This is a restaurant I happened to find while strolling around Kyoto. There is also a delicious Taiwanese tea shop nearby. The kind landlady in Kyoto dialect kindly teaches you various things. The photo is of bamboo shoot pickles that were sent later. They say it's only available from April to May, and it wasn't available when I visited the store, so I asked them to send it to me when it's available. I had it this morning, and it's really delicious. I didn't know there was a way to eat bamboo shoots so deliciously. I will definitely have it again. Thank you for the meal!!

During my visit in April 2022, I went to a small shop with a cool noren curtain to buy pickled vegetables as souvenirs. The shop had a lovely atmosphere with lanterns and flowers outside. The proprietress welcomed me in Kyoto dialect and explained that the pickles would last for different durations. I bought various pickles including asazuke, nanohana-zuke, namazuke, and suguki. The nanohana-zuke I chose was a bit pricey but had a nice spring-like flavor. The suguki wasn't too sour, and the namazuke had a mild acidity, unlike cheap pickles. They were more generous in quantity than they appeared. I enjoyed them at home later. Afterward, I strolled along the Kamogawa River and headed to the much-anticipated restaurant.

I made a little detour in Kyoto for my once-a-year event. I entered the restaurant at 13:50 and ordered the following items: Lightly Salted Large Plum, Asashiba (pickled cucumber), Shiba-zuke (white), and Sliced Pickled Daikon. I happened to come across this place near the parking lot on the way back from feeding my child along the Kamo River. Upon entering the small and cozy shop that perfectly matches the image of Kyoto, I was warmly greeted by attentive staff, fitting the description of a young landlady in Kyoto. They kindly explained the following items to me: Lightly Salted Large Plum – Not too sour, not too sweet, and not spicy, just right. Personally, I found the level of sourness perfect and highly recommend it! Asashiba – When I asked for recommendations, this was said to be the most popular. It was exquisite to nibble on cucumbers while enjoying a drink. Shiba-zuke (white) – They recommended mixing this finely chopped item before eating, and it was delicious. It paired perfectly with rice and would be suitable for a traditional Japanese inn's breakfast. Sliced Pickled Daikon – This item was offered by the staff as a service. The ginger flavor was outstanding, and my wife found it to be the best. This is the kind of place I would love to revisit when I come back to Kyoto!

When exploring delicious foods in Kyoto, for example, this sightseeing taxi. This restaurant was on my list of places to visit before going to Kyoto, but even with the navigation system, I couldn't find the restaurant. It seems that the restaurant is not facing the main road, as the navigation system directs me to the back alleys. Even after entering the narrow side streets, it was difficult to find. I parked my car and walked around the area. I followed a scent... Ah, I smell pickles. Following the scent... I found it! It was located between the main road's tire shop and another store. There was a retail store first, followed by a factory, and next to it was a parking lot. While I was pondering what to buy, the staff recommended the seasonal bamboo shoots, saying, "Bamboo shoots are only available at this time of year, and there are only a few left." With that kind of recommendation, of course, I had to buy it. I also purchased other items like Shiba-zuke (pickled mackerel), red pickled radish, and a variety of pickled vegetables. Among them, the bamboo shoots had a remarkable aroma, flavor, and taste. This is definitely something I will buy again next year. Although the pickles are a bit pricey, having them with rice makes me feel very happy. 😊

After the state of emergency was declared, I refrained from going out on 75.0% of the days. In May, my two-month recovery from a bone fracture is almost complete. Health is indeed the top priority. In early April, before the state of emergency was declared, I went to Kyoto to finish some work I couldn't complete in December last year. While heading to a popular yakitori restaurant by taxi, I stopped by an old pickle shop recommended by the taxi driver across from the yakitori place. The shop owner, Mr. Kato Jun, takes pride and confidence in his homemade pickles, so you can't sample them at the storefront like in other pickle shops (laughs). They must be really delicious. They recommend seasonal pickles made with fresh ingredients. However, since they are lightly pickled, their shelf life is only about a week (the regular pickles can be kept for about a month). I bought two bags of their recommended Asazuke made with bamboo shoots from Tsukahara (about 1500 yen) as a gift for a friend I was meeting the next day. When I tried it back in Tokyo, the pickles had a refined and delicious taste with the original flavor and texture of the bamboo shoots still intact! As expected, I finished them in less than a week (^_^) Thank you for the great recommendation, taxi driver!

