location, and I also want to buy from other stores, but I ended up spending over 10,000 yen at Isetan due to credit cards and stock dividends. I was debating whether I could handle three by myself, as I also wanted to try Wakuden's Thai sushi and Hatsu's Wagyu bento... Five would be too much, right? As I was pondering, my darling decided to skip lunch, so he agreed to share half with me. We ordered three without hesitation, planning to have Wakuden on the bus ride back and Hatsu at the Kyoto exhibition. When making a reservation online, I received a call from Isetan asking for the number, date, and time of visit, then confirming with Hishiiwa, and finally receiving a call back to complete the reservation. It was quite a hassle. The bento was available for sale at 11:00 or 11:30, with two deliveries per day, and the early delivery had a short expiration date until 3:00 or 4:00. So the expiration date is very short, meaning it doesn't contain any preservatives? I have high expectations. Oh, the ink painting-like wrapping was not torn off by my darling... The bento included barrel-shaped rice, dashimaki tamago, chicken matsukaze, eel hachiman maki, tai sasamaki sushi, sawara no yu-an yaki, squid kogane yaki, saimaki shrimp, duck roast, smoked salmon, chestnut, ayu with roe, sudachi (vinegar), ginkgo nuts, Nara pickles, chiyokuchi (red and white vinegar), simmered dish (nama-fu, kabocha squash, small taro, duck meatball, rolled conger eel, silk pods, carrot, yuzu). A standout item was the dashimaki tamago, which was truly satisfying! It had a gentle Kyoto-style flavor, a soft texture, and a moist mouthfeel. The tai no temari sushi wrapped in fresh fu was also delicious. Overall, there were many items with gentle seasoning, but some had slightly stronger flavors. Despite being likely the most expensive bento at the Isetan bento corner, the noticeable hollow parts will be ignored (laughs). In the first place, the empty spaces were visible in the net photos for ordering from Isetan...