Gotta buy some souvenirs! The last place I stopped by was "Katou Jun Pickles Shop." It's a popular pickle shop recommended by a friend. The shop is located a bit off the main street, in an inconspicuous building that catches your eye with its unique appearance. Inside the small shop, the refrigerated display case is packed with a variety of colorful pickles... each one looking delicious with vibrant colors. I bought small plum pickles, spicy eggplant pickles, and daikon pickles with yuzu flavor. The pickles I had at home were delicately pickled and very tasty. My family loved them so much that they were all gone by the next day... Don't underestimate pickles.

I always come here because I love the sliced pickles and sliced pickled radish here. They are not sold elsewhere, so I always buy them in bulk when I come.

Pickled vegetables shopping list: ・Barrel-fermented Senmaizuke, sold by weight. It is lacto-fermented, pure white, and has a smooth texture. It is slimy and slippery. It is rich in the umami of kombu, with a gentle sweetness and acidity. There is no cloying sweetness or strange aroma. Includes Rishiri kombu. Enjoy it as salted kombu. ・Suguki kabu, sold by weight. Kyoto's sour-stem kabu, pickled by the leaf. The clear acidity from lacto-fermentation is appealing. The refreshing taste when pickled is good, but the acidity and bitterness when aged become addictive. ・Kyoto Minari Asazuke, finely chopped. Crispy yet slightly bitter from aging. ・Chirimen-ni no Hana-zuke, lightly pickled in salt. It has the fragrance of spring with a hint of bitterness. ・Hino-nasu Nukazuke, pickled by the leaf. Not salted but pickled in rice bran. It has a good balance of sweetness, bitterness, and spiciness. The sweetness increases when refrigerated for a while. Enjoy it with a little soy sauce. Handmade at a factory in Miyakonojo. No sugar, chemical seasonings, or artificial additives are used. Overall, it has a mild flavor, allowing you to taste the natural sweetness and crunch of the vegetables. Highly recommended.

The price is reasonable.

Specialty pickles.

The taste was good.

It is a shop with mild pickles. As you walk down the narrow alley, you will see a shop with a curtain. I thought it was a place to eat, but it was a pickle shop. Inside the shop, there are many kinds of pickles. They make pickles from seasonal vegetables, so you'll want to buy this and that, but since there is an expiration date, I recommend buying only what you can eat. It was a bit disappointing that there were no samples, but when I ate them at home, the pickles were easy to eat. Thank you for the meal.

A cute pickles shop with a charming storefront. It's a bit hidden from the main street, but I noticed the adorable building in the back while walking along Nijo Street. This was my second visit ♥ This time, I bought just one item - the "Beni Daikon" for 540 yen, which I enjoyed from my previous purchase. The taste is true to the ingredients! It's not heavily seasoned, so it might be a matter of personal preference, but I really like it. The only downside is that the expiration date is only 4 days! On one hand, it's reassuring, but in a way, it's a bit sad (laughs). They offer many seasonal limited edition products, and the store is filled with a variety of colorful pickles. It's a lovely shop.

When I come to Kyoto, I always buy pickles. In winter, Senmaizuke is a must-have. This shop is a bit hard to find as it's located in the back alley with a parking lot, but customers keep coming in one after another. It's a small shop, usually crowded with 4-5 people. There are many types of pickles, but my favorites are Senmaizuke and Shibazuke. They are not cheap, but worth the price. Especially Senmaizuke, it's seriously delicious. It's a highly recommended souvenir to take back home. If you visit Kyoto in winter, make sure to try the Senmaizuke at this shop! Car convenience: ★★★☆☆, there is a parking lot nearby, but you need to walk a bit. Cleanliness: ★★★☆☆, a bit messy inside. Staff service: ★☆☆☆☆, poor service on this day. Reservation availability: ☆☆☆☆☆, not applicable for reservations.

Visited with another person in August 2017 after being invited by a talented young female chef from a famous traditional Japanese restaurant. We were excited to explore recommended restaurants in Kyoto. The female chef has a great sense of taste, so her recommendation of "Katou Jun Pickles Shop" was a sure bet. The shop had a cute appearance and we enjoyed browsing while asking for her recommendations. We ended up buying "Ajishiba" as her top pick, as well as "Nama Shiba," "Tongue Drum Shiba Pickles," "Kyoyama Fuki," and the slightly pricey but rare "Hanazansho." We brought them back home as souvenirs, and everything was incredibly delicious.

My rating for this time is 3.6 [Food/Flavor 3.6 | Service - | Atmosphere - | Value for money 3.5 | Alcohol/Drinks -]. Mr. Jun Kato is, to be honest, a sly one. I mean, if you see big letters (which are also well-written) saying "Katsura White Melon" at the storefront, you just have to go in and buy it, right? It's a unique variety around Katsura in the western part of Kyoto City, thick and densely concentrated, with the best aroma, sweetness, and crunchiness. Some may prefer Nara pickles, but I'm definitely on Team Asazuke. Yes, I bought it for 560 yen. I opened the bag and immediately took a pinch. The crispy texture, the fresh melon. The salt is really subtle in this Asazuke. Oh, and it says, "Please enjoy it soon. Asazuke lasts a week in the fridge." Seriously, it's unbeatable. It's great as a snack or appetizer as is. You can even put it on rice. It's also excellent with shaved bonito flakes. And when I tried it with canned mackerel and Camembert cheese for fun, it really shined. But, even though it says it lasts a week, it won't last that long. I mean, I finished the whole thing within three days. It was a feast. Thank you. Miyabijon Kyoto "Kyoto Up and Down" "Kawabata Nijo Area" Aired in the second week of August 2017.

During this season, I thought pickles would make a good souvenir, so I headed to my favorite pickle shop, "Katou Jun Tsukemono-ten." It's been a while since my last post. This shop is a small, privately-owned store located a bit off the main street, so it might be a bit tricky to find for first-timers. With a variety of pickles on display, it was hard to choose just a few as they all looked delicious. I ended up selecting "Asashiba," "Gokumi Daikon-zuke," and "Senmaizuke." Asashiba had a crispy texture from the cucumber and was light and not overwhelming. Gokumi Daikon-zuke had a hint of spiciness from shichimi pepper, complementing the natural spiciness of daikon radish, which made it delicious. Senmaizuke had large pieces of kombu seaweed and even included leafy parts. Compared to other stores, the texture of the Kyoto turnip was firm, offering a satisfying crunch, and the flavor was deep and rich, possibly due to the large kombu. The salty taste of the leaves paired well with the pickles. Writing about it makes me crave them again, maybe I should order some online! Thank you for the delicious meal.

I was asked to find a delicious place for Senmaizuke. Although this place is not as famous in Kyoto, it is a popular restaurant that always has customers. It seems that they make pickles behind the shop. Unlike other stores, they do not use food additives, so the Senmaizuke does not last long. However, it was highly praised by those who received it, saying "It's delicious, I want you to buy it again!" I thought I should have bought it for home use. I also bought kombu tsukudani and pickled radish for home use, both of which were very delicious. When I return to Kyoto, I might not be able to buy pickles from anywhere else. I will visit again. Thank you for the meal ☆

Kato Jun Pickles - A pickled vegetable shop with a long history located in a small alley off Nijo Street. Known for its rich flavors of seasonal vegetables, this renowned pickles shop offers a taste that never gets old. Situated near the Kamo River, a little off Nijo Street, "Kato Jun Pickles Shop" is a well-known establishment through word of mouth from loyal tea houses and Kyoto cuisine restaurants, now boasting fans nationwide. You can only purchase their pickles at this one store. Despite its popularity, they have chosen not to expand, perhaps to always stay connected with their customers. Made without adding sugar, their pickles are crafted using traditional methods, resulting in a light and delicately seasoned finish that brings out the flavors of the ingredients. Discover your favorite with guidance from the owner. These pickles exude the taste of Kyoto. Served in high-end restaurants and tea houses, they offer a refined and traditional flavor. My recommendation is the Senmaizuke: Bagged - 1,080 yen (tax included), Barrel-packed - 4,320 yen (tax included), Box-packed - 3,240 yen (tax included).